MSc (Master of Science) Comparison with other courses

Diya NihalaniContent Author
MBA or MSc? Both are great options, but they also confuse many science graduates. This article covers the benefits of each for academics and career choices.
The MSc full form is Master of Science, while the MBA full form is Master of Business Administration. Both are popular two-year postgraduate degrees.
An MBA is suitable for candidates who want to advance their careers in management and executive roles, while an MSc is more appropriate for students who wish to join specialised and technical fields. Interested students can read the article further to know the differences between MSc and MBA courses and how they need to select the right course for themselves.
MSc vs MBA Relevant Links:
MSc Admissions: Check Application Status
MBA Admission 2025: Fees, Entrance Exam, Dates, Eligibility, Application, Selection
MSc vs MBA: Highlights
Students who have completed their bachelor’s degree and are confused about making their decision between an MBA and an MSc degrees can check the table below to understand the key highlights of both courses. The important details related to course level, entrance exams, course fees, job profiles, and average annual salary are tabulated below:
|
MBA vs MSc Parameters |
MSc |
MBA |
|---|---|---|
|
Full Form |
Master of Science |
Master of Business Administration |
|
Course Level |
Postgraduate Degree |
Postgraduate Degree |
|
Subjects |
Mathematical Statistics, Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry of Biomolecules, Polymer Science, etc.
|
Business Ethics, Organisational Behaviour, Microeconomics, Principles of Accounting, etc. |
|
Entrance Exams |
Entrance Exams like CPGET, MCAER CET, IIT JAM, URATPG, MAH CET, ICAR AIEEA, CUET PG, etc. |
etc. |
|
Accreditation |
Accredited by Universities |
|
|
Course Fees (in INR) |
INR 20,000 to INR 1.2 Lakh |
INR 2 lakh to 27 lakh and above |
|
Salary (in INR) |
INR 4 LPA and INR 30 LPA |
INR 5 LPA to 25 LPA
|
|
Top Recruiters |
Ranbaxy, GAIL, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, BARC, etc. |
Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey, Bain & Co, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase, Amazon, Facebook, Google, Adobe, etc. |
|
Specializations |
Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Environmental Sciences, Food Sciences, etc. |
Sales and Marketing, Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Digital Marketing, etc. |
|
Top Job Profiles |
Project Assistant, Lab Manager, Pharma Associate, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Patent Associate, Food Safety Analyst, etc. |
Finance Manager, Marketing Manager, Sales Manager, Project Manager, etc. |
|
Top Colleges |
Banaras Hindu University, Bharathiar University, Calcutta University, Delhi University, etc. |
IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, etc. |
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Relevant links for Popular MSc Exams:
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Difference Between MSc and MBA
An MSc is a two-year postgraduate degree that candidates usually opt for after completing their BSc. The fees of MSc courses are less than MBA and can be completed between INR 20,000 to INR 1.2 Lakh. MSc is classified as a STEM degree since it emphasizes Science, Engineering, Technology, Mathematics, and Medicine.
On the other hand, an MBA or Master of Business Administration is a postgraduate degree program that offers advanced management and business training. The fees of MBA courses range between INR 4 Lakh - INR 25 Lakh. The course enlightens students with the knowledge and abilities they need to be successful in leadership positions. The growing number of businesses has highlighted the importance of an MBA degree.
What is an MSc?
The Master of Science (MSc) course is popular for scientific and research opportunities, including government competitive exams. The wide range of MSc courses might lead to a lucrative job option. MSc courses can be pursued in various specializations, including Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Chemistry, Applied Psychology, Life Science, Mathematics, Analytical Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Botany, Biotechnology, etc. MSc courses are designed such that candidates can gain complete knowledge about scientific principles and research.
In India, numerous government colleges provide MSc courses and specializations. Banaras Hindu University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi University, and Jawaharlal Nehru University are some of the colleges that provide MSc courses in India.
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What is an MBA?
An MBA is a very popular management program that can be pursued in two years. An MBA is pursued by students after completing their graduation with 50% aggregate marks. MBA equips students with valuable management skills, hence, a large number of BTech, BBA, BCom, BA, BSc, and BCA graduates go for an MBA in post-graduation.
The most popular MBA entrance exams are CMAT, XAT, CAT, and MAH CET, among others. Some of the popular colleges offering MBA programs in various specializations are IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, FMS Delhi, and XLRI, among others.
MBA vs MSc Course Links you may be interested in:
MBA vs MSc: Eligibility Criteria
Usually, students who possess a bachelor’s degree in Science from a recognised college/university with 50 per cent marks can seek admission to MSc courses. An MBA is pursued in different modes such as Part-Time MBA, Distance MBA, Online MBA, Executive MBA and Integrated MBA. Hence, eligibility criteria for every programme differ. Similarly, an MSc can be pursued in different modes.
