One Year vs Two Year MBA: Which is Better?

One Year or Two Year? Classic Hamlet Situation, isn’t it? MBA is arguably one of the most common and sought-after courses for students in the world since it is more investment than education. Theoretically, business school is about developing new business knowledge and perspectives, meeting new friends, and discovering the intangibles of being a boss. However, the question facing most students is whether to opt for one year or two year MBA. Read this blog on one year vs two year MBA to end your confusion!

What is a One Year and Two Year MBA?

On the basis of duration, MBAs are classified into one year and two year MBAs. Provided by some of the world’s most internationally qualified esteemed business schools, MBAs for one year and two years are generally well known in the employment market. 

Besides the distinction in names the time period of each, there are several important factors that distinguish each type. One year MBA courses are considered to be quite intensive, with education packaged in a 12-month program, whereas a two-year course encourages students to experience the MBA and also the life outside.

Check out these no GMAT MBA programs!

One Year vs Two Year MBA

Parameters	Two-Year MBA	One-Year MBA
Work Experience	Students must have work experience of at least 4-5 years. Some MBA programs also allow fresh graduates to apply to 2-year MBA programs without work experience	1-Year US MBA programs, the average work experience required is more than 5 years going up to 10 years.
Future Scope	There is more time to explore elective courses in the 2nd year of the MBA program. Students can also explore internships and extra-curricular activities.	There are fewer opportunities to explore different career paths before full-time recruitment begins.
Cost	The average annual expense for the 2-year Kellogg MBA program is $105,610.	The average annual expenses for the 1-year Kellogg MBA program are $140,366 which is significantly lesser than the 2-Year program.
Networking	Students get an opportunity to meet and interact with students and also mentor other first-year students. Hence, the two-year program includes greater networking opportunities both within the campus and outside.	Networking is limited as students interact with lesser candidates for a short amount of time.

Must Read: MBA Without Work Experience [Best Options Available]

Pros and Cons

The results of the one-year course can be easily identified. It helps those who have specific career aspirations and those who want to rise in the business world to do as early as possible. 

A shorter time period means reduced financial costs, reduced spending and lower cost of living. In one year, you get to rejuvenate your career growth, instead of two years, and take less time out of lucrative employment. Having enrolled in a one-year MBA course will help you make good use of time. It doesn’t matter whether you’d like to pursue a career or in a company, you can make a profit in a single year. 

Candidates will take their time to determine everything they expect from their MBA degree for two years. The two-year cycle offers them an opportunity to try new opportunities. A two-year MBA degree gives a chance to develop a solid base when it involves academics. In order to learn in-depth expertise, one requires time flexibility in order to establish their schedule as well as absorb and implement information.

Must Read: How to pursue MBA Abroad?

One Year vs Two Year MBA – Which is Better? 

One-year MBA	Two-year MBA
There are several One-year MBA courses that want students to get an undergraduate degree related to business. In addition, others will require a professional statement that demonstrates your career aspirations and ambitions.	The standard MBA course is implemented in a two-year system. Peers who prefer a conventional format have a rich learning environment and have greater access to the learning climate, networking opportunities and connections with students and faculty.
The benefit of having enrolled in a One-year MBA course will help to make better use of time. It really doesn’t matter whether you’d like to pursue a career in a corporation, you can make a profit in a single year.	The benefit of attending a Two-year full-time MBA course is that students will take the chance to prepare without disturbances and therefore are prepared to look at the total perspective of business from the onset.
They are a perfect option for fast-track management programmes, entry-level consultant positions, or some other graduate work in the industry.	They claim that because the success of some students is better than the others before 2 years, those students are eligible to earn a degree. However, it is important to find the completion time.
Some online One-year MBA programs are intensive and tailored for working students, while some are designed for full-time students. It is also advisable to confirm before continuing with the course.	The Two-year format is not as intense as the one-year format and offers a wide variety of electives, placements and research trips that allow students to concentrate more precisely on their studies.
The benefit of pursuing a One-year MBA is that it is also cost-effective.	Two-year MBAs are a bit expensive on the pocket but are very effective with the learning methods and quality approaches. That is why many of the most prestigious business schools prefer the traditional format.

How to Choose Between One Year vs Two Year MBA?

Your choice of MBA degree should be entirely based on your schedules and professional aspirations. Unlike with a one-year framework, students in a two-year format have far more opportunities for non-academic and social events, as well as more time for summer internships. The crucial difference is the opportunity you need to recover and be part of a bigger environment outside of academics. 

Unlike with a one-year framework, students in a two-year format have far more opportunities for non-academic and social events, as well as more time for summer internship, which is becoming a crucial requirement for seeking a career. This makes the two-year MBA degrees a strong choice for freshman students, whereas the one-year MBA course structure is a solid option for much more experienced professionals who prefer quicker entrance or smoother progress up the career pyramid.

Top 1-Year MBA Programs

Check out the top one-year MBA programs to accelerate your career.

Name of Institute	Location	Courses Offered
Kellogg School of Management	USA	10 to 11 month MBA course
Johnson Graduate Schools of Management, Cornell University	USA	1 year MBA course
Essec Business School	France and Singapore	ESSEC Global MBA
University of Stirling	UK	MBA
York St John University	UK	MBA Leadership and Management

Top 1- Year MBA in India

With various options for MBA in India, the following business schools offer the best courses for 1-year MBA.

Business Schools	Program Name	Program Fee (INR)
ISB Hyderabad	Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP)	35,99,000
IIM Bangalore	Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP)	27,50,000
IIM Calcutta	MBA for Executives (MBA-Ex)	27,00,000
IIM Ahmedabad	Post Graduate Programme in Management for Executives (PGPX)	28,00,000
IIM Indore	Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP)	20,10,000
SPJIMR Mumbai	Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM)	20,50,000
XLRI Jamshedpur	PGDM-Executive	20,00,000
MDI Gurgaon	National management Programme (NMP)	15,35,000
IIM Lucknow	International Programme in Management for Executives (IPMX)	23,50,000
IIM Kozhikode	Post Graduate Program in Business Leadership (PGP-BL)	22,50,000
Great Lakes Chennai	Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM)	19,25,000
IIM Udaipur	MBA- Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM); MBA- Digital Enterprise Management (DEM)	21,00,000
IIM Shillong	Post Graduate Program for Executives – Managing Business in Emerging Economies (PGPEx- MBEE)	18,75,000
K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai	MBA Executive   (MBA-Ex)	8,17,400
SOIL Gurgaon	Post Graduate Program in Business Leadership	15,03,226

Also Read: Indian MBA Vs Foreign MBA

2 Years MBA Programs in India

The following are the top 2 year MBA program in India:

• IIM Ahmedabad
• IIM Bangalore
• IIM Calcutta
• IIM Lucknow
• Xavier School of Management
• Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi
• IIM Kozhikode
• IIM Indore
• Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM)

Thus, we saw all about one year vs two years MBA in this blog. Wondering which one to pursue according to your goals and aspirations? Head over to Leverage Edu for expert assistance. Book your free session now!