MBA vs MS

This has been an ongoing debate for time immemorial whether one should pursue masters degree or a management degree for higher studies. While there is no right or wrong answer to the question, the correct path can still be arrived at considering various factors such as personal preferences, prevailing economic conditions, market scenario etc.  But first to understand the path better let’s first try to understand the difference between master and a MBA degree.

Master of Science is a commonly pursued graduation degree which focuses on scientific and mathematical subjects. The MS programs provide specialized skills and knowledge in a particular domain. If an individual wishes to develop a new area of expertise and also add professional credential to skill set in a short span of time, then an MS program is the ideal one. The duration of MS course is from 1 to 2 years depending on the courses and country. Most of the students who choose MS course, have their careers in their well defined areas of expertise such as Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Theoretical Physics etc.

MBA or Master of Business Administration is a professional degree awarded for studies in the areas of business and management. Students of MBA programs study the theory and application of business and management principles. Typically most full time programs for MBA degree are 2 years in duration but some universities like ISB, INSEAD etc. also offer one year courses. Students who choose to pursue MBA eventually end up in careers related to business areas more directly like Sales, Marketing, Product Management and Finance etc.

One of the important aspect and probably key component in deciding which course to pursue is identifying one’s own interest. While a MS degree offers a more thorough exposure on the technical side of things it is sort of a prerequisite that students who choose this route need to be sufficiently motivated for the stream. Also this route opens pathways for potential PhD in the domain. MBA is a more professional degree preparing you to become a business leader and take on business specific roles.

A lot of students try to look for answer through ROI (Return on Investment) calculation. This is precisely where things get tricky. While cost of MBA is significantly higher than MS, in recent times the gap between salaries of MBA graduate and MS graduate have gradually been converging. For instance a fresh computer science graduate when compared to fresh MBA from top universities would be getting comparable salaries post completion of their degree in US. While MS in different streams would definitely fetch lower package than MS in computer science, MBA is also a very brand driven degree and would heavily depend on the university one attends.

MS programs can typically be pursued straight after undergraduate. While it is advisable to have some relevant work experience in the field especially if an individual is looking to get in best schools in their respective field, there is still a chance to apply straight from undergraduate in case of an exceptional profile. Even work experience requirement typically ranges from 2-3 years. For MBA this requirement is slightly higher, more in the range of 5-6 years for best schools. Visa requirements for staying back after graduation are more stringent for MBA students than compared to MS students. Most countries have relaxed regulations for STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, Mathematical) students then business graduates. It is for the same reason that some of the US business schools are getting their program STEM accreditation to allow students extended visa to stay back. You can read about US STEM accredited schools here.

To help prospective students decide better we offer personalized screening session with our expert coaches who bring in their decades of experience to take a better decision. You can schedule your session using the form below. Since both the courses require different exam, you can easily avail our best in class one to one coaching session of GRE or GMAT.  You can also sign up for test series for GRE and GMAT and look at our video of topper series on deeper insight of end to end process of cracking the exam to securing your dream college with scholarship.