MBA Service Management: Admission 2025, Eligibility, Colleges, Careers

• Updated on Jul 29, 2025, by Epil Gagrai

Master of Business Administration in Service Management is a 2-year postgraduate program focused on managing service-based industries such as hospitality, healthcare, retail, IT, education, and financial services. It combines core business skills with knowledge of customer service, operations, and experience management.

Those who have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate are eligible to apply for the course. The admissions are based on a national-level entrance examination, followed by group discussion and a personal interview. Some of the entrance exams considered are CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, GMAT, etc. The course fees range from INR 3.13 Lakhs to INR 15.75 Lakhs.

The MBA Service Management graduates will be able to work in industries such as hospitality, healthcare, retail, financial services, IT services, education, and consulting. Some of the job roles they can apply for are Service Operations Manager, Customer Experience Manager, Hotel Administrator, Hospital Administrator, Retail Store Manager, Client Relationship Manager, etc. The average salary they can expect with a work experience of 0-5 years is around INR 3.05 - 10 LPA.

Table of Contents

MBA Service Management Highlights
What is MBA Service Management?
Why Study MBA Service Management?
Who Should Pursue MBA in Service Management?
MBA Service Management Eligibility
MBA Service Management Entrance Exams
MBA Service Management Top Colleges
MBA Service Management Admission Process
MBA Service Management Syllabus
MBA Service Management VS MBA Marketing Management
MBA Service Management Job Roles
MBA Service Management FAQs

MBA Service Management Highlights

The table below includes the key details of the Master of Business Administration in Service Management course:

Particulars	Details
Course Name	MBA Service Management
Course Level	Postgraduate
Duration	2 years
Course Type	Management
Admission Process	Entrance Exam (CAT/ XAT/ CMAT) + Group Discussion + Personal Interview
Eligibility Criteria	Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks in aggregate
Course Fees	INR 3.13 - 15.75 Lakhs
Top Colleges	Jaipuria Institute of Management, Indira Global School of Business , University of Rajasthan, Maharshidayanand Saraswati University, etc.
Job Profiles	Service Operations Manager, Customer Experience Manager, Hotel Administrator, Hospital Administrator, Retail Store Manager, Client Relationship Manager, etc.
Top Recruiters	Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Accenture, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, Amazon, Flipkart, HDFC Bank, Zomato, Swiggy, Mahindra & Mahindra, etc.
Average Salary in India	INR 3.05 - 10 LPA

What is MBA Service Management?

An MBA in Service Management is a specialized business degree focused on equipping professionals with the skills needed to lead and optimize service-oriented industries such as hospitality, healthcare, retail, financial services, IT services, education, and consulting. This program blends core business disciplines like finance, marketing, operations, and strategy with an in-depth understanding of service delivery and customer experience. Key subjects typically include service operations management, customer relationship management, service marketing, quality management, strategic service management, and the use of technology in service delivery.

Why Study MBA Service Management?

Here are some of the benefits of pursuing an MBA specialization in Service Management:

The course offers specialized knowledge in managing service operations, improving customer satisfaction, and service quality.
The course helps the graduates to pursue careers as service operations managers, customer experience managers, hospital or hotel administrators, and business consultants, among others.

Who Should Pursue MBA in Service Management?

The MBA in service management is ideal for individuals interested in pursing managerial or leadership roles within service sectors like hospitality, healthcare, IT services, banking, education, and retail. The course is also beneficial for individuals with a background in service-related fields or customer-facing roles who want to advance into managerial or strategic positions.

MBA Service Management Eligibility

The candidates interested in applying for MBA in Service Management should fufill the eligibility requirements of the institute. The basic eligibility criteria for MBA Service Management is mentioned below:

Candidates must have completed a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
They should have secured a minimum aggregate of 50% marks (45% for reserved category candidates).
The candidates who are in the final year of their graduation are also eligible to apply.

