If you have a background in engineering, you are probably stuck now trying to choose between taking up Master of Engineering or Master of Science in Engineering for your postgraduate studies. Your goals can vary, you might want to get an advanced position in management or you might want to pursue a PHD in engineering. It is quite important that you know what your career goals are before you choose a postgraduate course. Read this article to understand the key differences between Master of Engineering and Master of Science programs.
But there is a difference between MEng and MSc.
Master of engineering
A Master of Engineering or MEng or ME, focuses on practical skill development of the student. They usually emphasise engineering in the context of business management. They promote skills that would help working engineers to get promoted to leadership roles.
You do not need to complete a thesis for this course; instead, you might need to pass a comprehensive exam. You can finish this degree in a shorter period than if you do an MS in engineering. An ME can help you in getting more job opportunities as it tells your employers that you have technical skills and can also lead teams.
Master of Science in Engineering
A Master of Science in Engineering or an MS degree is typically a research focused degree. You are required to finish a thesis paper for this degree. Depending on the university you choose, an MS degree is a great option if you are considering doing a PhD later or want to pursue engineering with an academic focus. You probably need to submit your GRE scores if you want to take admission in this course.
MS programs vary by University
Different universities put focus on practice than research in an MS degree. These programs require a waiver or GRE scores for admission. You do not need to complete a thesis paper if you are pursuing a MEng degree.
Career Outcomes
If you have an MS degree, it does not mean you will be disqualified from management positions at various companies. However, there are some significant differences in the median salary over a career. Payscale.com says that a person who has earned an MS degree has a median salary of $77,000 every year and is more likely to be employed by technological firms. On the other hand, an individual with an ME degree has a median salary of around $90,000 per year and gets employed in a wide range of technical and manufacturing firms.
Master of Engineering vs. Master of Science
You need to carefully consider what you want to do in the future while choosing a postgraduate degree. If you are more inclined to pursuing a PhD or an academic career, you will be better off by choosing the more research focused MS in engineering. However, if you are more interested in expanding your business operations knowledge and wish to learn relevant strategies for leading and communicating with teams of engineers, you should pursue the more practice-oriented Master of Engineering program.
Conclusion
The format for the master of applied science, often known as MASc, MS, or MSc, is the same as that for MS and MSc. It emphasises concepts more than practical application.
A master’s degree in engineering doesn’t really exist, despite the fact that many engineering specialties overlap. Before beginning your engineering applications, you must select a
Specialisation.
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