PCET's Pune Business School, Pune

Overview

PCET's Pune Business School (PBS), Pune, is a reputed Business School in Maharashtra's second largest city. It offers a successful PGDM program (in both General and Agri-Business Management), in addition to a BVoc program for UG students. It has an experienced Faculty base with the concept of blended learning, where visiting Faculty members from industry ensure that practical training is provided. It has been recognized as a Center of Excellence in Finance and Human Resource Management, and uses events, innovative activities, and international exposure to equip its students with the unique PBS advantage. It was ranked #3 among India's emerging Business Schools in the Corporate Excellence Awards 2024.

A large part of the competitive advantage of  Pune Business School is the excellent placement record. The highest CTC offered during the most recent placement season was INR 27 LPA, with an average of INR 6.8 LPA. Almost 400 different companies took part in the short and long term recruiting drives, and 350 internship opportunities were made available to students between the first and second years of the PGDM program. Prominent recruiters include Adani, Mahindra, Dassault Systemes, and Vodafone Idea.

PBS is part of the larger PCET student community, which celebrates the College-wide fests Swartarang and Expressions every year. The Student Council, Cells, and Associations work to organize extracurricular events, set up seminars, conduct cultural training sessions, and organize sports meets. This allows students to develop their personalities and time management skills.

Highlights

Fees

The total academic fee for PGDM students of Pune Business School has multiple components: tuition fee, development charges, examination fee, alumni association contribution, registration cost, and security deposit. It is payable in four installments as follows:

• PGDM (General Management): INR 5.9 Lakh for the full two year program.
  • Installment 1: INR 50,000. This must be paid at the time of academic registration to confirm the student’s acceptance of the admission offer.
  • Installment 2: INR 2.5 Lakh. This is payable early in the second semester.
  • Installment 3: INR 1.6 Lakh. Third semester fee.
  • Installment 4: INR 1.3 Lakh. Fourth semester fee.
• PGDM (Agri-Business Management): INR 5.5 Lakh, with INR 2.75 Lakh payable each year.

The living costs for students who choose to stay on campus are split into hostel and mess fees:

• Male students: INR 1.55 LPA.
  • Hostel fee: INR 1 LPA.
  • Mess fee: INR 50,000 per year.
  • Caution deposit: INR 5,000 (one time; refunded at the time of graduation if no harm is caused to the hostel property).
• Female students: INR 1.45 LPA (the hostel fee is INR 10,000 per year lower than for male students).

Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to Pune Business School, are as follows:

• The candidate must have completed (or be in the final year of) an undergraduate course of study from a recognized University in India or abroad with any specialization, with a minimum duration of three years.
• The average aggregate over all semester examinations over the course of undergraduate study (all years) must be at least 50%. This is relaxed to 45% for SC, ST, and EWS candidates.
• The student may submit any of these valid entrance test scores: CAT, MAT, XAT, ATMA, or GMAT.
• Work experience is not strictly necessary, but it is an advantage.

The steps in the application process are:

• Obtaining the application form either online (via the Pune Business School website) or offline, from the PCET office.
• Filling up either form carefully. Any error can lead to cancellation of the application.
• Submitting soft or physical copies of all academic transcripts and certificates.
• Paying the application fee.
• Students will be shortlisted according to the entrance test score and academic history.
• After this, shortlisted students are invited to participate in the final three rounds of the selection process: essay writing, Group Discussion, and Personal Interview.
• Those candidates who display their ability to communicate effectively, think analytically, and align with the PGDM program objectives feature in the final merit list.
• Students who wish to accept the offer of admission must pay the first semester's fees and complete the academic registration process.

Placements

As one of the top MBA colleges in India, the placement highlights of Pune Business School are as follows: 

• The highest salary package offered during the most recent placement season was INR 27 LPA.
• The average CTC was INR 6.8 LPA.
• More than 387 recruiters participated in the internship and placement process.
• 350 internships were offered to PGDM students of all specializations.
• The most prominent recruiters include ICICI Lombard, Deloitte, Flipkart, Jaro Education, Bharat Forge, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bridgestone India, IDBI Bank, Bayer, Bluestar India, Adani Electricity, Finnova Advisory Services, Balmer Lawrie LLC, EXL, Zolo Stays, and Stanza Living.
• PCET, the parent institution of Pune Business School, has a powerful Industry Connect program through which it has partnerships with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC), and Young Indians (YI). This opens up a large number of live projects and internship opportunities.
• All PGDM students must complete a compulsory summer internship before their final year starts. Monthly stipends go up to INR 45,000, and most recruiters from the final placement roster offer internships as well, with the option of Pre-Placement Offers for exceptional performers.

