Post-graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (PGD-GEN)

Detailed Program Structure

Semester 1 (August 2022 – December 2022)

Core Module I: Fundamentals

  • Entrepreneurship Fundamentals
  • Innovation Fundamentals
  • Startup Fundamentals
  • Team Building
  • Market Research

Core Module II: Starting your startup

  • Startup life cycle 
  • Ideation and design thinking
  • Building your first prototype, and making it an MVP
  • Product Market Fit & its importance
  • Business Model Canvas

Core Module III: Intellectual Property Fundamentals

  • What is Intellectual Property and it’s importance
  • IP and Startups – Business Model around IP
  • Prior Art Search with tools and techniques
  • Patent: Understanding process, filing and allied processes
  • Trademark, Copyright and Design: Process around them

Semester 2 (January 2023 – May/June 2023)

Core Module IV: The right tools for starting up

  • Technology Fundamentals and choices
  • Building an online presence
  • Marketing and Sales
  • Branding
  • Promotion Strategies

Core Module V: Understanding financials and venture capital ecosystem

  • Financial Management and Accounting
  • Investment and Fundraising
  • Venture Capital and Private Equity

Core Module VI: Project (Can be done individually or in groups)

The PGD-GEN project will broadly include:

  • Candidates will prepare a business plan and work on conceptualising a startup
  • Work and network with existing startups through startup incubators at Gujarat University
  • Other activities as per the course requirement

Is this an online program? How much time would I need to commit?

Course delivery will be as per UGC norms. Up to 40% content of the course may be delivered online. The courses will be conducted keeping in mind the requirements of working professionals and accordingly, classes will be conducted either during evening hours (i.e. 6:45 pm to 8:45 pm) of weekdays or on weekends (Saturday / Sunday mornings). As much as possible, the preference of students will be considered in devising the calendar.

PGD-GEN Benefits

  1. Get a deep dive into the startup and innovation ecosystem of India and how to get started with starting your own startup. 
  2. Receive a Diploma from Gujarat University, one of the leading universities in India, and #1 ranked university in Gujarat. 
  3. Specially designed course by experts from the domain keeping all the requirements in mind. 
  4. Curated projects and exercises to understand deeply about the startup world.
  5. Get a chance to attend special Knowledge sessions from some of the renowned experts of the industry.
  6. An opportunity to start your own business / startup

Ideal Candidates for PGD-GEN

The post-graduate diploma in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (PGD-GEN) is ideal for:

  • Young graduates, who wish to start a career in entrepreneurship and eventually start their own startup, or take on a role in a large multinational organisation centred around entrepreneurship and innovation
  • Corporate executives, who wish to take on entrepreneurial driven or innovation centric roles in their existing lines of career
  • Professionals, desirous of starting their own startup

Eligibility and Selection for PGD-GEN

Eligibility: Any individual who is resident of India and has completed graduation in any field shall be eligible for admission.

Admission Selection: Selection for the program is competitive. The following criteria will be considered for admission:

  • Fully-completed application with application fee before the deadline
  • Statement of Purpose of the candidate
  • Educational background
  • Professional background

The Admission Committee of the Institute may also conduct personal interviews, group discussions and other activities in order to select candidates for this Post-graduate program.

Certificate

Upon successful completion of the course, each participant will be awarded a Post-graduate Diploma by Gujarat University.

Program Fees

Application Fee: There is a non-refundable application fee of ₹500.

Program Fees: Upon selection and subject to review of documents, the total program fees is ₹40,252. This is excluding any applicable taxes such as GST. The payment schedule of the program fees will be as follows:

1st tranche of ₹20,126– before the commencement of the program and;

2nd tranche of ₹20,126 – before the commencement of the 2nd semester

University Fees: Nominal fees towards examinations and convocation will be extra, as per Gujarat University rules applicable at the time.

Apply Now

Follow 2 simple steps and get yourself enrolled for the course:

  1. Click on ‘Apply Now’ and pay the Application Fee.
  2. Fill the form with necessary details, including application fee information and documents.

Program Timeline

Early Deadline to Apply July 10, 2022
Secondary Deadline to Apply July 24, 2022
Final Deadline to Apply August 05, 2022
Document Submission July / August 2022
Announcement of Selected Candidates for the Programs First / Second Week of August 2022
Initiation of 1st Semester August 25, 2022
Initiation of 2nd Semester Mid-January 2023
Cohort/Group Formation Early 2023
Project / Presentation / Report Creation Second Quarter of 2023
Evaluation May/June 2023
Program Conclusion May/June 2023

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Is this an online program?

This is not an online program. The post-graduate diploma program is based in Gujarat University campus in Ahmedabad.

Q. Is this a certificate or a degree program?

This is a Post-Graduate Diploma program. Candidates who successfully complete this program will be eligible for receiving a Diploma from Gujarat University.

Q. What is the eligibility and selection criteria for the admission?

Eligibility: Any individual who is resident of India and has completed graduation in any field shall be eligible for admission.

Admission Selection: Selection for the program is competitive. The following criteria will be considered for admission:

  • Fully-completed application with application fee before the deadline
  • Statement of Purpose of the candidate
  • Educational background
  • Professional background

The Admission Committee of the Institute may also conduct personal interviews, group discussions and other activities in order to select candidates for this Post-graduate program.

Q. Can working professionals apply in this program?

This program has been designed keeping in mind working professionals. The program will require candidates to spend about 4 to 6 hours in classes at Gujarat University campus in Ahmedabad. These classes will be organised in evening hours and/or weekends keeping in mind convenience of working professionals.

Q. How to apply for the program?

Please visit the Application Page to apply for the program.

Q. What are the fees of the program?

There is a non-refundable application fee of ₹500.

Upon selection and subject to review of documents, the total program fees is ₹40,252. This is excluding any applicable taxes such as GST. An amount of ₹20,126 is to be paid before the commencement of the program, where as the remaining ₹20,126 is to be paid before the commencement of the 2nd semester.

Nominal fees towards examinations and convocation will be extra, as per Gujarat University rules applicable at the time.

Q. What are the benefits of this program?

Following are the benefit of enrolling for these uniquely designed program:

    1. Get a deep dive into the startup and innovation ecosystem of India and how to get started with starting your own startup. 
    2. Receive a Diploma from Gujarat University, one of the leading universities in India, and #1 ranked university in Gujarat. 
    3. Specially designed course by experts from the domain keeping all the requirements in mind. 
    4. Curated projects and exercises to understand deeply about the startup world.
    5. Get a chance to attend special Knowledge sessions from some of the renowned experts of the industry.
    6. An opportunity to start your own business / startup

Q. What is the duration of both the programs? How much time do I need to dedicate?

The overall duration of the program is approx. 1 calendar year. The Class of 2023 will commence from July 2022 and graduate in May/June 2023. 

Candidates will need to commit about 4 to 6 hours of lectures at the University campus each week, during evening hours, and an additional 4 to 6 hours of self learning every week.

Q. Is there any scholarship provided by the university?

There will be no scholarship provided by the university in any of the conditions.

Q. What are the documentation requirements for the admission?

Following are the list of documents required for the admission:

    1. Passport Photo
    2. Adhaar Card
    3. PAN Card/Driving Licence/any other government issued ID
    4. SSC/High School/10th Marksheet
    5. SSC Certificate (if available)
    6. HSC/Higher Secondary/12th Marksheet
    7. HSC Certificate
    8. Degree Certificate (if any)
    9. Screenshot of Registration Fee Payment