Higher education institutions (HEIs), including IITs, are increasingly offering integrated five-year BBA/BTech-MBA programs with specializations in data analytics and AI. These programs aim to produce future-ready business graduates with AI and analytics skills, enabling them to make data-driven business decisions.
The demand for these programs, as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is increasing among students determined to pursue postgraduate studies for a lesser duration. Integrated courses also support Multiple Input and Output System (MEES) to increase learning flexibility.
Recently, IIT Mandi became the first IIT to introduce a five-year Integrated MBA (IMBA) program starting from the academic year 2024-25. The program aims to equip students with an in-depth understanding of management and skills in analytics, data science, mathematics and statistics. The institute hopes to produce future business leaders with a strong affinity for technology and cross-functional management skills.
“The curriculum of IMBA program includes courses on subjects of pure management, analytics, data science and AI, mathematics and statistics, data structures, economics, computer programming and other related science subjects. The courses covered in the first three years of the program are designed to provide students with a solid foundation to pursue specialized AI and data science-based management courses in subsequent years. It includes management courses such as operations, finance, marketing, organizational behavior, human resource management, strategy and entrepreneurship. Besides, it deals with generic courses on personality and skill development, creative thinking, problem solving and leadership,” says Dr Anjan Kumar Swain, IMBA, Chairman of Admissions, IIT Mandi.
The main objective of the five-year programme is to keep students abreast of current industry demands through a six-month industrial internship programme and a one-year project,” says Swain. Under MEES, the programme offers the following exit options: after completing three years, the student would be awarded a BBA Analytics degree, and after completing four years, the student would be awarded a BBA Analytics (Honours) degree.
Karnataka’s 5-year TAPMI IPM Integrated BBA – MBA includes programs on computer science and analytics, among other options. A student can leave the IPM program after three years with a BBA degree if academic requirements are met. “After five years, students can hope to secure a junior or middle management position in large multinational companies in India or abroad. Majority of the positions are in the areas of IT & Analytics, Consulting, BFSI and Retail,” says Professor Vishnu Chandar Venkatesh, Assistant Professor – Strategy, Chairman, Integrated Management Program (IPM), TAPMI, Manipal.
The five-year integrated BBA-MBA programme offers a seamless transition from undergraduate to postgraduate studies, eliminating the need for separate admission processes. “This distinctive integration allows students to receive a comprehensive education that blends UG and PG content, providing a solid foundation in business principles followed by advanced management training. Moreover, integrated programmes are generally more cost-effective than enrolling in two separate degree programmes, making them an exclusive and advantageous choice for students,” says Rajesh Verma, HOS, Mittal School of Business, LPU, Punjab, who runs several integrated BBA+MBA programmes with subjects in computer science, analytics and machine learning.
“A student who follows a five-year integrated program does not need to take competitive examinations for admission to a postgraduate program. Additionally, the five-year program covers the necessary credits required for students in 10 semesters and allows them to get exposure to the industry through internships and other industry-related projects,” says Dr. Sujata Khandai, Director, Amity School of Business, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh.
