PGDM Marketing is a 2-year full-time program with a multidisciplinary and job-oriented curriculum designed to equip learners with a solid understanding of various Marketing concepts, including Consumer Marketing, B2B Marketing, Marketing Research, Public Relations, Advertising, and more. The course is aimed at preparing learners to become excellent marketing professionals with sound knowledge and industry-oriented practical skills.
PGDM in Marketing eligibility criteria is that the candidates must have a bachelor degree with a minimum of 45%-50% in any discipline from a recognized university. This merit requirement is usually combined with the need to qualify the relevant university or national level entrance exam under the entrance-based eligibility criteria. The course’s eligibility criteria also include a group discussion and a personal interview round.
The program is currently offered by several prominent colleges in India, including IMT Ghaziabad, New Delhi Institute of Management, IMT Nagpur, JIMS Rohini, IMT Hyderabad, and Indira Institute of Management with the average course fee ranging from INR 9,00,000 to INR 25,00,000.
With entry-level PGDM Marketing salary in India ranging from INR 3-7 LPA and experienced professional salaries ranging from INR 25-50 LPA, the most popular and highly sought-after job roles in the field are Market Research Analyst, Business Development Executive, Brand Manager, Product Marketing Manager, Marketing Director, Global Brand Lead etc.
Table of Contents
- PGDM Marketing Highlights
- What is PGDM Marketing?
- Why Study PGDM Marketing?
- Who should study PGDM Marketing?
- PGDM Marketing Eligibility Criteria
- PGDM Marketing Entrance Exams 2025
- PGDM Marketing Colleges in India
- PGDM Marketing Admission Process 2025
- PGDM Marketing Syllabus
- PGDM Marketing Job Opportunities in India
- PGDM Marketing Vs MBA Marketing Comparison
- PGDM Marketing FAQs
PGDM Marketing Highlights
Some essential details of the 2-year PGDM Marketing course is provided in the table below:
What is PGDM Marketing?
PGDM Marketing is a 2-year, full-time postgraduate diploma program with a multidisciplinary curriculum that is industry-oriented and highly practical in nature and combines Marketing and Management disciplines to provide relevant insights about the current marketing trends, branding and advertising strategies, and management practices and approaches.
The course is designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to flourish in a variety of marketing professions and covers subjects such as Digital & Social Media Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Branding, Marketing Analytics, Integrated Communication and more.
Also, read Executive PGDM Marketing
Why Study PGDM Marketing?
A PGDM Marketing promotes comprehensive personality development of learners by providing several opportunities for them to learn in class while also gaining valuable practical skills through field training, internships, live projects, workshops, and so much more. Some of the significant advantages that this course has to offer include:
- High employability: Marketing is widely regarded as the backbone of every industry, as a result, PGDM Marketing graduates are always in great demand, especially because of their industry-aligned skill set and theoretical proficiency, which qualify them for a wide range of job roles in any business or sector.
- Prestigious and Lucrative job opportunities: Most well-known brands and businesses, such as Amazon, Unilever, Deloitte, and others, commonly hire PGDM Marketing graduates for their operations. Furthermore, since the course is highly tech-focused and job-oriented, students are well-prepared to take on senior-level, analytical, and strategic jobs in such organisations and industries.
- Pathway for entrepreneurial opportunities: PGDM Marketing course enables learners to gain expertise in a variety of industry-relevant skills, including branding, leadership, consumer psychology, digital platforms, data analysis, etc., through live projects, internships, and training, preparing them to efficiently pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Creative and Multidisciplinary in nature: The PGDM Marketing program is highly multidisciplinary in nature, providing a solid grasp of how marketing concepts and principles are creatively applied to other industries and sectors such as finance, operations, human resources, information technology, supply chain, and more.
Who should study PGDM Marketing?
PGDM Marketing is an ideal course for marketing enthusiasts who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in the various marketing concepts such as social media marketing, digital marketing, marketing management, advertising and more. Additionally, following individuals are usually regarded as great fits for this comprehensive study:
- Those who want to work in advertising, media, public relations, or other related industries.
