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Symbiosis SCDL PGDBA vs IICT Corporate MBA: two diplomas, side by side
This is a like-for-like comparison: both are management diplomas for working professionals, not university degrees. SCDL’s PGDBA costs ₹65,000 plus a fee for every exam attempt and runs for two years. IICT’s Corporate MBA costs ₹32,150, has a Fast-track 1 year option and 28 specialisations — and if you ever need a university MBA degree, IICT can guide that admission as well. For a diploma, IICT gives you more for less.
- ₹32,850 less — than SCDL’s PGDBA — before SCDL’s per-exam fees
- 1 year — on IICT’s fast track, against SCDL’s 2 years
- 28 — specialisations at IICT, against a handful at SCDL
Side by side
| Symbiosis SCDL PGDBA | IICT Corporate MBA | |
|---|---|---|
| What you receive | Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA), issued by SCDL — a diploma, not a degree | Corporate MBA — MBA Diploma (Master’s Diploma in Business Administration), awarded by IICT |
| Total fee | ₹65,000 including taxes; exam fees are paid separately for each exam attempt | ₹32,150 for the Corporate MBA · ₹22,555 for the 1-year Executive MBA (graduates with 3+ years’ work experience) |
| Duration | 2 years | 2 years, or Fast-track 1 year with the full syllabus on a compressed exam schedule |
| Entrance test | None stated | None — direct admission |
| Eligibility | Graduate in any discipline; final-year students may apply | Any graduate, with no minimum percentage; final-year students can apply |
| Specialisations | A handful — including Finance, HR, Operations and CRM | 28 — including Finance, Marketing, HR, Foreign Trade, Banking, Hospital Management and Logistics |
| Exams and evaluation | On-demand exams at centres across India | Semester exams you can take at a centre, online or by post |
| Status | AICTE-approved diploma programme | Autonomous, non-UGC institution operating legally since 1997; registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 |
| University degree option | No — it is a diploma. Symbiosis’s university MBA is a separate online programme at ₹3.15–3.7 lakh | Yes — IICT also guides MBA degree admission with Subharti University and Amity University; the university awards the degree |
Which one fits you
Symbiosis SCDL is the better fit if…
- you specifically want the Symbiosis name on your diploma
- your target specialisation is among SCDL’s, such as CRM or Management Accounting
- you prefer sitting exams at a test centre
IICT is the better fit if…
- you want a management diploma at about half the price, with no per-exam charges to add up
- you want to finish in 1 year on the fast track instead of 2
- you need a specialisation SCDL does not offer — Foreign Trade, Banking, Insurance, Hospital Management, Logistics
- you want the option of a university MBA degree later, with guidance from the same advisors
- you want to start in any month
Not a ceiling: PNB Housing Finance’s annual reports record its former MD & CEO, Girish Kousgi — now MD & CEO of IIFL Home Finance — as holding an executive master’s diploma in Business Administration from IICT.
The bottom line
Since both are diplomas, the comparison comes down to cost, time and choice — and IICT is ahead on all three: about half the fee, a one-year fast track and 28 specialisations against SCDL’s handful.
SCDL carries the Symbiosis name, and some students will value that. But a diploma is a diploma: what it does for your career comes from what you learn and how quickly you put it to work. IICT also gives you a path to a university MBA degree if a role ever asks for one — SCDL’s PGDBA does not lead there.
Need a university degree instead?
IICT offers two routes. Its own Corporate MBA is an MBA Diploma awarded by the institute — the practical, lower-cost choice for most working professionals. If the role you are aiming for asks for a university degree, IICT also guides MBA degree admission with Subharti University (₹65,000, or ₹67,000 in instalments) and Amity University, and the university awards the degree. Either way, one advisor helps you pick the route that fits what you need the MBA for.
Subharti MBA — ₹65,000 · About IICT · MBA degree vs MBA diploma
Questions students ask
Is SCDL’s PGDBA an MBA degree?
No. SCDL’s PGDBA is a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration — a diploma, not a degree. SCDL states the programme is approved by AICTE.
Is IICT cheaper than SCDL?
Yes. IICT’s Corporate MBA costs ₹32,150 in total, with Flexi EMI. SCDL lists ₹65,000 for the PGDBA, with exam fees charged separately for each attempt.
Which diploma has more specialisations?
IICT, with 28 — from Finance and Marketing to Foreign Trade, Banking, Insurance, Hospital Management and Logistics. SCDL’s PGDBA offers a handful, including Finance, HR, Operations and CRM.
Can I get a university MBA degree through IICT?
Yes. Alongside its own Corporate MBA (MBA Diploma), IICT guides MBA degree admission with Subharti University and Amity University, and the university awards the degree.
Sources
Fees, durations and admission rules as published by each institution, checked November 2026. Confirm the current figure before you pay.