Shiksha Opinion: What's the Better Choice for Engineering Students - MBA or MS Abroad?

So, you are an engineering student in India, dreaming of getting your master’s abroad but stuck at a crossroads between MBA or MS? Well, it's a decision that haunts almost every engineer thinking of higher studies, especially when it comes to going abroad. Some may suggest you, “An MBA is your ticket to leadership and big money.” While others may argue, “An MS keeps you relevant in tech and guarantees a high-paying job in the future.” So, who’s right?

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer - it completely depends on your goals, strengths, and career aspirations. Do you love solving technical problems and working with cutting-edge technology? Then an MS might be your best bet. Or if you want to see yourself leading teams, making big business decisions, and maybe even running your own startup someday then, an MBA could be the better way to go.

But here’s the catch - picking the wrong one can set you back years and cost you lakhs in tuition fees. So, that’s why I’m here to break it down for you with guidance from Shiksha’s expert destination managers with around 10+ years of experience, in the most practical, no-nonsense way possible. Whether you're considering the USA, Canada, Germany, or Australia, this article will help you figure out which path is truly worth your time and investment.

Now let us begin with understanding some basic differences between an MBA and an MS degree.

MBA Vs MS

An MBA is perfect if you see yourself leading teams, managing businesses, or becoming an entrepreneur. It helps you transition into roles like product manager, consultant, or business strategist. You will move away from core engineering and focus more on decision-making, leadership, and networking. Check: Introduction to Product Management by Stanford University

On the other hand, an MS is the right choice if you want to stay in the technical field, specialise in an emerging area (Data Science, AI & Robotics, etc.), or pursue research. If you love coding, analytics, or R&D, an MS will deepen your expertise and boost your salary in a specialised domain.

Here is the comparison between MBA and MS degree abroad:

Related Reads:

• How Medha made the Decision between Pursuing MBA and MS: Shiksha Success Stories
• 5 Best countries to study MBA abroad
• 5 Best countries to study MS abroad

These were some of the major differences (yet not comprehensive) between an MBA and MS degree abroad. You can get more information on these by connecting with Shiksha’s expert counsellors on a case-by-case basis. 

Now let us read what our expert destination managers have to say based on the current scenarios in each major country.

Shiksha’s Opinion: Hear from our Destination Managers on MBA vs. MS

There is no “one size fits all” spectacle when it comes to choosing the right country, course and university to study abroad. You have to select the best course for you based on several parameters. Read on as we bring the most genuine expert advice straight from the house of Shiksha. 

1. MBA or MS? | Find out which Course Suits Best the Landscapes of Canada

Prayas Tarani, our destination manager for Canada with a rich experience of 10+ years in the study abroad field suggests that the choice of a better course starts from the best interest of the student, given how much of professional experience has he earned. 

In his own words, Prayas suggests - “The ideal situation is that a fresher student from a technical background should go for a technical master’s degree in Canada as it is more competitive and in demand. Not only this, most universities providing MS courses are public hence you may expect to pay a much smaller amount than what you pay for an MBA in Canada. So, if you are getting a good university, grab the opportunity without a second thought.”

On the other hand, Prayas suggests students with 3+ years of experience can go for an MBA degree in Canada. Further, he suggests that if the student is confused about which specialisation he must choose for his MBA - he/she can go for a general MBA which is a mix of all but getting admission can be really competitive.

Further, to conclude his valuable advice for students, Prayas suggests that students who wish to grow in their own technical fields must go for an MS; but if they wish to reach a managerial position in future, they must go for an MBA degree. However, if a student wishes to get to a leadership position later in their career but has no desired experience for pursuing an MBA can start their journey by opting for an MS and can gain a managerial role by growing in their field with time. 

2. MBA vs MS: Free Education in Germany? | It depends on the course you choose. 

Most students choose Germany over other European countries because of the free education it provides. But when it comes to studying an MS or an MBA for free in Germany, things change. Other than free education, graduates in Germany enjoy several other benefits too, one of which includes - payment of salary for the whole term of a fixed contract even if you stop working midway due to any unforeseen situations. 

Abhineet Saxena is a valued mentor of the Shiksha Toppers Team. With a rich experience of 6+ years in the study abroad field and his own experience of studying at TU Dresden, Abhineet deeply understands the technicalities, scope and perks of studying in Germany and goes a step beyond to help students get into their dream university.

Abhineet suggests that students willing to study master’s for free in Germany must go for an MSc degree. This is because free education is possible only at public universities in Germany and most top public universities are research-based. These universities do not charge any fee for technical courses (except for the ones located in Badenwuttenberg, universities here charge 1500 euros per semester for an MSc degree). However, students need to pay between INR 15-40 lakhs to study MBA at these universities. 

Further, in terms of career and employability, Abhineet suggests that only the ones with near-native proficiency in the German language can find a job and sustain it after an MBA. This is because the job will require you either to set up a business or engage in interaction with clients in Germany, both of which require interacting with the local community. Hence, a strong hold on the language is a must. 

On the other hand, working as an MS graduate requires one to interact with other graduates in the same field, hence English can be used as a common language and you might not need to gain a higher proficiency in German. 

3. Should You Choose an MBA or MS in the UK? Hear from our Expert: Deepti

According to our UK destination manager, Ms Deepti Sinha, going for an MBA in the UK is a better option than an MS if the students have relevant work experience. Ms Deepti emphasises that getting an MBA is better if the students are looking for a career shift or seek advancement in their current field. To this, she adds that if a student has a managerial, team handling or a similar experience of 2-3 years prior to applying for an MBA in the UK, chances are high that they may get accepted at a top-ranking MBA college in the UK. 

