The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives. One such aspect is how we deliver and receive an education. 

With physical classroom courses being on hold since 2020, online courses have become increasingly popular recently as they allow you to learn new skills and enhance your resume from the safety of your home. Moreover, you can continue your education without interrupting your professional life. 

India has one of the most competitive education markets in the world. For example, In 2016 alone, the number of students graduating in electronics engineering was 1.87 lakh, and the number of students graduating in computer science engineering was 1.6 lakh. 

No wonder, in such a competitive environment, you must upskill and earn industry-specific certificates to stand out and bag lucrative roles in the desired sectors. 

In our following list of professional courses after graduation, we’ll discuss the best online courses with certificates that you can pursue depending on your interests and career aspirations. 

Why Do You Need a Certification Course?

People must evolve and enhance their abilities to be relevant amid emerging technologies, shifting market trends, and escalating competition. Certification courses have grown as a vital resource, providing a number of benefits to individuals seeking career advancement and success.

Evolving Workplace 

Traditional professional processes are no longer straightforward, and the need for specialized skills has increased substantially. Employers today look for employees with a diversified skill set combining technical and interpersonal abilities. Furthermore, in order to stay updated with breakthroughs in technology in areas like artificial intelligence and digital marketing, individuals must consistently expand their understanding.

Learning Opportunities

Professionals can participate in ongoing learning through certification courses. Individuals who register in the best online courses with certificates get access to the most recent tools and technologies, efficient methods, and current market knowledge. This enables them to stay ahead of the competition and adapt to a continuously evolving business environment.

Professional Credibility

Certifications provide credible evidence of one’s skills and dedication to professional growth. Employers commonly consider certifications a standard to measure an individual’s expertise and proficiency in a particular field. Certification improves your credibility and boosts your likelihood of standing out from other job candidates, which can lead to greater career possibilities and additional employment prospects.

Specialized Training

They provide specialized training that focuses on specific categories of knowledge or competence. Best online certificate programs offer a systematic learning route, helping people acquire the skills and information required to be successful in their particular industries, whether it be mastering a programming language, methods for project management, or interpersonal skills.

Relevance in the Dynamic Industry

Certification classes allow you to obtain novel techniques while keeping current on developing technology, industry requirements and emerging techniques. This increases employability while giving professionals the assurance they need to successfully negotiate the ever-changing business landscape.

Networking and Connections

Certification courses usually offer possibilities for networking and connecting with people in the business. Interacting with other like-minded individuals and subject matter experts may contribute to supervision, cooperation, and new job prospects. 

Flexibility

The adaptable study schedule offered by online certifications is a valuable quality. A significant portion of the certifications available is online and asynchronous, meaning individuals can access previously recorded lectures and course content on their preferred schedule. At the same time, these sessions don’t take place at a specific time each week. You may even access lectures and homework from your smartphone with the mobile learning function that certain courses offer.

Affordability

The most appealing advantage of online certifications is their price, which is less than that of a traditional two- or four-year degree course. Due to the high cost of education, many people have a large debt from student loans. In certain instances, you may actually explore the unlimited accessibility to seminars, projects, and chats in your chosen area of study. Users of online credential platforms can enrol in the best courses offered by highly ranked colleges and teachers for a relatively little amount of money to nothing.

Best Online Certification Courses

1. Master of Business Administration

One of the most popular after degree courses in India is Master of Business Administration (MBA). As the name suggests, this course focuses on teaching you the basic and advanced concepts of business and organisation. 

Companies look for MBA graduates for filling their leadership roles. Hence the demand for MBA professionals is significantly high. 

At upGrad, we offer an MBA program with the Liverpool Business School. The program includes six specialisations:

• Marketing
• Finance
• Operations & Supply Chain Management
• HR (Human Resources)
• Business Strategy & Leadership
• Analytics 

Why take this course?

The demand for management professionals in almost every sector is evergreen. No matter what industry a company operates in, it relies on managers to oversee its daily processes and advance its growth. 

Getting an MBA will make you eligible for senior and leadership roles in various industries. You get to specialise in a particular area of management, thereby increasing your chances of bagging a niche role in a company.

