MBA in Fashion Designing: Course, Fees, Syllabus, Eligibility

(1). About the Course

MBA in Fashion Designing is a two-year postgraduate control route that offers to grow and maintain the logo picture and reputation of the product via media and advertising. This route serves as a useful feature for aspirants with an in-intensity understanding of the style of enterprise and business. Graduates of the path have masses of task possibilities within the area of fashion designing, multimedia, clothing-line business, product management, and lots extra that circumscribes media and entertainment.

Fashion designing utilizes design, aesthetics, garb construction, and natural beauty in garb and its accessories. It is influenced by cultural and social attitudes and has varied over time and place. Fashion design has become very popular in India over the last few years, and many people now consider it a career option.

With financial growth, Indians' common earnings have increased. As a result, human beings have more healthy lives than in the past, and they can have the funds to spend greater on their clothing. There is a growing call for experts who can lay out and convey new clothes, apparel, and garb to healthy people's tastes from diverse walks of life.

Despite being a distinctly profitable enterprise, the style enterprise nevertheless faces several hurdles. So, if you are someone who can blend creative thinking with management skills to overcome the challenges that organized retail fashion companies face, then a subject combination of MBA and Fashion Designing is what you can aim for!

Not only does the post-graduation program impart extensive knowledge on various fronts related to the field, but it also helps in developing career skills. Given its importance, this blog aims to highlight the key features of pursuing an MBA in Fashion Designing and the prospects it offers!

After completing MBA in Fashion Designing, graduates can work as Apparel Production Managers, entrepreneurs, Fashion coordinators, Fashion Consultants, Fashion Show Organizers, Fabric Quality Control Managers, etc. The average salary of such a professional may range around INR 3,40,000-6,00,000 PA at the start which may gradually increase with experience.

Course Highlights

Given below are a few of the important highlights of the MBA in Fashion Designing program:

Particular	Value
Course Name	Master of Business Administration in Fashion Designing
Course Level	Postgraduate
Course Duration	2 Years
Eligibility Criteria	Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks and valid scores in any MBA exams at the national level.
Admission Process	Entrance Exam and Merit Based
Entrance Exam	GMAT, CAT, XAT, MAT, CEED, NID DAT, NIFT, IICD, IIAD, AIEED, UCEED
Examination Type	Semester based
Average Annual Fee	INR 1,00,000-6,00,000
Average Annual Salary	INR 3,00,000-20,00,000
Employment Areas	Export Houses, Freelancing for Fashion Houses, Garment Manufacturing Units, Colleges & Universities, Leather Companies, Media Houses, Textile Mills, Apparel Companies, Retailers, Design Firms, etc.
Job Profile	Fashion Consultant, Fashion Coordinate, Fashion Designer, Category Manager, Costume Designer, Technical Designer, Apparel Production Manager, Cutting Assistant, Costume Designer, Entrepreneur, Jewellery designer, Textile designer, Merchandiser, Fashion influencer, etc.
Top Colleges	NIFT Bangalore - National Institute of Fashion Technology, Visva Bharati University - Visva-Bharati, NIFT Chennai - National Institute of Fashion Technology, NIFT Hyderabad - National Institute of Fashion Technology, MSU Baroda - Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
Top Recruiters	Godrej Interio, Evok, Futomic Designs, Synergy Corporate Interiors, Zed Interiors, HS Ahuja & Associates, Verve Interio, Featherlite Furniture, Design Atelier, ICrave Designs, Acme Interiors, Maven Designs, Aakriti, Classic Interiors, Aesthetics, Space Art, etc.

Why Study MBA in Fashion Designing?

(i). Pursuing an MBA Fashion Management course helps in improving the employability of the individual so that they get better job opportunities in the field of the Fashion industry.

(ii). MBA Fashion Management syllabus focuses on providing knowledge and case studies that help manage a firm or company. It includes accounts, financial management, leadership skills, and marketing knowledge in the context of the fashion industry.

(iii). This course gives a Career Boost and Helps in Career Transformation with Better Salary Packages and Great Networks.

(iv). MBA Fashion Management programs also involve projects, assignments, and case studies which help students to practice and solve real-time real business problems while they pursue their management program.