The table below contains the eligibility requirements for Full-time MSc and MBA programmes.
|
Parameters |
MSc |
MBA |
|---|---|---|
|
Education |
Graduate in Science |
Graduate in any stream |
|
Entrance Exams |
CPGET, ICAR AIEEA, CUET PG, MCAER CET, etc. |
|
|
Minimum Percentage |
Minimum 50 per cent aggregate marks |
Average 50 per cent marks (45 per cent for Reserved category) |
|
Work Experience |
NA |
Some courses and colleges demand work experience of 3 to 5 years |
MSc vs MBA: Entrance Exams
Admission to the top B-schools is provided based on national or state-level entrance exams like CMAT, ATMA, MAH-CET, CAT, MAT, etc. On the other hand,admission to MSc courses is provided based on merit or entrance exams like CUET PG, AP PGCET, CPGET, ICAR AIEEA, etc.
Students can check the table below to know the details related to entrance exams for both MSc and MBA.
|
Parameters |
MBA |
MSc |
|---|---|---|
|
Conducting Body |
UGC |
UGC |
|
Mode of Exam |
Online and Offline |
Online and Offline |
|
Entrance Exams |
CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, SNAP, etc. |
CPGET, ICAR AIEEA, CUET PG, AP PGCET, etc. |
|
Entrance Exams Syllabus |
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MBA vs MSc: Syllabus
MBA curriculum is more theoretical and changes less frequently as it is designed by the universities. The MBA curriculum is designed to provide students with a thorough awareness of the various aspects of the management sector and its role in the corporate world.
Contrarily, MSc subjects provide a comprehensive outline of the courses and curriculum covered in the MSc degree. MSc subjects serve as a roadmap for students, detailing the specific subjects and topics they will study throughout their programme.
Here is an overview of the semester-wise MBA and PGDM syllabus in India:
|
Parameters |
MSc |
MBA |
|---|---|---|
|
Semester-1 |
|
|
|
Semester-2 |
|
|
|
Semester-3 |
|
|
|
Semester-4 |
|
|
Relevant links for MSc vs MBA Courses:
MSc vs MBA: Top MBA/MSc Colleges
Some popular colleges for MSc include the names of Banaras Hindu University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi University, etc. Similarly, Students can pursue an MBA from several top management institutes, including the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), XLRI-Jamshedpur, and SP Jain Institute of Management and Research-Mumbai.
Interested candidates can see the tables below to know the top colleges offering MSc and MBA programmes.
Top MSc Colleges
Candidates can select the MSc college based on several factors candidate’s requirements, specialisations, fee structure, placement, curriculum, and so forth. Students can check the table below for popular MSc Colleges:
|
Best MSc Colleges |
MSc Fees (in INR) |
|---|---|
|
10,400 - 25,500 |
|
|
14,400 - 1.8 lakh |
|
|
3,900 - 32,000 |
|
|
INR 51,800 |
|
|
432 - 5,800 |
|
|
32,000 - 48,000 |
|
|
INR 432 |
|
|
INR 29,060 - INR 32,340 |
|
|
19.9 lakh |
|
|
INR 24,000 - INR 1.4 Lakh |
|
|
1.4 lakh - 7.5 lakh |
Suggested MBA vs MSc Link:
Top 100 Universities in India as per NIRF Ranking
Top MBA Colleges
There are about 5,000 MBA colleges in India. One can choose their best-suited institutes with the help of the MBA college predictor. Some of the top colleges with their fees are:
|
Top MBA Colleges |
MBA Fees (in INR) |
|---|---|
|
24.6 lakh |
|
|
20 lakh |
|
|
20 lakh |
|
|
12 lakh |
|
|
25 lakh |
|
|
21 lakh |
|
|
20 lakh |
|
|
19 lakh |
|
|
17 lakh |
|
|
12 lakh |
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MSc vs MBA: Jobs and Salaries
An MBA is one of the most popular degrees in the field of management. It is also suitable for students who want to refine their managerial skills and start their own firms. Students holding a Bachelor's Degree in any area and a qualifying percentage can enrol for an MBA course.
MSc Salary in India
After completing the MSc programme, one can find a variety of job options in both the public and private sectors. The young entrants can earn between INR 6 to 8 LPA and increase their pay scale with experience. After completing the MSc, the graduates can find employment as a data scientist, clinical research specialist, chemist, lecturer, research scientist, laboratory technician, and oceanographer, among others.
