Updated on May 19, 2025 03:10 IST
Diya Nihalani

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.

CAT, MATXAT, CMATNMAT, 

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

PhysicsBiologyChemistryMathematicsBotanyBiotechnologyMicrobiologyEnvironmental SciencesFood Sciences, etc.

Sales and MarketingOperations, FinanceHuman 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 UniversityBharathiar UniversityCalcutta UniversityDelhi University, etc.

IIM AhmedabadIIM 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 ScienceEngineeringTechnologyMathematics, 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, ChemistryApplied Psychology, Life Science, Mathematics, Analytical Chemistry, PhysicsBiologyBotanyBiotechnology, 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 Outlook Report

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 MBADistance MBAOnline MBAExecutive 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 AIEEACUET PG, MCAER CET, etc.

CATMATXATCMAT, 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 SyllabusMAT SyllabusCMAT SyllabusSNAP Syllabus

CPGET SyllabusICAR AIEEACUET PG

MBA vs MSc Course topics you might be interested in:

List of all MBA entrance exams

List of all MSc entrance exams

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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

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

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)

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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IIM Ranchi partners with Indian Army Eastern Command for Executive MBA, PhD Programmes

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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:

MBA Placements

Table of contents
  • 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

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.
43 Courses
6.66 K - 1.7 L
9 LPA
17 Courses
20 K - 1.11 L
9.25 LPA
10 Courses
432
9.5 LPA
19 Courses
480
11.9 - 16 LPA
6 Courses
32 K
4.3
1 L
7.2 - 20 LPA

Popular Private MSc (Master of Science) Colleges in India

1.68 L - 3.28 L
4.1

M.Sc. Applications open. Apply Now

1.75 L - 3.2 L
3.8

M.Sc. Applications open. Apply Now

6 Courses
1.6 L - 2.5 L
4.3
3.6 L - 4.2 L
8.16 LPA

M.Sc. Applications open. Apply Now

2 Courses
4.4 L
3.9
2.7 L - 4 L

Popular MSc (Master of Science) Specializations

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

Popular Specializations

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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

...Read more

R

Rupali Singh

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

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P

Pallavi Shukla

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

...Read more

K

Kanishka Gambhir

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

Nishtha Sharma

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

Kartik Bisht

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

...Read more

G

Gunjan Thapa

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

Bhumika Kaur

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

Chandra Chaudhary

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

...Read more

N

Nishtha Singh

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

...Read more

K

Kartik Bisht

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

Anupama Singh

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

Ishita Kalra

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

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

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

Ishita Kalra

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

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78590934
Loveleen Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

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

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K

Kanishka Gambhir

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

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M

Mamona Dixit

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. 

CategoryIIT Jodhpur cutoff 2026
General482 - 544
OBC729 - 865
SC1454 - 1958
ST1992 - 3417
EWS674 - 834

N

Neerja Rohatgi

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

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Chandra Sharma

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

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Neerja Rohatgi

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

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Loveleen Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

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

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R

Rupali Singh

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Yes math is required in class 12 for persuing m.sc in VNIT.

S

Srinath Das

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

Nishtha Singh

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

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Bhumika Kaur

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

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Saurabh Khanduri

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

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S

Saurabh Khanduri

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 

84134530
Tanu Rao

Contributor-Level 10

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

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Piyush Rastogi

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.

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Bipasha Jha

Contributor-Level 10

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