- Working professionals interested in transitioning to Marketing and similar career profiles and industries.
- Working professionals in the marketing industry who want to rise to senior level or analytical job roles by pursuing an industry aligned and practical education in the Marketing discipline.
- Creative and innovative individuals possessing strong communication and storytelling skills.
- Those who like analyzing vast amounts of data to identify trends and areas of concern and growth in order to address marketing problems.
- Are comfortable working with digital marketing and tech platforms such as Google Ads, Meta Business, and others.
- Individuals who have a strong passion to work with major brands, engage customers, design advertising campaigns, and influence others via collaborative efforts.
PGDM Marketing Eligibility Criteria
The detailed breakdown of the PGDM Marketing eligibility criteria is provided below:
- Candidates must have a minimum of 45%-50% score in a bachelor degree completed from a recognised university in any discipline.
- Merit requirements might vary depending on the college's requirements and the categories of candidates. Generally, reserved category candidates are given a 5% concession over unreserved category candidates.
- They must also pass the relevant state or national level entrance exam. Some popular exams being XAT, CAT, GMAT, CMAT, ATMA, MHCET and more.
- They are required to appear for a personal interview with the college’s faculty, following a group discussion round as the final steps of the admission process.
PGDM Marketing Entrance Exams 2025
The majority of highly regarded and recognized PGDM Marketing colleges/universities require candidates to pass the necessary university or national level entrance exam in order to be admitted to the program. Some of the most commonly accepted exams for the course are listed below, along with their key details, also, it is up to the candidate to decide which exam/exams he/she wishes to take:
PGDM Marketing Colleges in India
The majority of the colleges providing the PGDM Marketing program are privately owned, owing to the necessity for well-established facilities and infrastructure to teach this practical and technologically demanding course of study. Some of the leading colleges in India that offer this comprehensive study are as follows:
PGDM Marketing Admission Process 2025
Admissions to the PGDM Marketing course in India is majorly carried out via a rigorous counseling procedure based on the relevant entrance exam scores (CAT, GMAT, CMAT, ATMA, etc.). At IMT Nagpur, the course’s admission procedure consists of the following steps:
Step 1: To apply for PGDM Marketing at IMT Nagpur, candidates must have completed a bachelor degree in any discipline from a recognized university with a minimum 50% aggregate score. Also, they must qualify any one of the following exams: CAT / XAT / GMAT.
Step 2: To appear for these entrance exams, visit the official website of the same and register. To register, enter all of your personal and academic information, upload all of the documents requested in the form, and pay the non-refundable exam fee.
Step 3: Submit the form and wait for the CAT / XAT / GMAT admit cards to be released. Once released, download the same and appear for the exam as per the schedule mentioned on the admit card.
Step 4: Download the exam’s scorecard once the results are announced and visit https://www.imt.edu/admissions/pgdm/ to apply for the course. This is the official IMT admission portal, which is used commonly for admissions in IMT Nagpur, IMT Hyderabad and IMT Ghaziabad.
Step 5: Register here by entering some basic personal information and the name of the course (PGDM Marketing). Also, provide the name of the preferred centre to pursue the same.
Step 6: The candidate is then required to fill out an application form, which is only accessible if the candidate’s registration on the admission portal is successful.
Step 7: Provide all the requested information in the application form along with the necessary personal and academic documents, such as bachelor scoresheets, entrance score card, identity proof, work experience and more.
Step 8: Pay the non refundable application form fee, costing INR 3,500 online through net banking/ debit card/ credit card/ UPI and submit the form.
Step 9: The relevant authorities will then review the applications received and will shortlist candidates on the basis of their bachelor scores, entrance exam ranks and work experience.
Step 10: If shortlisted, candidate receives an email via his/her registered email ID containing the schedule for the group discussion round. He/She must attend the same as per the provided schedule only.
Step 11: If qualified in the group discussion round, the candidate is called in for an interview and all the updates regarding the same are provided to him/her via mail.
Step 12: For the interview, the candidate is required to visit the relevant location/centre. These centres are allotted to them on the basis of their preferences only that they are asked to provide in the application form.
