One of the most frequent questions from Indian professionals considering an IBC degree: “Can I do this while continuing to work?”
The honest answer depends heavily on the specific programme and campus. IBC programmes in India fall into three delivery categories:
Full-time only (majority of programmes)
Most IBC programmes — particularly BSc/BEng undergraduate programmes and standard MSc programmes — are delivered full-time and are not designed for concurrent employment. Attendance requirements, laboratory/workshop sessions, and the pace of a 12-month MSc make working alongside studying impractical.
These programmes require: Career break or leave of absence from current employment; or for fresh graduates with no work experience, this is the norm anyway.
Part-time / evening format (limited availability)
A small number of IBC MBA programmes offer part-time or blended delivery for working professionals:
Deakin GIFT City MBA (FinTech): Deakin has indicated that a part-time track for the MBA (FinTech) programme is under development for GIFT City, with delivery scheduled across weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. This track would extend the programme from 18 months to 30 months. Confirm current availability with Deakin India admissions.
Wollongong GIFT City MBA: Wollongong’s GIFT City MBA has been delivered with a flexible schedule that allows some students to maintain part-time employment, particularly in the first semester. Confirm the specific timetable with the admissions office — delivery formats can change each cohort.
Online / hybrid components
Most IBC campuses include some online components — live video lectures, asynchronous study materials, and online assessments — particularly for elective modules. However, mandatory in-person attendance requirements mean these programmes cannot be completed fully remotely.
Southampton Gurugram and Liverpool LIBI both require regular on-campus attendance; the proportion of synchronous online content varies by module.
What to ask the admissions office
Before applying with the intention of continuing employment, ask specifically:
- “What percentage of teaching is delivered in-person versus online?”
- “What are the mandatory attendance hours per week (including contact hours + tutorials)?”
- “Are there part-time or extended duration options?”
- “What is the policy on medical or professional leave during the programme?”
- “Have any previous students successfully completed this programme while working?”
Executive programmes — a future offering
No IBC campus in India currently offers an accredited Executive MBA (EMBA) with a fully weekend-only format. This is a gap in the market that several campuses have indicated they will address in their second or third phase of programme development. Glocampus will list executive programmes as they become available.
Alternatives for professionals who can’t take a career break
If a full-time IBC programme is not viable, consider:
- Online degrees from the same universities: Southampton, Liverpool, Deakin, and Wollongong all offer fully online postgraduate programmes that can be completed part-time from anywhere in India, though these are distinct from the IBC degree and are identified as online on the transcript
- Postgraduate certificates: Some IBC campuses offer short certificate programmes (2–4 months) that are stackable toward a full degree; confirm availability with the campus
Delivery format information changes each cohort. Always confirm current timetable and attendance requirements directly with the admissions office before applying.