(v). MBA in fashion design can be a rewarding career opportunity for creative heads who want to make themselves stand out in this profession. The professional course provides many options, from designing a bag to apparel, scarves, and even shoes.

(vi). MBA in Fashion design provides designers with a deeper insight into fashion designing, production, marketing, and merchandising. Once the course is complete, students get an opportunity to connect with big apparel brands in India and abroad and earn a rewarding job in this profession. MBA in Digital Marketing allows students to start their brand and gain traction amongst fashion enthusiasts in the market.

(2). Admission Process

MBA in Fashion Designing admission process relies on the set of eligibility criteria laid out by the respective universities under the guidance of UGC. Students are admitted in two ways namely via management quota and merit-based quota. Reputed institutions rely on the admission process based on merit which considers applicants' undergraduate scores and entrance exam scores for cutoff calculation.

Based on the cutoff scores, institutions conduct interviews and group discussions for further selection processes. Under the management quota, students will be asked to pay a certain amount as a capitation fee to initiate the admission process. The MBA in Fashion Designing course comes under the umbrella of the MBA course.

Types of MBA in Fashion Designing Courses

The full-time, part-time, and distance alternatives are to be had to aspirants for the course. The numerous styles of MBA in Fashion Designing direction info are given below:

(1). Distance

MBA in Fashion Designing distance learning in India is a two-year postgraduate correspondence course. For those who cannot attend regular sessions, a distance MBA in Fashion Designing is one of the preferred alternatives.

(2). Full-Time

The two-year postgraduate MBA in Fashion Designing course is structured into four semesters. The benefit of taking a full-time course is that it allows students to accelerate their learning and significantly broaden their exposure and experience.

(3). Part-Time

A part-time MBA in Fashion Designing is a two-year course. For professionals who are currently employed and unable to take time off for full-time education, the part-time MBA in Fashion Designing course could be highly beneficial.

Eligibility Criteria

The general MBA Fashion Management eligibility criteria, which are common for all MBA programs are mentioned below.

(i). For MBA Admissions students must have completed their graduation of 3 years or 4 years from a recognized board.

(ii). Candidates must have scored a minimum of 50% or equivalent CGPA at the UG level and for reserved categories, a relaxation of 5% is provided.

(iii). To get admission to the top MBA colleges IITs, and IIMs, a minimum of 60% aggregate marks is needed.

Admission Process

MBA Fashion Management admission takes location thru the national, state, or university-degree front assessments which include CAT, XAT, SNAP, and NMAT. etc. The admissions are based on group discussion and personal interviews post the entrance exam. The institutes use GD/PI to examine each candidate's attributes that cannot be measured by their academic score or entrance exam result.

Accepted Entrance Exams

The entrance exam for MBA in fashion design is conducted by various bodies, and admission to top MBA colleges in India is dependent on the aspirants' ranking. There are multiple forms of entrance exams for the MBA. Some help the aspirants get admission at the national level to universities, some at the state level, and selected institutes conduct some for MBA admissions. Aspirants may go for any of the three choices, depending on the level of difficulty and competition they are willing to face. Popular front checks are indexed below:

ATMA	XAT	CAT
GMAT	NMAT	MAT
CEED	CMAT	AIEED
NID DAT	IICD	UCEED
NIFT	IIA

Skills Required

Any industry necessitates a distinct collection of abilities. In this area, both hard and soft skills are essential in dealing with criticism and being objective will help you succeed in your chosen profession. The following skills will be acquired via an MBA in Fashion Designing:

Interpersonal Skills	Creative Skills	Business acumen
Knowledge of data structures and database	Eye for detail	Communication Skills
Leadership Skills	Goal-oriented	Positive attitude
Observation	Confidence	Awareness of the latest technology trends
Good understanding of the market and customer lifestyle	Good programming skills with a healthy experience in the field	Behavioral skills
Interest in sketching	Originality and innovativeness	Problem-Solving Skills
Organization Skills	Persuasiveness	Time Management
Creativity and artistic taste	Sensitivity to colors, shades, and tones	Visual imagination
Efficiency in programming languages like Java, C, C++, net, etc.	Technical skills	Ability to think in three dimensions to translate visualization into garments