Cut-Offs

There are two criteria related to admission to the PGDM program at PCET Pune. First, all applicants must have an undergraduate aggregate of 50% averaged over all semesters. This requirement is relaxed to 45% for reserved category students. Second, there is no predetermined cut-off based on the MBA Entrance test score. The final cut-off is decided after the shortlist for the essay, GD and PI round is announced.

Faculty & Alumni

Pune Business School is home to 8 full time Faculty members: one Dean (full Professor) and 7 Assistant Professors. All the faculty members have MBA or PGDM degrees, and half of them have either completed their doctoral studies, or are pursuing their PhD. Through the blended mode of teaching, their efforts are supplemented by 33 Corporate Faculty members (who ensure that students have a clear understanding of the expectations when they step into their full time jobs), 42 Guest Faculty members (who are very senior CXO-level professionals who conduct occasional seminars), and 8 non-teaching staff, who support the academic process (admissions, placements, library facilities, etc.).

Graduates of Pune Business School are enrolled into the PCET Alumni Association, which has distinguished alumni in senior positions all over the world, for a total of more than 50,000 registered alumni. They are encouraged to stay in touch with the School through frequent events, seminars, workshops, interactive sessions, and donation drives. They also act as mentors to the student body, and provide internships and job opportunities to current students. Finally, alumni are involved in professional development and work with senior faculty members to inject practical components in the PGDM curriculum. They also advise students on live projects and enhancing their portfolio of professional certifications. They work with students who are interested in entrepreneurship to provide startup guidance and funding opportunities.

Scholarships

As in other top MBA colleges in India, there are multiple financial aid options available to students of Pune Business School. Most scholarships are offered by the parent University (PCU):

1. Merit-cum-Means Scholarships: This is offered in four categories, to all students from the 8 North-Eastern States and the Union Territory of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. Category I offers a 100% tuition fee scholarship and a 25% reduction in hostel fees to students who consistently score above 90% in their Standard X, XII, and undergraduate examinations, up to a maximum of ten students across the University. The other categories are organized on similar lines; Category IV offers a 10% tuition fee waiver and 25% hostel fee reduction to students with scores above 50% throughout.

2. Merit Scholarships: These are offered to PGDM students based on a combination of academic excellence (in the qualifying examination and MBA entrance test), extracurricular activities, and leadership potential.

3. Need Based Scholarships: These are intended to help students from economically weaker sections of society. There is no fixed amount, and the quantum of financial aid will depend on the application and interview.

4. Research and Study Abroad Scholarships: Pune Business School is well known for its international collaborations, and multiple students spend semesters abroad on exchange programs or make short industrial visits. The parent University (PCU) provides financial support for these trips to meritorious students who are likely to use the opportunity to achieve great things in their careers. The application must be submitted to the University after the exchange program or study tour is confirmed.

Preparation & FAQs

There are three main sections of the application procedure to PCET's Pune Business School, Pune, which need careful preparation:

• Entrance test: Students can choose any nationally recognized MBA aptitude test; they should ensure that they attend classes (online or offline) and attempt at least 5-10 mock tests before appearing for the chosen examination.
• Essay Writing round: This tests analytical, writing, and reasoning skills.
• Group Discussion and Personal interview rounds: Applicants must go through their application in detail and prepare 30-45 second answers to support each, in addition to practicing in small groups to improve their communication skills.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the best Business School in Maharashtra?

PCET's Pune Business School, Pune, is one of the best MBA colleges in India, and is a contender for best Business School in Maharashtra. It is ranked #106 among all Private Business Schools in India, according to the IIRF 2024 ranking list.

Q. Which specializations are offered to PGDM students of PCET’s Pune Business School?

PGDM students of Pune Business School can choose from among 6 specializations, including Marketing Management, Business Analytics, Financial Management, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Management, Agri-Business Management, and Human Resource Management.

Q. What international collaboration opportunities are available to PGDM students of PCET’s Pune Business School?

Pune Business School has MoUs with multiple Universities worldwide for exchange programs and management research collaborations. There are Business School partners in 6 countries in Asia (including Russia and Japan), 9 countries in Europe (including Germany and Italy), 9 cities in the United States (including Chicago and Las Vegas), and two in the United Kingdom.

Q. Which are the main student clubs at PCET’s Pune Business School?

Pune Business School has a vibrant student culture outside the classroom, and the Student Council administers the activities of 19 clubs, committees, and associations. These include the Alumni Committee, the Marketing Conclave, the Green Committee, the Branding & Public Relations Association, and the Student Academic Committee.

Q. Which companies offer summer internships to PGDM students of PCET’s Pune Business School?

Pune Business School works with several large local industries for summer training and internships, including Godrej Agrovet, Bayer, KPIT, Dhanuka Agritech, FIAT Automobiles, Michelin Tyres, Philips, Jindal Steel Works, Aditya Birla Retail, and Outlook Magazine.