The graduates can find job profiles like the ones mentioned below.
|
Job Profile |
MSc Salary (in INR) |
|---|---|
|
Mathematicians |
8.2 LPA |
|
Junior Research Fellows |
3.9 LPA |
|
Research Scientists |
9.2 LPA |
|
Lecturers |
4 LPA |
|
Chemical Analysts |
3.7 LPA |
MBA Salary in India
The average salary after an MBA ranges between INR 5 lakh to 7 lakh at the start. The pay is mostly determined by several factors like skills, specialisation, qualifications, experience, and location. Finance, marketing, general management, business analytics, and entrepreneurship are among the top MBA specialisations that frequently yield the greatest pay after graduation.
Given below are some of the popular job options after an MBA and their corresponding salaries:
|
Job Profile |
MBA Salary (in INR) |
|---|---|
|
Marketing Managers |
12.4 LPA |
|
Sales Managers |
6.9 LPA |
|
Operations Managers |
10.7 LPA |
|
Finance Managers |
17 LPA |
|
Product Managers |
21.3 LPA |
MBA vs MSc Course Topics you might be interested in:
- Popular MSc (Master of Science) Colleges in India
- Popular Private MSc (Master of Science) Colleges in India
- Popular MSc (Master of Science) Specializations
- Most Popular Courses
Popular MSc (Master of Science) Colleges in India
Popular Private MSc (Master of Science) Colleges in India
M.Sc. Applications open. Apply Now
M.Sc. Applications open. Apply Now
M.Sc. Applications open. Apply Now
Popular MSc (Master of Science) Specializations
Popular Specializations
- Chemistry
2641 Colleges
- Mathematics
2257 Colleges
- Physics
1855 Colleges
- Computer Science
1446 Colleges
- Botany
1318 Colleges
- Zoology
1293 Colleges
- Biotechnology
816 Colleges
- Microbiology
775 Colleges
- Biochemistry
449 Colleges
- Agriculture
406 Colleges
Most Popular Courses
Popular Courses
- M.Sc. in Computer ScienceBanaras Hindu University
- M.Sc. in PhysicsBanaras Hindu University
- M.Sc. in MathematicsBanaras Hindu University
- M.Sc. in GeophysicsBanaras Hindu University
- M.Sc. in BiochemistryBanaras Hindu University
- M.Sc. in ChemistryBanaras Hindu University
- M.Sc. in StatisticsBanaras Hindu University
- M.Sc. in Agriculture (Genetics and Plant Breeding)Banaras Hindu University
- M.Sc. in Statistics and ComputingBanaras Hindu University
- M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences (Environmental Technology)Banaras Hindu University
News & Updates
Student Forum
Answered Yesterday
Indian students can complete Coventry Uni MSc International Business Management course in 1 year. This course has international business focus, practice led learning, and focuses on developing the skills in international business environment. The tuition fee for Indian students for this course is GB
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
New Jersey Institute of Technology degree programs attracts Indian students the most. NJIT offers 120+ program for its Indian students. New Jersey Institute of Technology offers MS programme for the duration of 12 months to 24 months. New Jersey Institute of Technology MS first year tuition fee for
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
MS in CS at Binghamton University is a 18 months graduate programme for Indian students. The Binghamton University fees for MS in CS programme is INR 25.26 Lakhs for the first-year. The Master of Science in Computer Science programme for Indian students at this university can be considered bit expen
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
The University College Dublin is one of the top choice of Indian students to pursue MS programme in Ireland. UCD offers MS programme for the duration of 1 year. University College Dublin MS first year tuition fee for Indian students is around INR 25 L.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
The University College Cork is among the top choice of Indian students to pursue higher education in the Ireland. UCC offers MS programme for the duration of 1 year to 2 years. The University College Cork MS first year tuition fee for Indian students is INR 20 L – INR 30 L.
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, MS in Applied Economics & Finance course of UC Santa Cruz is a STEM OPT course. This course is of 1-year duration. It is one of the top picked course among Indian students. The graduates of this course have gone into Tech giants like Apple, Google, Amazon, Twitter, Bloomberg, etc. For admission
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Students can complete MS in Exercise Science course at LIU in 1.5 - 2 years. This is a cross discipline programme to provide the graduates with the knowledge and skills to implement-
- Nutrition
- Sport Psychology
- Sports Performance
- Sport Psychology, etc.
B
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The Uni. of Maryland MS in CS placement rate is 93% for the Class of 2024. Out of this, 80.5% of the students reported entering the workforce, while 12.4% chose to study further education. The median starting salary of the graduates was USD 105,000 (Around INR 1 Cr.).
C
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The MSc in Public Relations course at BU tries to develop core comptencies in the following areas-
- Media Relations
- Digital and Social Media Strategy
- Strategic Communication Management
- Social Media Strategy
- Crisis and Reputation Management, etc.
