How much are online MBA fees?
If you are comparing online MBAs, start with the full cost. Each online MBA on Sidenotes runs for two years and lists one full cost for the whole course.
How you pay can change that figure. At Amity University Online, paying upfront costs ₹2,07,000, while paying semester by semester comes to ₹2,25,200. At Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, the full cost is ₹1,89,400, and paying in full brings it down to ₹1,79,400.
The full cost for the whole two-year course. Paying upfront or by semester can change it.
Who sets the fee?
Each university sets its own fee. The 2020 UGC rules decide the credits, the duration and what goes on your degree, but they say nothing about fees. That is why the same MBA can cost different amounts at different universities.
- Set by UGC rulesCredits, the minimum duration, and the longest time allowed, which is double the minimum.
- Set by the universityThe fee itself, how it splits by semester, and what paperwork costs later.
What do you pay after you finish?
Once you finish, you may need documents such as your marksheets and transcripts, for example for a WES evaluation abroad. Each university sets its own price for these. Prices published by other universities give a fair idea of what to expect, though they are examples, not a standard.
| Charge | A published example |
|---|---|
| Convocation | IGNOU: ₹600 for a master's |
| Consolidated marks | Pondicherry University: ₹500 |
| Official transcript | Pondicherry University: ₹1,000 plus ₹500 a page |
| Transcript sent to WES | University of Delhi: ₹500 per email |
Sources: IGNOU, Pondicherry University, University of Delhi
How to compare fees fairly
Fees only compare fairly on the same basis. Every one of these MBAs carries the same credits and minimum duration as the campus MBA at the same university. So a higher fee does not buy a longer course.
- Same basisCompare one full two-year cost with another, never a semester fee with a full cost.
- Same way of payingCompare upfront with upfront, or semester-wise with semester-wise.
- Paperwork tooAsk each university what the degree and transcripts will cost, so nothing comes as a surprise.
How to get the real number before you pay
A few emails before your first payment can save you from surprises later. Ask in writing, so you have the answers on record.
- Ask for the semester-wise fee scheduleIt should show what falls due each semester, and whether the fee stays fixed for the whole course.
- Ask what the degree costs to issueThe convocation amount, and whether it applies if you take the degree by post.
- Ask about transcripts and marksheetsEach is a separate document, often with its own price.
- Check the course is recognisedFind it on the UGC-DEB list for your year and session.
