If you are a student who wants to complete your studies abroad, you must have faced the dilemma of whether to do an MSc or MEng. If you are going abroad through an agency, they would have probably told you there is not much difference between the two. However, that’s completely untrue. Some universities offer both MEng and MSc. They provide different approaches to the same subject. Read this article to understand the difference between MSc and MEng.
- MEng is not strictly a postgraduate study
In European countries, MEng is an undergraduate degree, while MSc is a postgraduate study. However, In India and the United States of America, MEng or ME is a postgraduate degree. If you pass the European assessment, you can become a Chartered Engineer immediately after MEng. If you are an international student, you can still apply to become a Chartered Engineer in Europe.
- MSc and MEng are structurally different
An MSc degree focuses on studies and theories and is more research-oriented. On the other hand, an MEng degree focuses mainly on application and has more technical coursework.
For an MSc degree, you have to write a thesis paper. An MSc degree consists of 2-3 prerequisite courses and various assorted electives, depending on your chosen university. You can choose any elective to specialize in. Hence, if you want to do a Ph.D., it is wiser to do an MSc degree as it has a broader scope.
An MEng degree is designed with a specialized and close focus and requires you to work on a project. Hence, it has limited options. It generally has 2-3 electives. It is the best option for students that want technical experience.
- Different tenures
An MEng degree lasts for a minimum of four years in Europe, where in the first three years, the course syllabus is quite similar to BEng and the last year is more advanced studies. In the United States of America, M.E. lasts only one year. An MSc generally lasts for two years in both places.
- Employers have different preferences depending on the job
In numerous cases, businesses only mention the level they require for a job position, such as undergraduate level or postgraduate level. Or they specify the department they want their job candidates to be either mechanical or electrical. This has led to a widespread misconception that it does not matter whether you do an MEng degree or an MSc degree. However, this is not true at all. The employers are looking for specific skills not taught in both degrees. An ME lasts only a year and does not successfully teach you all the skills required to survive in the industry at a high level. MEng teaches you more technical skills, but an MSc degree focuses more on research. An MEng degree lasts four years and makes you eligible for technical job opportunities. However, an MSc is more vast and provides many more options.
Conclusion
Hence, you should carefully examine what you are interested in before you choose a course. If you want a specific job, you should take up the course that can prepare you for that job and give you all the technical skills you require.