Equipped with an MBA degree, you can pursue careers in business development, sales & marketing, management consulting, strategy, HR, growth, etc. 

What will you learn in this program?

In our MBA program, you learn the fundamentals of business and develop leadership skills. You also learn about digital business innovation, engagement and people performance, leading change for sustainable futures, business growth strategies, thinking and planning abilities, and project management. 

On top of that, you’ll also learn the advanced concepts of the specialisation you pick. 

What are the career opportunities in this field?

After completing this course, some of the most attractive careers you can pursue are Finance Manager, Operations Manager, HR Manager, Strategist, Business Consultant, etc. 

What is the Minimum Eligibility criteria for this program?

To join our online MBA program you’ll only need to have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks and at least two years of full-time work experience. 

2. Executive PG Program in Data Science

Data science is a relatively new sector and has become one of the highest-paying industries in India. This field focuses on analysing and using large amounts of data to generate new insights. These insights help companies in enhancing their operations and solving complex business problems. 

You can join our Executive PG Programme in Data Science offered in association with IIIT-B. This course provides you with all the necessary knowledge and skills required to become a data scientist and be a job-ready professional.

Why take this course?

Data science offers some of the best careers in India and also globally. For example, the role of a data scientist is among the top 10 highest paying jobs in India currently. 

The demand for data science professionals is substantially high because there’s a shortage of skilled individuals in this industry. Since 2013, the need for data scientists has increased by 300% by 2019. 

The scope of Data Science is very bright as companies are now focusing on using big data for driving their core business decisions. In the coming years, the demand for data science experts is bound to increase manifold. 

What will you learn in this program?

In this program, you’ll learn about the basics of data science and related technologies like AI and ML. The most important subjects you will learn in our course are predictive analysis using python, data visualisation, machine learning, big data, and natural language processing. 

The course offers 20+ hours of live sessions, 60+ industry projects and 400+ hours of study material. It is among the best online courses with certificates for those who want a career in data science. 

What are the career opportunities in this field?

After completing the course, you can pursue many lucrative careers in data science, such as Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Big Data Engineer, Data Architect, etc. 

This is a highly lucrative field as the average salary of a Data Scientist in India is around INR 8.19 LPA. Similarly, the average pay of a senior data analyst in India is INR 7.7 LPA. 

What is the minimum eligibility criteria for this program?

This program requires you to have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% or equivalent passing marks. You don’t need any prior coding experience to join this course.

3. Executive PG Program in Business Analytics

Business analytics is the field of using an organisation’s data to find answers for its problems. Companies rely on business analytics professionals to help them make better-informed decisions about their various departments and growth strategy. 

Our list of professional courses after graduation would be incomplete without mentioning our Executive Post-Graduate Programme in Business Analytics. 

It’s among the best online courses for young graduates who have a knack for maths and statistics. 

Why take this course?

If you want a high-paying career that offers unique challenges, this is the perfect choice for you!

Business analytics offers some of the highest-paying careers too. The average salary of a business analyst in India is INR 6 lakh per annum. With sufficient experience, your pay can go up to INR 10 lakh per annum in this field. 

What will you learn in this program?

In this program, you will learn the nitty-gritty of business analytics from scratch. 

Some of the important topics we have covered in this course are Python for business analytics, data visualisation, machine learning, databases, and exploratory data analysis. 

This program offers 300+ hours of content, 8+ case studies, and over 100 hours of live sessions. 

What are the career opportunities in this field?

After completing your business analytics course, you’ll be eligible to apply for business analytics roles in various industries. Prominent roles you can pursue in this field include Finance Analyst, Senior Business Analyst, Data Analyst, Business Analyst, etc. 

What is the minimum eligibility criteria for this program?

This course requires you to have a bachelor’s degree (in any field) with a 50% aggregate score at Graduation. Candidates with an aptitude for mathematics will get preference. 

4. Executive PG Program in Machine Learning and AI

Machine learning is the field of developing computer solutions that operate and learn without requiring human intervention. Similarly, AI refers to artificial intelligence, where you study how to create computers and software programs that can perform human-like actions, depicting intelligent behaviour. 

