Executive MBA in Development Management

About the Programme

The Executive MBA in Development Management is a 1-year, full-time programme for working professionals with more than 2 years of experience in any sector. It builds core management skills, such as financial management, people management, organisation design, and marketing, and blends them with a deep understanding of development challenges in rural and urban India. The goal is to build a cadre of management professionals who can strengthen social sector organisations, through hands-on learning, extensive fieldwork, case studies, and sector collaborations, all grounded in equity, dignity, justice, and sustainability. The current batch has 27 participants with an average of 7 years of work experience, and 85% of them have worked across more than one area of the social sector.

Eligibility

• A four-year bachelor's degree, OR a three-year bachelor's degree plus a master's degree, OR a five-year integrated master's degree, in any discipline.
• At least two years of full-time work experience after graduation, in any sector.
• Open to applicants from NGOs, social enterprises, consulting organisations, the corporate sector, CSR teams, public administration, and community-based initiatives.

Admission Process

• Step 1, Online Application: Submit scores from CUET, CAT, XAT, GMAT, MAT, ATMA, CMAT, or GRE taken between 2025 and 2027, or register for Azim Premji University's own admission test if you don't have one of these.
• Step 2, Personal Interview: Candidates who do well in the test are invited for an interview, held online or at one of the university's centres.
• Step 3, Selection: Based on test scores and interview performance, with admission offers usually sent within a few weeks of the interview.

Curriculum Overview

• 12 core courses across four areas: Organisation Structure and Design, Fundamentals of Financial Management, Project Planning and Implementation, People Management, Stakeholder and Relationship Management, Understanding Data for Organisational Decisions, Storytelling through Data, Professional Skills for Development Managers, Monitoring and Evaluation, Development Challenges in the Indian Context, Understanding State Institutions and Governance, and Approaches to Development Interventions and Action.
• 3 elective courses of two credits each, chosen in the fourth term, from options such as Technology for Development, Contemporary Development Debates, Organizational Strategy in Complex Environments, Marketing for Social Sector Organisations, Social Entrepreneurship, Corporate Social Responsibility, Economics of Sustainability, and Advanced Financial Management. The elective list may change year to year.
• 40 total credits, including a 2-week Field Immersion with communities and local institutions, and an 8-week Field Internship where participants run a full project inside a social sector organisation.

Programme Highlights

• Skills built across five areas: financial and data management, organisational management, professional practitioner skills, people and relationship management, and development expertise.
• Fieldwork components spread across every semester, alongside core courses, electives, weekly guest lectures, and workshops.
• High faculty-to-student ratio, with faculty offering mentoring and support beyond academics.
• Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, covering assessments, classroom support, out-of-classroom support, and fieldwork, with a dedicated Disability Inclusion Team.

Career Pathways

• Leading the implementation of large programmes in social sector organisations.
• Facilitating organisational growth through people management and fundraising.
• Leadership roles in fast-growing social enterprises, cooperatives, and farmer-producer companies.
• Managing programme grants at donor foundations, philanthropies, and CSR teams.
• Support from a dedicated placement cell, with 100+ organisations recruiting every year, including non-profits, CSR foundations, development consultancies, and impact-driven enterprises. A separate Social Enterprise Cell supports graduates who want to start their own ventures.

Fees & Financial Aid

• Full or partial financial aid is available for students with an annual family income under ₹8 lakhs, covering tuition and accommodation.
• Candidates currently working at grassroots organisations, NGOs, or philanthropic institutions, with a family income under ₹15 lakhs, get a 50% waiver on tuition fees.
• All financial aid is subject to verification and given at the university's discretion. The exact tuition fee amount isn't stated in this source.