Education | The Indian Express
India’s management landscape is evolving far beyond traditional MBAs in Finance, HR, or Marketing. The country’s top B-schools are stepping up to offer niche, forward-thinking programs tailored to industry trends like AI, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and green business. Whether you’re aiming to innovate, digitise, or specialise, these unconventional courses open up exciting avenues for future-ready professionals.
Here’s a curated list of 10 Indian B-schools offering offbeat Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) programs, covering everything from innovation and healthcare to aviation and fintech.
From AI-infused business education to startup-centric programs and sector-specific MBAs in aviation, healthcare, or agri-business, these unique courses are redefining management education in India. Here’s a look at 10 institutes offering unconventional MBA/PGDM courses worth exploring.
XLRI – Delhi NCR
Admission requirement: Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised Indian university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. Admission is based on scores from XAT, CAT, MAT, ATMA, CMAT, GMAT, or CUET.
Read More | XLRI Placements 2023-25: Over 600 offers, Rs 29 LPA median salary for PGDM and PGDM batches
What courses are offered?
XLRI Delhi NCR offers a distinctive two-year full-time AICTE-approved Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Venture Development. The course is tailored for aspiring entrepreneurs and blends business management with incubation, mentorship, and experiential learning through live projects and networking events.
Additional details
The program begins on June 15, and provides structured long-term support for students aiming to build ventures of their own.
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Great Lakes Institute of Management – Gurgaon and Chennai
Admission requirement: For PGPM-FBE, applicants must be entrepreneurs or part of a family business with a recognised bachelor’s degree and valid CAT/GMAT/XAT/NMAT or GREAT scores. The PGPM program in Chennai additionally requires 2–10 years of work experience.
What courses are offered?
Great Lakes offers a PGPM-FBE (Post Graduate Program in Management – Family Business and Entrepreneurship) at its Gurgaon campus. Meanwhile, its Chennai campus provides dual specialisations in emerging areas such as Product Management and Data Science under the PGPM program.
Additional details
Classes for both campuses typically start in May each year, with a curriculum that emphasises innovation-led business transformation.
MIT-World Peace University, Pune
Admission requirement: Admission is based on an overall profile evaluation, which includes academic scores, entrance exam results, online group discussions and interviews, and relevant work experience.
What courses are offered?
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The university offers niche MBA programs in Agri Business Management, Hospital and Healthcare Management, and Innovation and Design (for working professionals), aligning business skills with sectoral expertise.
Additional details
Classes for the 2025 batch are scheduled to commence in the first week of August.
Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), Chennai
Admission requirement: Applicants must have a UGC-recognised undergraduate degree with at least 50% marks and qualify through HITS Entrance Test or national exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, or TANCET.
What courses are offered?
HITS offers specialised MBAs in Aviation Management (with semester abroad options), Green Business (in collaboration with Trier University, Germany), and Business Analytics (in partnership with IBM). It also offers niche MBAs in domains like Logistics and Supply Chain, Hospital Management, Sports Management, Hotel & Tourism, and Media & Entertainment.
Additional details
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The university’s academic year for MBA programs starts in August, with global immersion opportunities in select programs.
Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh
Admission requirement: MBA aspirants need a bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks and must clear exams like GMAT, CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, or the university’s SMART test. UG programs require 10+2 with 50% marks and entrance test scores.
What courses are offered?
Shoolini’s offerings span both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Unique UG courses include BBA in Aviation, Business Analytics, and Computer Science & Entrepreneurship. On the PG front, offbeat MBA tracks include Pharma & Healthcare, Digital Marketing, FinTech, and Retail.
Additional details
Classes for new students will tentatively start in July 2025, while continuing batches resume in February.
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Woxsen University, Hyderabad
Admission requirement: UG programs require a minimum 55% in 10+2, while MBA programs need a recognised bachelor’s degree with at least 60% marks. Standardised test scores like CAT, XAT, NMAT, or Woxsen’s own Aptitude Test (WAT) are accepted.
What courses are offered?
Woxsen offers integrated and standalone BBA programs in areas such as Digital Marketing, Financial Services, and Data Science & AI. For PG students, it has unique MBA options in Business Analytics and for experienced professionals.
Additional details
The MBA (BA) session starts in July 2025, while both the BBA and MBA (Working Professionals) programs begin in August.
GNIOT Institute of Management Studies (GIMS), Greater Noida
Admission requirement: Candidates with a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 50% (45% for SC/ST) can apply using scores from CAT, CMAT, MAT, XAT, NMAT, or GIMS’ own test (GAT).
What courses are offered?
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GIMS offers specialised PGDM tracks incorporating Artificial Intelligence into Finance, Operations, HR, and Marketing. Other niche tracks include Logistics & Supply Chain Management and New Age Startups & Entrepreneurship.
Additional details
The academic session begins annually in July, and scholarships are offered to meritorious students.
FOSTIIMA Business School, Delhi
Admission requirement: Graduates with valid scores in CAT, XAT, CMAT, or FOSTIIMA’s internal entrance test (FEAT) are eligible. Group discussions and personal interviews follow.
What courses are offered?
FOSTIIMA provides an AICTE-approved PGDM with dual specialisation that includes modules in Predictive Analytics, AI & Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Six Sigma. Operations & Analytics is a newly launched specialisation with mandatory analytics courses.
Additional details
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The academic calendar begins in July, with industry-aligned curricula and plans for mandatory AI-based modules in the near future.
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