In the last few years, the demand for ML and AI experts has increased exponentially. You can start your career in this sector with our Executive PG Programme in Machine Learning & AI in collaboration with IIIT-B. 

Why take this course?

According to the latest statistics, investment in the Indian artificial intelligence industry will grow at a CAGR of 33.49% from 2018 to 2023.  

There’s a massive demand for ML and AI professionals in multiple industries, including healthcare, banking, retail, manufacturing, technology, etc. It’s a relatively new field, so there’s a significant shortage of supply of talent. To attract the best talent, companies usually pay above the market average to skilled and qualified candidates. 

What will you learn in this program?

The course is designed to teach students the fundamental and advanced concepts of these domains. It covers industry-relevant technologies, including AWS, Keras, TensorFlow, Python, Skitlearn, Flask, etc., that ML experts use on a daily basis. 

You’ll learn about Statistics, Exploratory Data Analytics, various machine learning algorithms (Linear Regression, Naive Bayes, Tree Models, SVM, etc.), deep learning, natural language processing, reinforcement learning, and several other vital concepts during this program. 

This program offers 450+ hours of study material, 11 coding assignments, and 35+ live sessions. 

What are the career opportunities in this field?

After completing this program, you can become a machine learning engineer, a highly lucrative role with a lot of demand. 

Machine learning engineers are responsible for designing and developing ML-based solutions for their organisations. You can also pursue a career as an NLP Scientist. NLP Scientists create machines that can read and understand human language. The average pay of machine learning jobs in India is INR 6.8 lakh per annum, making it one of the best fields to enter currently. 

What is the minimum eligibility criteria for this program?

The program only requires you to have a bachelor’s degree with 50% or equivalent passing marks. You must also have a minimum of one year of work experience or a degree in Mathematics or Statistics. 

5. Certificate in Digital Marketing

Digital marketing refers to the field of promoting an organisation online. In FY2020, the digital advertising industry in India had a market size of INR 199 billion. In 2015, the size of this industry was INR 47 billion. So, it is clear that the industry has grown substantially over the past few years. 

At upGrad, we offer an Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication course. It’s among the best online courses in digital marketing.

Along with MICA upGrad has a Digital Marketing Certification course from IIT Delhi as well.

Why take this course?

The number of internet users in India has risen substantially in recent years. This presents an excellent opportunity for marketers to promote their products/services and raise brand awareness to this key demographic – netizens. Thus, companies are now quite enthusiastic about hiring digital marketing candidates who can help them create a robust digital presence. This is the reason why digital marketing professionals are high in demand in India. 

So, if you take this course, you will be ready for the digital marketing industry booming with potential for young graduates. 

What will you learn in this program?

In our Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication program, you’ll learn the basics and marketing and get familiar with the tools used by modern marketers to promote their companies online. 

The course offers multiple specialisations, including Branding, Marketing Analytics, Social Media and Content Marketing. Some of the subjects you’ll learn in this course are branding, marketing fundamentals, marketing analytics, social media marketing, etc. 

What are the career opportunities in this field?

After completing this program, you can pursue roles in digital marketing such as digital marketing manager, SEO consultant, SEM Manager, Content Manager, etc. 

What is the minimum eligibility criteria for this program?

You only need to have a bachelor’s or equivalent degree to be eligible for this program. 

Conclusion

It is safe to say that today there’s a plethora of online certification courses in almost every specialisation or domain. From digital marketing to data science, you are sure to find an online program to match your career aspirations. Just make sure you choose a course that aligns perfectly with your interests and career goals.

What do you want to achieve in your career? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What kind of work environment do you prefer? 

Answering such questions will help you understand your career requirements. Once you have a clear understanding of your career aspirations, choosing a course will become much easier. 

Not just these programs but upGrad have also partnered with the top Institutes in India Like IIT Delhi to bring the best programs online. IIT Delhi Programs are:

If you still find it overwhelming, we’re only a call away! We have a team of professionals ready to help you pick the right course. So, feel free to contact us anytime!