✓ NIRF assesses the teaching methodology of institutions of higher education and then provides them ranking accordingly.
✓ NIRF ranking helps students identify the best university amongst thousands.
✓ NIRF provides ranking as per the 11 different categories and the ranking helps students know where the university stands in comparison to other universities in the same category.
DEB (Distance Education Bureau)
UGC DEB
✓ DEB is a regulatory body under UGC that is in charge of all Distance & Online Education Programs in India.
✓ All universities need UGC-DEB approval to provide distance learning courses.
✓ Only 10% of the total universities in India allowed by DEB to provide Online Degree Courses.
NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council)
✓ NAAC is a government organisation, set up to assess and accredit the quality of Higher Education Institutions in India.
✓ NAAC provides students with information about the quality of institutes.
✓ NAAC provides full-fledged reviews to universities about strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities that help institutions to improve.
✓ NAAC accreditation ranges from A++ to C. A++ is the highest grade.
SASTRA University Online MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a 2-year, 4-semester, UGC-DEB approved postgraduate program delivered in the Online Mode – Semester Pattern by SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur. The curriculum builds core management capability across strategy, economics, accounting, marketing, people management, finance, and operations, then lets students specialise through elective tracks in Marketing, Finance, or Human Resource Management (HRM) — closing with a semester-long Project Work.
Eligibility, minimum marks, and document requirements for admission are prescribed by the Board of Management of SASTRA from time to time. Selection to the program is done transparently, based on merit.
Backed by UGC-DEB approval and a NAAC A++ accredited university, and delivered in association with TCS iON for learning and placement access, SASTRA Online MBA gives working professionals a UGC-recognized management postgraduate degree without relocating to campus, alongside structured career-readiness support and add-on tech skills beyond the academic curriculum.
Quick Overview: SASTRA Online MBA is a UGC-DEB approved, 2-year (4-semester), 80-credit postgraduate program with electives in Marketing, Finance, and HRM. Semester Fee: ₹70,000 (pay semester-wise). Yearly Fee: ₹1,10,000* (discounted from ₹1,40,000). Total Programme Fee: ₹1,80,000* (discounted from ₹2,80,000, for the full 2-year programme). *Limited-time discounted fee for the July 2026 batch. An optional Student Support Services add-on is available for ₹15,000.
About the SASTRA University Online MBA
SASTRA Online MBA (Online Mode – Semester Pattern) is a postgraduate management degree offered by SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, one of India's NAAC A++ accredited, NIRF-ranked institutions. The programme is designed to build structured knowledge of business concepts alongside the analytical, managerial, and career-readiness skills that today's industry expects.
The programme spans 2 academic years across 4 semesters, totalling 80 credits. Semesters 1 and 2 build the common management core — Foundations of Management and Organisational Behaviour, Economics for Decision Making, Accounting for Managers, Business Research Methods, Contemporary Marketing Management, People Management, Financial Management, and Operations & Supply Chain Management — alongside a Master Class series. From Semester 3, students choose an elective specialization track in Marketing, Finance, or Human Resource Management, layered on top of core papers such as Strategic Management, Business Analytics & Data Visualisation, and Corporate Laws & Governance, and close the programme with a dedicated Project Work in Semester 4.
Beyond academics, the programme is built around three graduate outcomes: academic and managerial skills, soft skills and career readiness (including resume, LinkedIn, and industry mentorship support), and add-on tech skills such as Power BI, Digital Marketing, AI tools for business, and Accounting ERP & GST / MS Excel.
SASTRA's online courses are delivered in association with TCS iON, which gives students access to its learning and placement portal — bringing a large number of job opportunities to students' doorsteps through virtual means.
Learning Outcome: A degree that proves your knowledge, and a skillset that proves your readiness — structured business concepts, analytical and critical thinking, real-life problem solving through live projects and case studies, and a specialization track aligned to your career goals.
UGC-DEB Approved
SASTRA University holds UGC-DEB approval for its fully online courses, making the MBA degree valid and recognized nationally and internationally.
NAAC A++ & NIRF Ranked
SASTRA is rated by NAAC as an A++ institution and has been ranked among the top 25 universities in India by NIRF.
TCS iON Association
Students get access to the TCS iON job portal, with a large number of openings and hirings across top institutions and companies.
The programme spans 4 semesters totalling 80 credits. Semesters 1 and 2 build the common management core, while Semesters 3 and 4 combine core strategy/analytics/governance papers with an elective specialization track (see the Specializations tab) and a final Project Work.
Semester 1
Courses 4/20 Credits 16/80
MBAOL028 — Foundations of Management and Organisational Behaviour
4
MBAOL029 — Economics for Decision Making
4
MBAOL003 — Accounting for Managers
4
MBAOL030 — Business Research Methods
4
Semester 2
Courses 5/20 Credits 18/80
MBAOL020 — Contemporary Marketing Management
4
MBAOL021 — People Management
4
MBAOL007 — Financial Management
4
MBAOL022 — Operations & Supply Chain Management
4
MBAOL031 — Master Class - I
2
Semester 3
Courses 5/20 Credits 20/80
MBAOL009 — Strategic Management
4
MBAOL015 — Business Analytics & Data Visualisation
4
+ 3 electives from your chosen specialization track (see Specializations tab)
Semester 4
Courses 6/20 Credits 26/80
MBAOL025 — Corporate Laws & Governance
4
MBAOL046 — Project Work
8
+ elective(s) from your chosen specialization track (see Specializations tab)
Course codes and credit values are as published by SASTRA Online at the time of writing and may be revised for later intakes. Confirm the current curriculum document with SASTRA Online before admission.
