The MBA or the Master of Business Administration is the dream course for many. One of the main reasons for this is that this course gives you the heights in your corporate career which no other course can come near. So, if you want to excel professionally, an MBA is the way. So, knowing the MBA syllabus comes naturally, the next step. The syllabus is meticulously designed to cater for skills like business management, financial management, human resource management, corporate communication, organisational structure and behaviour.
MBA comes with various specialisations, and candidates choose their respective specialisations according to their interest and their preferred roles in their careers. Popular MBA specialisations include Marketing, Finance, HR, Accounting, Hotel Management, etc. In this blog, we have extensively covered syllabi of all these MBA specialisations in detail.
The MBA syllabus is carefully designed to cater relvant knowledge and skills essential for strategic thought leadership, business administration, etc. The curriculum makes a person industry-ready. It comprises a blend of core and elective subjects. Below is the list of MBA courses subjects for the General stream:
Year
Semester
MBA Courses subjects
1st
I
Management Concepts & Organisational Behaviour
Managerial Economics
Accounting for Managers
Business Environment and Law
Research Methodology
II
Financial Management
Marketing Management
Human Resources Management
Operations Research and Management
Strategic Management
2nd
III
Consumer Behaviour
Performance Management
Merchant Banking and Financial Services
Management Control Systems
Entrepreneurship Management
IV
Investment and Portfolio Management
Services Marketing
Information Technology and E-Business
International Business
Training and Development
Project Work
MBA Syllabus Specialisation-Wise
The core MBA subjects form the specialisation of the MBA. Each one focuses on key business areas. Please note that the first two semesters or the Ist year of MBA cover the core subjects. Then, in the 2nd year, specialisation kicks in during the last two semesters. Below are all the major MBA specialisation-wise syllabi:
MBA in Finance Syllabus 2026
The MBA in Finance specialisation syllabus is meant for roles in banking, investment, and corporate finance. Therefore, the MBA finance syllabus emphasises on subjects like financial analysis, risk management, global markets, etc. Below, find the semester-wise courses.
Semester
Courses
Semester 1
Management Concepts & Organisational Behaviour
Managerial Economics
Accounting for Managers
Business Environment and Law
Research Methodology
Semester 2
Financial Management
Marketing Management
Human Resources Management
Operations Research and Management
Strategic Management
Semester 3
Strategic Financial Management
Banking and Indian Financial System
Merchant Banking and Financial Services
Project Management
Management Accounting
Semester 4
Investment and Portfolio Management
Global Financial Management
International Trade and Finance
Security Market Operations
Financial Derivatives
Project Work
MBA Marketing Syllabus 2026
The MBA Marketing syllabus has been crafted to expose you to consumer insights, brand building, digital brand strategies, etc. The syllabus sley focuses on sales, advertising, or market research. Transitioning from core to specialised topics helps apply theory practically. Check the syllabus below.
Semester
Courses
Semester 1
Management Concepts & Organisational Behaviour
Managerial Economics
Accounting for Managers
Business Environment and Law
Research Methodology
Semester 2
Financial Management
Marketing Management
Human Resources Management
Operations Research and Management
Strategic Management
Semester 3
Consumer Behaviour
Marketing Research
Industrial Marketing
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Retail Marketing
Semester 4
Rural Marketing
Services Marketing
Advertising & Sales Promotion
Customer Relationship Management
Global Marketing
Project Work
MBA HR Syllabus 2026
The MBA HR syllabus focuses on people management, talent development, and labour laws. The syllabus prepares you for roles in talent hiring, employee training, and maintaining & building employee relations. With more focus on prioritising workforce well-being, the HR role has become more important than ever. See the MBA HRM semester-wise syllabus breakdown here.
