PAP is Back: MICA Business Analytics with AI: Curriculum, Fees, Eligibility and Placement
Business decisions increasingly rely on data. Companies use analytics to understand customer behaviour, measure performance, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions across marketing, product, finance, and operations.
For graduates and professionals interested in this field, the MICA x Masai Business Analytics with AI programme offers structured learning in business analytics, programming, statistics, visualisation, and applied AI.
Here is what prospective learners should know about the programme, its curriculum, learning format, costs, and placement-related conditions before applying.
What is the MICA x Masai Business Analytics with AI programme?
The programme is offered by Masai in collaboration with MICA. It combines business fundamentals with practical analytics skills and includes live online learning, projects, case studies, and placement support.
The curriculum covers tools and concepts used in analytics roles, including SQL, Excel, Python, Power BI, statistics, machine learning, and AI-assisted analysis. Learners work towards applying these skills to business problems rather than studying tools in isolation.
The programme follows a Pay After Placement (PAP) model for eligible learners. This means the main programme fee is deferred and becomes payable after a qualifying placement, subject to the applicable programme agreement. It does not mean the entire programme is free until a job is secured: upfront fees and other conditions apply.
Who is the programme for?
The programme may be relevant to:
- Recent graduates looking to build skills for entry-level analytics roles.
- Working professionals who want to move from routine reporting towards data analysis and decision support.
- Career switchers interested in applying analytical methods to business problems.
Learners should be comfortable committing time to live sessions, assignments, assessments, and projects. Masai ’s programme page indicates a commitment of approximately 25 hours per week, with the learning journey designed for around six months and potentially extending to ten months depending on progress.
Eligibility note: The official pages do not consistently display the same age range. Applicants should confirm the current age criteria, graduation requirement, laptop requirement, and other admission conditions with Masai before paying any fee.
What will you learn?
The programme combines business understanding with technical and analytical skills. The published curriculum includes the following areas:
1. Business foundations and SQL
Learners are introduced to business metrics, profit and loss (P&L) concepts, key performance indicators (KPIs), problem framing, and SQL for querying data.
The aim is to understand the business question first and then identify the data needed to investigate it.
2. Excel and Python foundations
This stage covers practical spreadsheet skills, including advanced functions, Pivot Tables, Power Query, and dashboards, alongside Python fundamentals such as data structures, control flow, functions, file handling, and data cleaning.
3. Python for data analysis and Power BI
Learners progress to working with datasets using Pandas and NumPy. Topics include data transformation, aggregation, visualisation, and cohort analysis.
The programme also covers Power BI dashboards, data modelling, and DAX to help learners communicate insights through reports and visualisations.
4. Statistics, A/B testing, and business analytics
This section introduces statistical reasoning and its application to business decisions. Topics include hypothesis testing, A/B testing, customer segmentation, funnel analysis, unit economics, and marketing and product analytics.
These methods help analysts assess performance and investigate whether observed changes may be meaningful.
5. Applied machine learning and AI
The curriculum includes predictive modelling using scikit-learn, model evaluation, and AI-assisted approaches to analysis and coding.
AI tools can speed up parts of the workflow, but their outputs still need to be checked for accuracy, relevance, and methodological soundness.
6. Placement readiness
Learners who meet the programme’s evaluation requirements can progress to placement-readiness support. Published activities include resume building, LinkedIn profile guidance, mock interviews, interview preparation, and communication skills training.
The programme page also describes access to hiring opportunities through Masai’s network. This is placement support, not a guarantee of employment.
The website describes a broader curriculum across nine units while presenting some detailed sections as a shorter unit-wise roadmap. For an exact unit-by-unit breakdown, refer to the latest programme brochure.
How does the Pay After Placement model work?
The published application journey is:
- Take the qualifier test: The listed test fee is ₹99.
- Reserve your seat: The published registration fee is ₹10,000, with GST applicable as specified in the programme terms.
- Complete the Foundation Unit: This is a mandatory five-week stage that assesses learning readiness and participation.
- Meet the progression requirements: Learners must clear the Foundation assessment and satisfy the conditions for entering the PAP programme.
- Complete onboarding: Eligible learners sign the PAP agreement and submit the required documentation.
- Continue through the programme: The deferred fee becomes payable only when the applicable eligible-placement conditions in the agreement are met.
The programme page lists progression requirements including at least 90% attendance, 80% assignment completion, 60% in assessments, submission of required projects, and compliance with the Code of Conduct. It also lists a CIBIL score of 700 or above as a requirement for entering the main PAP programme. Confirm the current conditions with admissions before enrolling.
What does the programme cost?
The official page lists these charges:
Fee component | Published amount |
|---|---|
Qualifier test | ₹99 |
Registration or seat fee | ₹10,000 |
Deferred programme fee | Depends on the applicable placement CTC slab |
Elevate unit | Additional ₹5,000, as specified on the programme page |
Optional MICA campus immersion | Additional ₹5,000 per participant per day |
The published deferred-fee table lists ₹1,80,000 for a placement CTC of ₹3 lakh to ₹4.99 lakh per annum and ₹2,50,000 for ₹5 lakh per annum and above, with GST applicable. EMI options through NBFC partners are also listed, subject to the lender’s terms.
Before enrolling, confirm the final amount in writing. Different sections of the official website display different fee bands and withdrawal schedules. Ask admissions to confirm the exact CTC slabs, GST, EMI charges, non-refundable fees, and drop-out liability applicable to your intake.
The Elevate unit is conducted offline in Bengaluru, and attendance is mandatory for learners who progress to it. The additional fee does not include travel, food, or accommodation. MICA campus immersion is optional and has separate charges.
Does the programme guarantee a job?
No. The programme offers learning, career preparation, and access to placement opportunities, but it does not guarantee that every learner will receive a job.
Outcomes can depend on the learner’s performance, completion of programme requirements, interview readiness, hiring demand, and available opportunities. Learners should understand the eligibility criteria for placement support and the definition of an eligible placement in the agreement.
What should you check before applying?
Before paying the registration fee, ask the admissions team to confirm:
- The eligibility and age criteria for the current intake.
- The full curriculum and number of units.
- The total fee, including GST and any additional charges.
- The placement CTC slabs and exact payment trigger.
- The withdrawal, discontinuation, and Code of Conduct clauses.
- The conditions for certification and placement support.
- The mandatory offline Elevate unit and its associated costs.
Read the current brochure and PAP agreement carefully. Do not rely on a general description of the model when the agreement determines your actual financial obligations.
Final thoughts
The MICA x Masai Business Analytics with AI programme brings together business foundations, technical analytics skills, practical projects, and placement-readiness support. Its Pay After Placement model may reduce the amount learners need to pay upfront, but it comes with specific eligibility, performance, and payment conditions.
It may suit learners who want a structured learning experience and can commit to the required workload. The right decision depends not just on the curriculum, but also on whether the fees, placement rules, and participation requirements fit your circumstances.
Next step: Review the official programme page and request the latest brochure and agreement before enrolling.