However, if the MS courses are considered, they don’t require prior work experience for admissions. Getting an MS is also cheaper than getting an MBA in the UK. Alongside, the MS degree is a technical degree which helps to gain expertise in specialised fields which are in demand in the UK. 

An MBA degree helps you to get senior/leadership job opportunities if you have similar prior experience, this way you can start your career with a high salary early. On the other hand, as far as the jobs after an MS are concerned, especially from the STEM background, students get better opportunities because of the very high demand in this sector in the UK. Non-STEM MS graduates may struggle to compete with MBA graduates or people with prior experience.

4. Master’s Degree vs MBA in France

When we talk of a master’s degree in France, a MIM degree is said to be a premium program that is also the most recommended course as per the current dynamics in the country. Our destination manager for France and Germany, Chandra Prakash Jha, explains that if you’re going to study in France, MIM is the best option you can choose. It is a dual degree, the first year of which is focused on core MIM courses and with the second year comes the specialisation and an internship of 6 months. So, this degree equips students with all the theoretical and real-world knowledge that they need to succeed in today’s world. 

Chandra adds a few more points that make MIM an attractive course option such as, the course is suitable for fresh graduates who do not have prior industry experience or for the ones who have less than 3 years of experience and gives an early start to their careers. Along with this, the MIM course in France is Grend’ecole accredited, gives extra payout and hence a high return on investment. In terms of fees, there is no significant difference between a 1-year MBA and a 2-year MIM course in France. Check: Top Ranked MIM Universities in France 2025

For students willing to go for an MBA, a prior experience of a minimum of 3 years is required. Further, Chandra states that students may easily find triple-accredited MBA universities in France, but studying in those universities can be really expensive. The course curriculum is focused more on practicals and case studies rather than on theoretical studies. 

The best advice that comes from Chandra is when you go for an MBA, the average class size is 5-10 years of experience which means that people from diverse fields, with 4+ years of experience (say a data scientist with over 10 years of experience) will be there in your class. These people must be in a senior or leadership role in their previous jobs and with them, you will have numerous opportunities for better learning and professional growth. However, in MIM, which is a technically specialised course, the average class size would be 3-5 years, all from similar backgrounds (say - supply chain). Check: Reasons to Choose Supply Chain Management in France

The last piece of advice from Chandra is to go for a 2-year master’s degree as it provides a deeper understanding for career progression. Hence, for fresh graduates with no experience, MIM is the best option. However, for the experienced ones with over 5-10 years of experience, an MBA is a better choice as this course not only offers the chance to switch to a new field but is also designed for leaders who want to bring out more output from the same sources. Check: MBA Vs. MIM Vs. MSc in France

5. Master of Science vs MBA in Ireland: The Emerging Study Abroad Destination

“MSc programs are recommended over MBA in Ireland” - states our destination manager for Ireland, Ms Deepika Bisht. The MS programs in Ireland are designed as per the industry needs and demands; while the MBA programs are designed for experienced professionals with 5+ years of managerial work. Check: Top MBA Colleges in Ireland

Furthermore, an MS typically leads to technical roles within a specialised field, while an MBA opens doors to leadership positions across various industries.

MS programs often accept recent graduates with no work experience, while MBA programs often prefer candidates with significant professional experience. MS programs are suited for students who wish to take the course at a lesser fee in comparison to the ones who are okay even with the high fee. Those students can even go for an MBA course in Ireland. 

What can be Your Best Bet in Europe - MBA or MS?

With his extensive experience across European countries, Chandra suggests that the top two reasons for which students choose to study in European countries are - quality of education and affordability. If, somehow, students become able to overcome the language barrier of studying in these countries, they will easily land in the education paradise for sure. Check: Study in Europe without IELTS 

Again, Chandra Prakash Jha suggests that for graduates with less than 3 years of experience, there are two options. For the ones with a finalised specialisation, MIM in Europe is the best bet. Students get 1st year of general business studies and get the time to choose a specialisation till the beginning of the 2nd year. For students with a finalised specialisation or field (such as data science, supply chain and AI), an MS or MSc degree is a better option as the course provides in-depth expertise in the designated field. 

Talking of graduates with 4-5 years or more experience, an MBA in Europe is the best option as it offers a greater ROI, direct manager’s positions and early growth in the career. 

The best countries to study an MS or MBA in Europe are France and Germany. Students seeking global or triple-accredited degrees must go for France as it has universities that offer triple accreditations. On the other hand, students looking for shorter programs, lower tuition fees and an industry-focused curriculum must go for Germany. Read: Benefits of Studying in France

According to Chandra, the other major differences that students may consider while making a choice between these two countries are - 

• The validity of the job search visa in France is 2 years and that in Germany is 1.5 years. Read: Post Study Work Visa in Germany
• The popular courses in France include supply chain, logistics, luxury brand management, and wine management. While the popular courses in Germany are automobile engineering, mechanical engineering and leadership programs (for English-speaking candidates)

Also Read: How to Study in Germany for free?

This was all about the difference between MS and MBS programs. We have also provided a clear understanding of the master’s degree vs MBA based on different countries. For further queries and assistance related to the admissions process, reach out to Shiksha’s Counselling Services for free.