Semester
Courses
Semester 1
Management Concepts & Organisational Behaviour
Managerial Economics
Accounting for Managers
Business Environment and Law
Research Methodology
Semester 2
Financial Management
Marketing Management
Human Resources Management
Operations Research and Management
Strategic Management
Semester 3
Human Resource Development
Performance Management
Knowledge Management
Industrial Relations Management
Employee Legislation
Semester 4
Organizational Development and Change
Human Resource Accounting
Compensation Management
Human Resource Information System
Global HR Practices
Project Work
MBA Operations Syllabus 2026
The MBA Operations syllabus and specialisation deal with supply chains, production, and efficiency. The syllabus provides you with exposure to subjects dealing with logistics, manufacturing, or process optimisation. With global trade rising, these operational skills are required more than ever. The table below breaks down the MBA Operations syllabus semester wise:
The core subjects of the MBA syllabus remain more or less the same for all the MBA specialisations. The core principles of business administration revolve around finance, marketing, people management and business operations. Below are the main core MBA courses subjects which you study in Ist year:
Semester
Core Subjects
Key Focus Areas
Semester 1
Management Concepts
Organisational Behaviour
Managerial Economics
Accounting for Managers
Business Environment
Law Research Methodology
Understanding management basics
Economic principles for decisions
Financial reporting skills
Legal and environmental awareness
Research tools and methods
Semester 2
Financial Management
Marketing Management
Human Resources Management
Operations Research Management
Strategic Management
Core finance principles
Marketing fundamentals
People management basics, Quantitative decision tools
Long-term business strategy
MBA Courses Subjects: Elective
After the Ist year of MBA, in the IInd year, specialisations kick in, there is a pool of elective subjects you choose from. The electives depend institution to institution; however, the core knowledge remains largely the same. Below is the list of elective MBA courses subjects:
Specialisation
Subjects
Key Skills
Finance
Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
International Financial Management, Mergers and Acquisitions
Behavioural Finance
Financial Derivatives
Treasury Management
FinTech and Digital Finance
Private Equity and Venture Capital
Risk Management
Wealth Management
Advanced investment analysis
Risk assessment
Hedging strategies
Financial modelling using tools like Excel
Understanding global markets & the regulations
Behavioural insights-based decision-making
FinTech application in finance
Marketing
Digital Marketing
Brand Management
Social Media Marketing
Integrated Marketing Communications, E-Marketing
Advertising Management
Consumer Insights and Analytics
Services Marketing
Retail and E-Commerce Management Content Strategy
Heading digital campaigns
Brand positioning and storytelling
Social media analytics and engagement
Consumer data interpretation
Integrated promotion strategies
Market trend forecasting
Human Resource Management
Talent Acquisition and Recruitment
Compensation and Benefits Strategy Diversity and Inclusion Management
HR Analytics
Labour Relations and Employee Relations
Organisational Change Management
HR Technology and Information Systems
Performance Appraisal Systems
Strategic HRM
Employee Engagement
Recruitment
Sourcing techniques
Designing fair compensation packages
Promoting inclusive workplaces
Using data for HR decisions
Handling labor laws
Disputes handling
Leading organizational transitions
Operations & Supply Chain Management
Global Supply Chain Strategy Sustainable Operations
Procurement and Vendor Management
Inventory and Logistics Optimisation
Quality Management Systems
Project Management in Operations
Supply Chain Analytics
Risk Management in Supply Chains
Lean and Six Sigma
Cold Chain or Specialised Logistics
End-to-end supply chain handling
Cost-effective procurement strategies
Inventory control
Quality assurance processes
Risk identification and mitigation
Applying efficiency lean principles
MBA Subjects: Important Books
MBA is a highly flexible and more of a practical industry-applicable course. Therefore, there are no fixed textbooks to follow when it comes to important MBA books. However, we have provided some evergreen and popular MBA books, although you can choose a different book depending on your core skill acquisition.
The MBA course has two subject categories, the first is the core subjects and the second are the elective subjects chosen in accordance with your MBA specialisation. The MBA core subjects include: Management Concepts & Organisational Behaviour, Managerial Economics, Accounting for Managers, Business Environment and Law, Research Methodology, etc. The elective subjects mainly come in the second year. These include: Financial Management, Marketing Management, Human Resources Management, Operations Research and Management, and Strategic Management, etc.
Is MBA full of maths?
No, the MBA course is not full of maths. While subjects like Finance, Operations Research, and Managerial Economics might involve some quantitative skills. However, the math stays at an applied level. You deal with basic mths upto class 10 level, statistics, percentages, financial calculations, and data interpretation. Many programs teach these concepts hands-on. You are free to use tools like a calculator and Excel. So, students from non-math backgrounds handle the maths with thorough practice.
Which is the toughest subject in MBA?
The toughest subject may vary from student to student. Many from non maths background may find financial management and statistics-heavy subjects difficult. Others may struggle with accounting or strategic management.
Is MBA math graded?
No, MBA math is not graded separately. Grades come from overall course performance, including exams, assignments, projects, presentations, and participation. Quantitative subjects like Finance or Operations integrate math into assessments naturally.
Which branch in MBA is best?
There is no single answer to this question. If you look money wise, MBA finance leads the race with highest salaries. Finance is followed by marketing, and marketing is for creatively wired people, and this specialisation too pays well. Then, HR excels for people-oriented roles in talent management. In 2026, emerging favourites include Business Analytics and FinTech due to data and tech trends.
Abhijeet Chatterjee is a professional Content and Copy specialist with over five years of experience in crafting compelling content around the Edtech domain. His portfolio includes notable work for companies such as PhysicsWallah, Roar Media, Jagran Josh, etc. Academically, Abhijeet holds a Master's in Mass Communication, where he was awarded a gold medal for his outstanding performance. He has also qualified for the UGC NET in Mass Communication, demonstrating his expertise and a deep understanding of the field. His academic foundation is built on a Bachelor's degree in English Literature. Beyond his professional work, Abhijeet is an avid writer and a cinephile. His personal interests include scriptwriting, film criticism, and reading novels.