MBA Service Management Entrance Exams

The admission into the MBA courses in India is usually based on the management entrance examinations. Here is the list of some of the entrance exams that are considered for admission into the MBA in Service Management:

Exams Name	Application Date (Tentative)	Exam Date (Tentative)	Application Fees
CAT 2025	Aug 1 - Sep 20, 2025	Nov 24, 2025	INR 2,500
XAT 2026	July 15 - Dec 10, 2025	Jan 05, 2026	INR 2,200
MAT 2026	PBT: May 2026 CBT: June, 2026	PBT: May 2026 CBT: June, 2026	INR 2,200 (for CBT/ PBT) INR 3,800 (CBT + PBT)
ATMA 2026	Mar - May, 2026	June, 2026	INR 2,000 (Male) INR 1,500 (Female)
CMAT 2026	Nov - Dec, 2025	Jan, 2026	INR 2,500 (Male) INR 1,250 (Female)

MBA Service Management Top Colleges

Most of the top B-Schools usually offer service management as one of the electives in the MBA curriculum. Here is the list of some of the institutes that offer an MBA in Service Management.

Institute Name	Location	Total Fees	NIRF Ranking 2024	Admission Process
Jaipuria Institute of Management	Noida	INR 15,75,000	45	CAT/ CMAT/ XAT/ MAT/ GMAT + GD + PI
Jaipuria Institute of Management	Jaipur	INR 13,75,000	75	CAT/ CMAT/ XAT/ MAT/ GMAT + GD + PI
Indira Global School of Business	Pune	INR 3,13,000	-	MAH-MBA CET, CAT, CMAT + GD + PI
University of Rajasthan	Jaipur	INR 2,25,000	-	PIM-MAT, URATPG
Maharshidayanand Saraswati University	Ajmer	INR 3,27,000	-	As per government of Rajasthan

MBA Service Management Admission Process

The MBA Management Services admission is usually based on national-level entrance management exams, followed by a group discussion and a personal interview. Here we have a detailed admission process of Jaipuria Institute of Management for the PGDM Service Management program:

Step 1: Visit the official website of Jaipuria Institute of Management.

Step 2: On the homepage, look for the tab or banner that reads MBA in Service Management Admissions 2025. Click on it to access detailed information and the online application portal.

Step 3: You will be redirected to the online application form page for MBA Service Management 2025.

Step 4: Select either the New Registration or the Apply Now button. Finish the step with a valid email address and cellphone number. All official communication will be made using this information. After this process is completed, you will get your login details.

Step 5: Log in with the given details. The fully detailed information should be carefully provided, covering not only the personal information but also the academic qualifications and, provided it is pertinent, the work experience. Make sure that the data is consistent with what is in your official documents.

Step 6: Upload scanned copies of your passport-size photograph, signature, academic certificates, and category/work experience certificates (if applicable). Make sure the files meet the specified format and size requirements.

Step 7: Pay the application fee using a debit card, a credit card, UPI, and net banking online. As soon as a successful payment is made, the payment receipt can be downloaded and saved to be referred to later.

Documents Required:

Make sure to keep the following documents ready for admission:

Class 10 and 12 mark sheets and certificates
Entrance exam scorecard
Valid identity proof (Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, etc.)
Passport-size photographs
Caste certificate (if applicable)
Domicile certificate (for state quota seats)
Provisional admission letter (if available)

MBA Service Management Syllabus

The MBA Service Management is a 2-year program divided into 4 semesters. The curriculum includes core courses, elective courses, projects, and internships. Here is the syllabus for the MBA in Service Management, as per the University of Rajasthan:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Accounting for Managers	Production and Operations Management
Marketing Management	Decision Modelling and Optimization
Human Resource Management	Corporate Finance
Data Analysis and Decision Tools	Marketing Management II
Managerial Economics	Organizational Effectiveness & Change
Organizational Behavior	Entrepreneurship
Business Communication	Economic Environment of Business
Indigenous Management System	Management Information Systems
Services Management-l	Services Management-II

Semester 3	Semester 4
Strategic Analysis and Decision Making	Global Business Strategies & Management
Project Planning, Analysis, and Management	Legal Environment of Business
Summer Internship Research Project	Business Ethics, Corporate Governance & CSR
Business Transformation Through Thoughts & Leadership	Multi-Disciplinary Research Project

Here is the list of specialization electives that the students have to choose from in the 3rd and 4th semesters of their program:

