MSc (Master of Science) Comparison with other courses

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.

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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.	CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT,  etc.
Accreditation	Accredited by Universities	University Grants Commission (UGC)
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.

Quick links relevant to Popular MBA Exams:

MAT

CMAT

Relevant links for Popular MSc Exams:

ICAR AIEEA

URAT PG

MCAER CET

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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.

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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.	CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, 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	CAT Syllabus, MAT Syllabus, CMAT Syllabus, SNAP Syllabus	CPGET Syllabus, ICAR AIEEA, CUET PG

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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	Mathematical Physics Analytical Chemistry	Organizational Behaviour Quantitative Methods
Semester-2	Methods in Applied Sciences Qualitative Analysis Lab	Organization Effectiveness and Change Management Science
Semester-3	Coordination Chemistry Electrochemistry and Kinetics	Business Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility Legal Environment of Business
Semester-4	Bioanalytical Chemistry Polymer Science	Project Study Strategic Management

Relevant links for MSc vs MBA Courses:

MSc Syllabus 

MBA Syllabus

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)
Banaras Hindu University	10,400 - 25,500
Jamia Millia Islamia	14,400 - 1.8 lakh
Delhi University (DU)	3,900 - 32,000
Hindu College	INR 51,800
Jawaharlal Nehru University	432 - 5,800
Indian Institute of Science	32,000 - 48,000
Hansraj College	INR 432
Miranda House	INR 29,060 - INR 32,340
BITS Pilani	19.9 lakh
PSG College	INR 24,000 - INR 1.4 Lakh
Amity University, Noida	1.4 lakh - 7.5 lakh

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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)
IIM Ahmedabad	24.6 lakh
IIM Bangalore	20 lakh
IIM Rohtak	20 lakh
MDI Gurgaon	12 lakh
XLRI, Jamshedpur	25 lakh
IIM, Calcutta	21 lakh
IIM, Indore	20 lakh
IIM Bodh Gaya	19 lakh
NMIMS	17 lakh
IIFT Delhi	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

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Following are the most popular MSc (Master of Science) Colleges in India. Learn more about these MSc (Master of Science) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.

Following are the most popular MSc (Master of Science) Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Following are the most popular MSc (Master of Science) courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in MSc (Master of Science).