Overview
MBA specialisations let you focus the second year of your degree on one business area, such as finance, marketing, HR, operations or analytics. This MBA specialisations list draws on GMAC, the organisation behind the GMAT, and on a published online MBA curriculum to show what each option covers and how to choose.
Your specialisation shapes what you study in the second year and the direction your career takes after it. The first year of an MBA is broadly common to everyone. The specialisation is where the degree becomes personal, so the choice deserves a close look at the actual subjects behind each option.
What Are MBA Specialisations?
An MBA specialisation is a group of elective subjects in one functional or industry area. In the Online SRM MBA from SRM University Sikkim, specialisation electives run through the third and fourth semesters, alongside core papers such as Research Methodology in Business, Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking.
MBA Specialisations List From GMAC
GMAC groups specialisations into three broad types. This list of MBA streams shows the range available globally.
| Type | Specialisations Listed by GMAC |
|---|---|
|
Common types
|
Finance, Accounting, Marketing, International Business, Information Technology, Business Analytics
|
|
Industry- or function-specific
|
Consulting, Project Management, Real Estate, HR, Healthcare Management, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management
|
|
Future focused
|
Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Fintech, Artificial Intelligence
|
Not every university offers every stream, so check which MBA specialisation courses your chosen programme actually runs.
Which MBA Specialisations Are Growing?
GMAC notes that sustainability, entrepreneurship, fintech and artificial intelligence are rapidly growing in popularity. It also points to a surge in demand for healthcare management after the pandemic and describes finance as a popular choice among MBA students.
These trends help explain why newer programmes pair a traditional function with technology, such as finance with fintech or HR with emerging technologies.
Which MBA Specialisation Is Best?
Which MBA specialisation is best has no single answer. The best MBA specialisations for you depend on your background, the work you enjoy and the industry you want to enter. Read the elective subjects of each option and ask yourself if you would want to work with those topics every day. Then weigh MBA specialisations and their scope against the roles available in the sector and city where you plan to work.
Online MBA Specialisations at Online SRM
The Online SRM MBA offers seven online MBA specialisations. The published electives give a clear picture of the MBA specialisation scope for each one.
| Specialization | Published Elective Subjects |
|---|---|
|
Finance and Fintech
|
Security Analysis and Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, Fintech
|
|
Marketing and Digital Technologies
|
Sales, Distribution and Brand Management, Digital Business Models, Digital Marketing and E-commerce, Integrated Marketing Communication, Customer Relationship Management
|
|
HR and Emerging Technologies
|
Digital HR Transformation, HR Strategy and Analytics, IT in Talent Acquisition and Management, AI in HR processes
|
|
Business Analytics and AI
|
Analytics for E-commerce and Retail Operations, Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning, Data Visualisation and Storytelling, Generative Artificial Intelligence
|
|
Operations and Supply Chain Management
|
Lean Manufacturing, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Business Process Reengineering, Benchmarking and MRP Systems, Six Sigma and Total Quality Management
|
|
Hospital and Health Care Management
|
Health Insurance, Hospital Planning and Infrastructure Management, Healthcare Operations Management, Quality Management in Healthcare, Health Informatics
|
|
Hospitality and Tourism Management
|
Fundamentals of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Travel Agency and Tour Operations, Hospitality and Tourism Laws, Heritage, Culture and Sustainable Development
|
For a closer look at one option, read about the subjects in an MBA business analytics program.
Choose Your Specialisation With Online SRM
All seven specialisations run within the two-year, 80-credit Online SRM MBA with live faculty sessions and a fee of ₹27,500 per semester. Compare the elective subjects and pick the path that fits your goals.
Key Takeaways
- ➤ MBA specialisations focus your second year on one business area
- ➤ GMAC groups them into common, industry- orfunction-specific,,c afuture-focusedsed types
- ➤ GMAC sees sustainability, entrepreneurship, fintech and AI growing in popularity
- ➤ The right choice depends on your background, interests and target industry
- ➤ Online SRM offers seven specialisations with published elective subjects
Conclusion
A specialisation turns a general management degree into a clear career direction. Start with the elective subjects behind each option, match them to your background and interests and then consider the industry you want to join. The Online SRM MBA publishes the electives for all seven of its specialisations, so you can compare them before you apply.
FAQs
Which is the best MBA specialisation?
There is no single best option. The right one depends on your background, interests and the industry you plan to work in. Compare the elective subjects of each option before deciding.
Which MBA has the highest demand?
GMAC describes finance as a popular choice and notes rising interest in sustainability, entrepreneurship, fintech and artificial intelligence, along with greater demand for healthcare management since the pandemic.
What are the top 7 MBA programs?
GMAC lists finance, accounting, marketing, international business, information technology and business analytics among the common types, with operations, supply chain and healthcare management among industry-specific options.
Which MBA is good for salary?
In GMAC’s published figures, artificial intelligence, consulting and information technology are among the higher-paying specialisations. These figures are global averages, and pay in India varies by role, experience and city.
When do you choose an MBA specialisation?
In the Online SRM MBA, specialisation electives are studied in the third and fourth semesters.
How many specialisations does the Online SRM MBA offer?
Seven, covering finance and fintech, marketing and digital technologies, HR and emerging technologies, business analytics and AI, operations and supply chain, hospital and health care and hospitality and tourism.