Fee Structure

MBA Fashion Designing is a postgraduate management course for two years consisting of four semesters. The common MBA in Fashion Designing prices tiers from INR 1,00,000-6,00,000 PA. Some of the MBA in Fashion design colleges are listed below according to their fees structure:

Name of College	Average Annual Fee(INR)
Pacific Institute of Fashion Technology	INR 1,77,000
Vogue Institute of Art and Design	INR 10,94,000
Amity School of Fashion Technology, Noida	INR 7,56,000
JD Institute of Fashion Technology	INR 2,50,000

Selection Criteria

After the written examination, special group meetings and personal interview rounds are held to prepare the nominees' final merit list. Once all the assessments have been carried out, the colleges or universities shall announce the results and issue a merit list of finally chosen applicants based on a written examination, a group discussion, and a personal interview.

Following the admission process, the final allocation of seats to the aspirants will occur, and the applicant will be expected to pay the course fee and register for the respective academic year.

(3). Course Comparison

MBA in Fashion Designing v/s MBA in Consultancy Management

The MBA in Fashion Designing complete shape is Master of Business Administration in Fashion Designing, and it's far generally geared toward students those who are interested in rapid career progression in the Fashion practice, as well as a comprehension of its components. The table below showcases the differences between MBA in Fashion Designing and MBA in Consultancy Management:

Parameter	MBA in FD	MBA in Consultancy Management
Course Name	Master of Business Administration in Fashion Designing	Master of Business Administration in Consultancy Management
Course Overview	MBA in Fashion Designing is a two-year postgraduate control route that offers to grow and maintain the logo picture and reputation of the product via media and advertising. This route serves as a useful feature for aspirants with an in-intensity understanding of the style of enterprise and business.	MBA in Consultancy Management is a 2-year postgraduate application that offers to learn progressive and innovative components related to enterprise technique analysis, undertaking management, and consultancy exercises amongst different subjects which can be deeply embedded within the curriculum.
Course Duration	2 years	2 years
Eligibility	Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks and valid scores in any MBA exams at the national level.	Bachelor's Degree in any stream with a minimum of 50%–55%
Course Stream	Fashion Designing	Management
Entrance Exams	XAT, MAT, CEED, NID DAT, NIFT, IICD, IIAD	CAT, CMAT, MAT, GMAT
Average Annual Fees	INR 1,00,000-6,00,000	INR 1,00,000-7,00,000
Average Annual Salary	INR 3,00,000-20,00,000	INR 4,00,000-18,00,000
Top Colleges	NIFT Bangalore - National Institute of Fashion Technology, Visva Bharati University - Visva-Bharati, NIFT Chennai - National Institute of Fashion Technology	BITS Pilani, Pondicherry University, NMIMS Mumbai

(4). Top Colleges

MBA in style layout overseas is to be had for college kids as an awful lot as it's miles viable to pursue the path in India. Here is a list of top colleges MBA in Fashion Designing in India are listed below:

Name of College	Average Annual Fee(INR)	Location
IAM	INR 2,00,000	Mumbai
International Institute of Fashion Technology	INR 1,50,000	New Delhi
Subharti Institute of Management & Commerce	INR 1,00,000	Uttar Pradesh
Pacific Institute of Fashion Technology	INR 1,00,000	Rajasthan
Amity School of Fashion Technology	INR 2,50,000	Noida
JD Institute of Fashion Technology	INR 2,00,000	Bangalore
Footwear Design and Development Institute	INR 1,95,000	Noida
International Institute of Fashion Technology	INR 2,50,000	Chandigarh
Kalinga University	INR 1,50,000	Raipur
International Institute of Fashion Technology	INR 4,00,000	New Delhi
MISB Bocconi	INR 10,60,000	Maharashtra
Sai Nath University	INR 80,000	Jharkhand
Amity University	INR 3,50,000	Noida
International School of Design	INR 1,00,000	Uttar Pradesh
IIFA Multimedia	INR 4,00,000	Bangalore
International College of Fashion	INR 3,00,000	New Delhi
Jaipur National University	INR 1,50,000	Rajasthan
The Global Open University	INR 14,462	New Delhi
Mazz Academy	INR 2,00,000	Faridabad
Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology	INR 3,00,000	Bangalore
Sandip University	INR 90,000	Maharashtra
Teeja Devi Bihani Institute of Fashion Technology	INR 4,00,000	Rajasthan
MIT Art, Design, and Technology University	INR 5,00,000	Maharashtra
Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University	INR 81,000	Jaipur
Swami Vivekanand Subharti University	INR 1,04,000	Uttar Pradesh
NIMS University	INR 1,50,000	Rajasthan