From Semester 3, students pick one specialization track — Marketing, Finance, or Human Resource Management — and take the corresponding elective papers across Semesters 3 and 4, alongside Project Work in the final semester.
L = Lecture hours, T = Tutorial hours, P = Practical/Project hours, C = Credits, as per the official curriculum document. Elective options may be revised by the university for later academic sessions.
*Limited-time discounted fee applicable for July 2026 batch admissions.
Student Support Services — offered as a value-added optional service at an additional fee of ₹15,000. Terms and conditions apply.
✓ Fee Includes
Interactive learning content and Self Learning Materials (SLM)
Live interactive sessions with industry experts
Doubt clearing and contact classes
Semester exam fees for all 4 semesters
Career support services
✕ Fee Does Not Include
Re-exam fees for subsequent attempts
Additional administrative charges
Payment Options
Option 01
Make a down payment of ₹20,000 and avail loan/financial assistance for the balance fee.
Option 02
Pay semester fee before the specified last date.
Option 03
Pay annual fee upfront before the deadline.
Option 04
Pay complete programme fee before the specified date.
Fee structure figures are sourced from SASTRA University Online's published fee schedule for the July 2026 batch and are subject to revision by the university at its discretion. Confirm the final payable amount and offer validity directly with SASTRA Online before completing admission.
Admission to the SASTRA Online MBA programme is fully online, with selection done transparently on a merit basis.
Step 1:Go to the official website of SASTRA online university and click on "Apply Now".
Step 2:Fill in the application form with your personal, academic, and (where applicable) work-experience details.
Step 3:Upload the digital copies of all the required documents for proof of eligibility and then click on "Submit".
Step 4:Choose a payment option (see Fees tab) and pay the applicable fee.
Step 5:After your application has been reviewed and the documents have been verified, your admission will be confirmed and LMS access is provided via email.
According to the latest UGC guidelines, all candidates must create their ABC ID and DEB ID to get admission.
Now, get admission twice a year, in July/August and January/February, as per the latest UGC notice on academic sessions.
A degree obtained through ODL/Online mode is equivalent to a traditional degree — see the UGC Policies tab in this page for the official notice.
UGC declares a fee refund policy for students withdrawing within a specified period — see the full breakdown below.
Fee Refund Policy — SASTRA Online MBA
SASTRA University Online follows UGC refund norms. Students get a 100% refund if they withdraw 15 days or more before the last admission date. A 90% refund applies if the withdrawal is less than 15 days before the last admission date. An 80% refund is allowed within 15 days after the last date of admission. A 50% refund applies for withdrawals 15–30 days after the last day of admission. No refund is given after 30 days. SASTRA University may not refund the admission fee paid at the time of admission.
The SASTRA Online MBA programme pairs core management education with structured career readiness — personal career clarity, an ATS-optimised resume and recruiter-ready LinkedIn profile, business communication and interview preparation, and industry mentorship across all four semesters. Placement support is delivered in association with TCS iON, giving students access to its learning and placement portal.
Graduates carry a specialization in Marketing, Finance, or HRM into roles aligned with that track, backed by add-on tech skills in Power BI, digital marketing, AI tools for business, and accounting ERP/GST/Excel.
Placement Snapshot
50%
Average Salary Hike
300+
Hiring Partners
3X
Increase in Interview Opportunities
Placement outcomes depend on portfolio, prior experience, and the hiring cycle.
SASTRA University Online operates under the regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the statutory body that governs higher education in India, including online and distance learning. Two UGC policies are especially relevant to prospective MBA students: the fee refund policy, and the equivalence of online degrees with regular degrees.
1. UGC Fee Refund Policy
15+ days before the last admission date
100% refund of fees paid
Less than 15 days before the last admission date
90% refund of fees paid
Within 15 days after the last admission date
80% refund of fees paid
15–30 days after the last admission date
50% refund of fees paid
More than 30 days after the last admission date
No refund
Admission Fee
Non-refundable in all cases, as per UGC norms
This refund schedule is a UGC-wide policy applicable to all UGC-DEB approved online programs, not specific to SASTRA alone. Always confirm the applicable refund amount for your specific case directly with SASTRA Online admissions before withdrawing.
2. Are Online Degrees Equivalent to Offline Degrees?
Yes. As per Regulation 22 of the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020, degrees awarded through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode and/or Online mode by UGC-recognized Higher Educational Institutions are treated as fully equivalent to the corresponding degrees offered through conventional (on-campus) mode.
In other words, an MBA earned online from SASTRA carries the same legal standing as a regular, on-campus MBA — for employment, government exams, and further studies — provided the program is offered under a UGC-DEB approved online mode.
Equivalence applies only to programs offered by institutions that are UGC-DEB approved for that specific program and academic session. Before taking admission, students should verify SASTRA University Online's current approval status on the official UGC website or the UGC-DEB portal.
Final Verdict: SASTRA University Online MBA pairs a UGC-recognized, NAAC A++ backed postgraduate management degree with a genuinely structured career-readiness layer — resume and LinkedIn support, interview preparation, and industry mentorship across all four semesters — on top of a specialization choice in Marketing, Finance, or HRM and add-on tech skills like Power BI and AI tools for business. At a discounted ₹1,80,000 for the full 2-year programme (July 2026 batch), with flexible semester, annual, or full-programme payment options, it offers working professionals a credible route to an MBA without pausing their career.