Marketing Specialization	Financial Management Specialization
Marketing Specialization Consumer Behaviour	Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
Integrated Marketing Communications	Financial Analytics
Services Marketing	Financial Management
Product & Brand Management	Merchant Banking and Financial Services
Digital Marketing & Marketing Analytics	Corporate Taxation
Rural & Agro-Marketing	Financial Derivatives & Risk Management
-	Financial Markets and Institutions
-	Mergers and Corporate Restructuring

Human Resource Management	Entrepreneurship
Human Resource Development: Strategies and Systems	New Venture Creation & Startups
Human Resource Metrics and Analytics	Creativity, Innovation & Design Thinking
Performance, Training & Compensation Management	Market Analysis & Value Creation
Talent Management	Emerging Technologies & Business Process Re-engineering
Managing Interpersonal and Group Processes	Entrepreneurial Finance
Counseling Skills for Managers	E-Business
Management of Industrial Relations	Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning

MBA Service Management VS MBA Marketing Management

Mention below is the comparison between an MBA in Service Management and an MBA in Marketing Management:

Aspect	MBA in Service Management	MBA in Marketing Management
Focus Area	Managing service-based industries (e.g., hospitality, healthcare, IT services)	Understanding customer needs and promoting products/services
Core Subjects	Service Operations, Quality Management, Customer Experience, Service Design	Consumer Behavior, Brand Management, Digital Marketing, Market Research
Industry Relevance	Ideal for service-heavy sectors like banking, insurance, hotels, airlines	Relevant across all industries — FMCG, retail, tech, B2B, etc.
Job Roles	Service Manager, Operations Consultant, Customer Experience Head	Marketing Manager, Brand Manager, Market Analyst, Digital Marketing Head
Key Industries	Hospitality, Healthcare, Telecom, IT Services, Financial Services	FMCG, Retail, E-commerce, Advertising, Tech Startups
Customer Interaction	Focused on long-term service relationships and satisfaction	Focused on creating demand and influencing buying decisions
Ideal for Candidates	Who enjoys operations, service quality, and client-facing problem-solving	Who are creative, persuasive, and data-driven with a passion for communication

MBA Service Management Job Roles

The MBA in Service Management graduates are eligible to find managerial and leadership roles in service industries like hospitality, healthcare, retail, financial services, IT services, education, and consulting. Some of the job roles they can apply for are mentioned in the table below, along with their average salary as per PayScale:

Job Roles	Experience	Recruiters	Average Salary
Service Operations Manager	1 - 5 years	Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Accenture, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, etc.	INR 4.78 - 10 LPA
Customer Experience Manager	1 - 5 years	Amazon, Flipkart, HDFC Bank, Zomato, Swiggy, Mahindra & Mahindra, etc.	INR 6 - 7.89 LPA
Hotel Administrator	0 - 5 years	Taj Hotels, Oberoi Group, Marriott International, ITC Hotels, Hyatt, etc.	INR 3.05 - 4.59 LPA
Hospital Administrator	1 - 5 years	Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, Max Healthcare, Manipal Hospitals, etc.	INR 4.16 - 6.6 LPA
Retail Store Manager	1 - 5 years	Reliance Retail, Future Group, Aditya Birla Fashion, Tata Trent, DMart, etc.	INR 3.60 - 4.17 LPA
Client Relationship Manager	1 - 5 years	HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, KPMG, Deloitte, Infosys, etc.	INR 4.09 - 6 LPA

MBA Service Management FAQs

What are the career prospects after completing an MBA in Service Management?

Graduates can pursue roles like Service Operations Manager, Customer Experience Manager, Hospital or Hotel Administrator, Retail Manager, or Client Relationship Manager. These roles are available across sectors like healthcare, hospitality, banking, IT services, and consulting.

What subjects are covered in the MBA Service Management curriculum?

The program typically includes courses such as Service Marketing, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Operations Management, Strategic Service Management, Quality in Services, and Consumer Behavior.

Is prior work experience required to pursue this MBA specialization?

While many institutes accept fresh graduates, having 1–2 years of work experience in a service-related industry can enhance your profile and help with placements, especially in leadership or mid-level roles.

Which entrance exams are accepted for admission into MBA in Service Management programs?

Admissions are usually based on national or state-level MBA entrance exams such as CAT, CMAT, XAT, MAT, GMAT, or state-specific exams like MAH-CET or PIM-MAT, followed by GD (Group Discussion) and PI (Personal Interview) rounds.