Top City-wise MBA in Fashion Designing Colleges in India

Here is a list of top city-wise colleges for an MBA in Fashion Designing in India are listed below:

Name of City	Name of College
Delhi	Gurugram University
	IGNOU
	Amity University
Chennai	Bishop Heber College
	University of Madras
	B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology
Hyderabad	Vaishnav Education Group
	Risk Professionals Academy
	IIRM
	Smears Education Solutions
	S.MONK School Of Actuaries
Pune	Amity University
	MIT
	Symbiosis University
Bangalore	REVA University
	Jain University
	Christ University

Top Government & Private Fashion Design Colleges in India

Fashion layout publications are to be had at some of the faculties in India. This degree's admissions procedure is primarily based totally on each advantage and front exams. The fee for training varies from one university to the next. The following is a list of India's best government & private colleges for Fashion Design:

Type of College	Name of College	Average Annual Fee(INR)
Government	Footwear Design and Development Institute, Patna	INR 6,23,100
	Ranchi Women's College, Ranchi	INR 6,800
	FDDI Hyderabad - Footwear Design and Development Institute	INR 8,16,500
	NIFT Delhi - National Institute of Fashion Technology	INR 1,109,000
	Government MH College of Home Science and Science for Women, Jabalpur	INR 21,661
	The State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak	INR 1,74,000
	FDDI Noida - Footwear Design and Development Institute	INR 8,26,500
	Sir Vithaldas Thackersey College of Home Science, Santacruz	INR 49,500
Private	World University of Design, Sonipat	INR 9,80,000
	Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore	INR 2,447,100
	MSRUAS Bangalore - MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences	INR 8,01,000
	MIT Institute of Design, Pune	INR 1,426,000
	INSD PUNE - International School of Design	INR 4,00,000
	SID Pune - Symbiosis Institute of Design	INR 16,80,000
	UID Ahmedabad - Unitedworld Institute of Design	INR 9,00,000
	LPU Jalandhar - Lovely Professional University	INR 6,72,000

(5). Job & Placements

The direction of Fashion Design isn't always pretty much elegant clothes; it's also approximately textiles, fabrics, knitwear, indoor designs, jewelry designs, and plenty more. A style layout scholar can turn out to be a style designer, consultant, entrepreneur, and plenty of different things.

Job Profile

Some of the job profiles for Fashion Designing degree holders are as under:

Job Profile	Job Description
Fashion Consultant	A fashion business enterprise consultant has to be aware of trends and adjustments within the region and be aware of favor design. Consultants supply new ideas and thoughts on an everyday basis. They have to be concerned listeners who're proof of converting environments.
Apparel Merchandiser	He or She is an important person for a buyer and an exporter, whose main responsibility is to execute the orders perfectly as per the costing and pricing. They coordinate with suppliers, buyers, various departments, and job workers' logistics outside the organization to help in the profitability of the organization.
Marketing Manager	They are responsible for supervising and helping to create various advertising or merchandising sales campaigns that help to sell the products.
Design Manager	He or She is responsible for the overall operations and function of a fashion company or consultancy. They manage a design or graphics team, collaborate on projects with colleagues, delegate tasks, and check projects for quality.
Visual Merchandiser	He or She is chargeable for designing and growing the visible appearance of a retail save and the products being sold. They make eye-catching product displays, store layouts, and designs to attract customers and encourage them to buy the product.
Fashion Coordinator	The coordinator is answerable for and oversees the advertising strategies. It's now no longer associated with the layout function. The organizer is responsible for marketing items, and fashion shows.
Brand Manager	Their process position revolves around numerous matters and they manage and control all of the methods that particular brand is exposed to the public, and also help drive advertising and marketing initiatives.
Fashion Illustrator	This man or woman prepares the important thing drawings of what the style fashion dressmaker needs and explains. An illustrator is the going for walks hand of the designer's intellectual designs and ideas.
Export Sales Manager	They are accountable for producing and improving the income of various merchandise and products merchandise in different cities, states, or countries.
Fashion Designer	Fashion designers are major players in the design industry in the production of innovative designs about emerging trends in the market. You would have a decent reward for good earnings and benefits if you are imaginative enough to reach ahead and work hard to manage the pressure positively.
Business Development Executive	They are answerable for bringing an executing commercial enterprise for the corporation wherein they may be employed. He or She works for corporations to contribute new ideas for company growth and use their knowledge of the company, its products, and services to look for new ways to improve product quality and build off of existing offerings.
Fashion Stylist	To achieve the best look for the show the stylist retains make-up, hairstyle, and dress code. They look after the fashion shows or advertising services' design and beauty aspects.