This is a popular course of BU among Indian students. No GRE
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The University of Central Missouri is one of the most prominent universities for MS programme in the USA. University of Central Missouri offers MS programme for the duration of 18 months to 24 months. The University of Central Missouri MS first year tuition fee for Indian students ranges from INR 10
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Shree Dr. Virendra H.Dave Homoeopathic Medical College pursuing MD must have to qualify the eligibility criteria. Students qualify Bachelors programme with 50% marks from the recognised university. After meeting the eligibility criteria and qualify the entrance exams.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
London School of Economics is among the top choice of Indian students to pursue MS programs in the UK. London School of Economics offers MS programme for the duration of 1 year. London School of Economics MS first year tuition fee for Indian students is around INR 39 L.
I
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
IIT Delhi cutoff 2026 was published for round 1 regarding admission to the MSc course and its specialisations. The round 1 results were declared in the form of ranks for different All India categories.
Among the General AI category, the first round cutoff range varied between 7 and 604. To know the
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
National University of Singapore is among the top choice of Indian students to purse MS programme in Singapore. National University of Singapore offers MS programme for the duration of 12 months to 2 years. NUS MS first year tuition fee for Indian students is INR 27 L – INR 46 L.
I
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Indian students are not eligible for the MSc in Computer Science at the University of Galway with a standard Commerce background. The MSc in Computer Science requires a UG degree in Computer Science or a heavily quantitative Science or Engineering degree.
Look at the given pointers -
- It is not a con
Answered 4 days ago
MSc Sport Business Analytics programme costs around GBP 24,300 or INR 31.36 L per year for full time Indian students enrolled in 2026-27 intake.
1 GBP = INR 129.09
Note - If a student is studying this programme in part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. But the fee
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, it is not a problem for Indian students to apply for the MSc Data Science at the University of Manchester with a non CS background.
However, if the student does not hold a CS degree, they will be required to apply for specific, specialised pathways and show a strong foundation in Quantitative a
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
IIT Jodhpur MSc cutoff 2026 was released for round 1 regarding admission among various All India categories based on the IIT JAM exam.
For the General AI category, the round 1 cutoff varied between 482 and 544. To know the round 1 cutoff range for other All India categories, see below.
| Category | IIT Jodhpur cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|
| General | 482 - 544 |
| OBC | 729 - 865 |
| SC | 1454 - 1958 |
| ST | 1992 - 3417 |
| EWS | 674 - 834 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Students can expect MS in Engineering Management of UMBC to be completed in 1.5 years - 2 years. The graduates of MS in Engineering Management can work with the companies like -
- Amazon
- Northrop Grumman
- Accenture
- Lockheed Martin
For admission to this course, a Bachelor's degree is required for admission t
C
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
The IIT Kanpur MSc cutoff 2026 was published for round 1 for various All India categories, including the OBC category. For this category, the round 1 cutoff ranged from 155 to 1134, wherein M.Sc. in Statistics was the most sought-after course.
Students can refer to the table below to know the IIT K
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
RWTH Aachen University is very well known for its STEM courses, especially the programs. These are highly ranked by some of the top ranking bodies in the world.
Out of all the RWTH courses, the most popular are the MS in Data Science and the MS in Computer Science.
Look at the RWTH Aachen University
Answered 5 days ago
For admission to North Carolina State University MSc in CS, no specific GRE score has been mentioned. Indian students have to submit the GRE score. But, as per the unofficial sources, it has been mentioned students can have a combined overall score of 315. The applications to MSc in CS course are su
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes math is required in class 12 for persuing m.sc in VNIT.
S
Beginner-Level 1
Answered a week ago
MSc & BSc students are given some facilities like PG/PhD class rooms, Econometrics lab, department library cum reading room, staff room, computers, LCD projector, data etc. The popular programme students are taught by expert faculty members. The faculty are PhD, diploma, & degree holders.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Lakehead University MSc in Biology course is 2 years. For admission to this course, the students must have a 4-year Bachelor's degree. This course is offered at Thunder Bay and Orillia campus. The documents required to apply to this course are-
- Transcripts
- CV
- English language proficiency results
- Any spe
B
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes. V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE) is affiliated to Goa University, which is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Accordingly, the M.Sc. Programmes offered by VMSIIHE
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes. V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE) is affiliated to Goa University, which is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Accordingly, the B.Sc. and M.Sc. Programmes offered
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
SOGS Jain University offers MSc across numerous specialisations. The popular ones include:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Diagnosis
- Biotechnology
- Chemsitry
- Data Science and Analytics
- Digital Forensic and Information Security
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Psychology
Answered a week ago
Yes, the popular courses like MSc Data Analytics, Business Analytics or Computing at the National College of Ireland are in high demand and they fill up earlier than the others.
Data and Computing fields are the most sought-after at NCI and to maintain the teaching quality, it has capped the number
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The BCom course starts from September/October. The admission process begins with registrations for RUASAT exam in December. The exam is conducted in March in multiple slots. Students should also check CUET dates to not miss any updates.
B
Contributor-Level 10
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