Step 13: If the candidate is able to pass the interview round, he/she receives a final admission letter and is asked to complete basic formalities to secure a seat in the course.
Documents Required:
- 10th & 12th marksheet and passing certificate issued by the board.
- School Leaving Certificate
- Bachelor’s Marksheet
- Provisional Certificate
- Coloured Passport Size Photographs
- Entrance Exam Admit Card
- Entrance Exam Scorecard
- Caste Certificate (If applicable)
- Identity Proof issued by the government (Aadhar Card/PAN Card/Passport, etc.)
PGDM Marketing Syllabus
The total duration of the PGDM Marketing is 2 years which is further divided into 4 semesters or 6 trimesters, varying and depending upon the college's guidelines and course structure. Additionally, being an industry oriented course, PGDM Syllabus combines classroom and hand-on experiential learning opportunities to ensure a comprehensive learner development.
The various PGDM subjects at New Delhi Institute of Management, along with their semester-wise division, are listed below for reference:
PGDM Marketing Job Opportunities in India
As an industry-oriented study in the Marketing discipline, PGDM Marketing prepares learners for highly analytical, strategic and senior level job roles that often pay well and come with a great level of responsibility. Some of the leading jobs for PGDM Marketing graduates lie in the FMCG, E-Commerce and Media industries and include the following positions:
PGDM Marketing Vs MBA Marketing Comparison
Despite having the same eligibility criteria and often being regarded as the same course, a PGDM in Marketing and an MBA Marketing are much different from each other, especially in their core focus areas. For a detailed comparison between the two, refer the table below:
PGDM Marketing FAQs
Is PGDM Marketing and PGDM Marketing Management the same?
Yes, a PGDM Marketing and a PGDM Marketing Management can be considered same as the subjects taught under both the courses are largely similar; however, it must be noted that a PGDM Marketing is a bit broader in scope, covering numerous aspects of marketing, whereas a PGDM in Marketing Management is slightly more focused on the management aspect of the same.
Can PGDM Marketing be pursued online? How relevant and effective is it?
Yes, individuals can pursue an online PGDM Marketing. Such degrees are highly flexible and allow for the convenience of studying from anywhere and at any time. Furthermore, in India, the curriculum for the online PGDM Marketing program is AICTE certified, making this degree highly relevant and even globally recognised. It must however be highlighted that the practical exposure in such degrees are significantly lower than those in regular ones.
What kind of questions are generally asked in the personal interview round of the PGDM Marketing admissions?
A personal interview is often undertaken as the final step in the PGDM Marketing admissions process and is primarily used for assessing a candidate's communication skills, passions and interests, and suitability for the course. The major questions asked are about a candidate's personal and academic backgrounds, work experience (if any), hobbies, career aspirations, reasons for applying to the course, future plans after completing the course study and so on.
Which course is better between a PGDM Marketing and an MBA Marketing for developing job-oriented skills?
Between a PGDM Marketing and an MBA Marketing, the PGDM in Marketing is a much better option for developing job-related skills as the course’s curriculum is industry-aligned and includes numerous hands-on and experiential learning opportunities, as compared to a typical MBA in Marketing. The curriculum for an MBA in Marketing is less industry-focused and more theory-intensive in nature.
What is the exam pattern of the PGDM Marketing entrance exams? Which topics / subjects are covered in the same?
PGDM Marketing entrance exams generally contain 3-4 sections, depending upon the exam that one is aiming to take and lasts 2-3 hours. The CAT exam, for example, contains 3 sections that need to be completed in 2 hours whereas the XAT exam contains 4 sections that need to be completed in 3 hours. There are only multiple choice questions asked in the same and the important topics covered include Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge.
What happens in the group discussion round of the PGDM Marketing admission process?
A group discussion round is typically held right before the personal interview round. In this round, a group of 5-6 shortlisted individuals is created and assigned a specific topic to discuss or speak on. The group's discussion is judged by the college faculty, who assess each member based on their comprehension of the issue, communication skills, leadership ability, and other factors.