Top Recruiters

Several companies in India hire people who have completed a Fashion Design course. Fashion Designers' profession and designation are determined by their educational credentials and expertise. Companies hire them for the positions and profiles listed above. The following are some of the most well-known recruiting firms:

Some of the top recruiters in the domain of fashion design are as follows:

Rohit Bal	Van Heusen	Allen Solly
Sabyasachi Mukherjee	Benetton	Lifestyle
Loreal	Clinique	Shoppers Stop
Marks & Spencer	Global Desi	Ajio
Nike	ITC Limited	Varun Behl
Pantaloons	Levis	Snapdeal
Puma	Swarovski India	Adidas
Reid & Taylor

Employment Areas

Completion of the MBA Fashion Designing route opens up possibilities in each of the personal and authorities sectors. Some of the industries to appearance out for are indexed below:

Multimedia	Apparel Manufacturers
Wholesalers	Boutiques
Leather Companies	Jewelry Houses
Textile Companies	Interior Designers

Average Salary

The initial pay differs based on one’s experience, research topics, area of specialization, etc. The careers with an MBA Fashion Designing jobs in India pay an average salary of INR 3,00,000-10,00,0000 PA. The other factors that affect the salary include the type of sector one chooses to work in and the job designation. The graduate's skills, knowledge, and experience play a vital role in the company's salary package.

Below listed are the average MBA in Fashion Designing salaries:

Job Role	Average Annual Fee(INR)
Fashion Merchandiser	Rs. 2,40,000-5,00,000
Fashion Coordinator	Rs. 3,00,000-8,00,000
Fashion Designer	Rs. 5,80,000-7,00,000
Category Manager	Rs. 10,00,000-12,00,000
Fashion Stylist	Rs. 2,40,000-10,00,000
Fashion Illustrator	Rs. 2,00,000,5,00,000
Merchandiser	Rs. 7,88,000-10,00,000
Fashion Consultant	Rs. 2,20,000-6,00,000
Fashion Designer	Rs. 1,80,000-4,00,000

(6). Career/Scope

A career in fashion design is financially rewarding and has grown in popularity among those with creative minds. Nonetheless, both in India and overseas, there is a vast range of fashion designs. As they finish their advanced fashion design courses, fashion design students have a variety of alternatives.

Scope of Fashion Designing in India and Abroad

The Fashion Enterprise and groups associated with it are developing each day, encouraging a worldwide attraction of its services. Its growing prospects have developed high demands for courses related to fashion at various levels of academics. The everyday use of fashion in terms of clothes, interiors, jewelry, or products has widened The horizons of the field and has been enticing several college students and recruiters lately.

The international as well as domestic fashion businesses have amplified which has opened career choices for fashion design aspirants. Students who're capable of efficaciously entire their publications in Fashion Design get recruited through worldwide and domestic fashion brands and companies, magazines, and big labels and can even start their independent fashion businesses.

Career options after MBA in Fashion Designing

The fashion industry is booming, and so is the demand for qualified professionals. The career opportunities after completion of an MBA in Fashion Designing are as under:

Public Relation Manager	Fashion Product Manager	Fashion Coordinator
Sales Engineer	Production Manager	Store Manager
Fashion Promotion Professional	Fashion Designer	Visual Merchandiser
Marketing Consultant	Senior Marketing Manager	Design Manager
Personal Stylist	Customer Relation Manager	Entrepreneur
Category Manager	Fashion Consultant	Fashion Brand Marketing Manager

Scope for Higher Education

Upon finishing touch of the MBA in Fashion Design, graduates can choose from a variety of graduate and certificate programs in fashion design and business administration. An MBA in fashion design offers graduates the opportunity to explore a variety of business domain names for style layouts and apparel-related domain names. The following are some of the typical areas of higher education that a candidate may pursue:

(I). Ph.D. management
(ii). Fashion Design Certificates
(iii). PGDM extension

Skills that make you the Best in Fashion Designing

Every Industry requires a specific set of skills. In this chosen field, both hard skills and soft skills play a vital role in handling criticism, being unbiased will help you prosper in your desired career. By Master of Business Administration in Fashion Designing the following skills will be gained:

(i). Problem-Solving Skills

(ii). Leadership Skills
(iii). Creative Skills
(iv). Interpersonal Skills
(v). Time Management and Organization Skills
(vi). Communication Skills

(7). FAQs

(1). What is Fashion Design?

Ans. Fashion Design is the artwork of making use of fashion, imagination, and herbal splendor to costumes and lifestyle accessories. Fashion layout keeps development via time and from area to area, with several social and cultural attitudes.

(2). What is Fashion Designing MBA?

Ans.MBA in Fashion Designing is a two-yr postgraduate control software that focuses on constructing and preserving logo photos and product attention thru media and advertising. This direction is right for college kids who have a radical knowledge of the style of enterprise and business.

(3). Is it necessary to pursue MBA in Fashion Management to get into the field of the fashion industry?

Ans. No, it's not compulsory. Anyone having an interest in the field of the fashion industry can achieve the desired job. Having a degree in the same field may increase the chance of being selected.

(4). What are the average MBA Fashion Management Course Fees?

Ans. The common MBA Fashion Management route expenses range from INR 3,00,000-8,00,000. The fees also vary from institute to institute, but more or less start from INR 80,000.

(5). What is the common revenue Fashion Design graduates are offering?

Ans. The common income of Fashion Design graduates is Rs. 6,00,000 PA.

(6). Which front assessments are required for Fashion Design?

Ans. Some top entrance examinations which are required for Fashion Design are AIEED, UCEED, and NID DAT.

(7). Is an undergraduate degree in fashion required to get an MBA in Fashion Management?

Ans. No, a UG diploma inside an identical location isn't required. Having a style degree, on the opposite hand, will provide you with an advantage.

(8). Is there a demand for Fashion Managers?

Ans. The style enterprise is big and the call for style managers inside the enterprise is growing day by day. Millennials are more and more fashion-conscious and Large retail outlets, boutiques, and renowned fashion designers hire fresh fashion graduates.

(9). What is the difference between an MBA in Fashion Management and a Master of Fashion Management?

Ans. MFM is a 2-year course that studies the areas of marketing, merchandising, retailing, supply chain management, garment exports, etc. Whereas MBA Fashion Management studies the management context of the fashion industry.

(10). Is it necessary to have a UG degree in the fashion domain to pursue MBA in Fashion Management?

Ans. No, It's not necessary to have a UG degree in the same domain. However, having a fashion degree will give me the upper hand.

(11). How do I start my career in the fashion industry?

Ans. To get into the style industry, one wishes to own at least a bachelor’s diploma in the area of design. Various guides presented on the undergraduate degree are normally of 3 to 4 years duration. The education and knowledge required to be a fashion designer are such that aspirants should have adequate knowledge of fabrics, textiles, and fashion trends.

(12). What are the pinnacle Fashion Design colleges?

Ans. Top Fashion Design schools are Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar, RTMNU Nagpur - Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak, FDDI Noida - Footwear Design and Development Institute, Sir Vithaldas Thackersey College of Home Science, Santacruz.

(13). What is the required education qualification eligibility for a bachelor's in Fashion Design admission?

Ans. Students seeking admission in Fashion Designing courses at the UG level must have passed their class 12th examination with not less than 50 percent from a recognized board in India. They may also seem for front tests like NID DAT, UCEED, and NIFT.

(14). Where can fashion designers work?

Ans. After completing a degree in Fashion Design aspirants can either start their design label or can even work with an established fashion designer. Apart from this, corporates and retail outlets also hire fashion design graduates.