MS vs MBA abroad: the Engineer’s dilemma

I met a fresh Engineering graduate recently who came to me inquiring about his options for an MBA degree abroad. Instinctively, I asked him the reason for thinking along these lines to which he replied by saying that he wanted a high-flying job after his Master’s without having to deal with the technicalities of the job. Well, obviously, I had to stop him there. I took up the daunting task of showing him the fallacy of his statement. If as a manager, junior or senior, you need to make a decision, you are invariably expected to do so based on a thorough understanding of all technicalities. Hence, it is clearly evident from this, that an MBA degree cannot be your escape route to avoid being an Engineer. In fact, someone with a great depth of understanding of his subject is oftentimes promoted to higher managerial positions, with operational knowledge gained parallelly through degrees such as MBA or the likes of it.

This brings us to the objectives of an MBA degree. True that it is a means of demonstrating one's capability of being a manager, but we need to first understand the kind of knowledge that the degree imparts. For instance, in general, it includes modules in Finance, Economics, Operations, Marketing, Statistics, Communication, and the likes of these. If in addition to this, you have the option of choosing a specialization, and then depending on what you choose you may have modules in HR, supply chain management, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, and more recent ones like EdTech. Considering this, it is quite intuitive that you require this kind of knowledge once you understand the basics of organizational structure in the industry, which then provides you with a clearer idea of the need to gain further knowledge in these domains. Needless to say, most management schools expect their applicants to have some exposure to the industry so that the design of the curriculum makes more sense to them.

MS, on the other hand, is seen more as a means to specialize in one's area of interest and is commonly thought to be more of a route towards a research-based career, but that may not necessarily be true. MS degrees abroad, first of all, could be of two types: a thesis-based MS which orients students towards research, and a coursework-based MS, commonly known as the MEng. The latter is ideal for students with some amount of industry experience, who need to get some exposure to advanced topics to work as senior Engineers in their field of interest. This oftentimes includes a capstone project to provide some structured industry exposure. In some cases, an MEng may be without projects, such as in some Canadian Universities, where the Master’s degree is then classified into MS with thesis, Project-based MS, and MEng. In addition, there are MS degrees that are more interdisciplinary in nature or satisfy the requirements of students like the one mentioned earlier. For example, MS degrees in Engineering Management or Technology Management help engineers to transition into the industry and work in managerial positions in tech companies. On the other hand, Master’s in Management (MIM) degrees provide Engineers with none to very little industry experience to get an understanding of basic management principles before dipping their toes in decision making roles. Rather, this degree, and not MBA, is suited for students who shirk away from core technical roles while being more interested in leadership positions. Such MS degrees of course can be topped up with relevant MBA degrees once the student gains enough exposure to such roles. The decision to choose the right MBA will then be well informed.

From the above, it is clear that industry experience plays an important role in deciding on the degree to choose out of the two major categories. In this respect, while an MS degree is well suited for freshers, straight out of undergraduate college, it is not very highly suggested for people with too many years of industry experience. There is some such thing known as a ‘fresher’s MBA’ as opposed to a regular MBA. The former is meant for newly graduated students with no industry exposure. But while these programs are far and fewer, they are oftentimes offered by colleges bordering on being nondescript. Top colleges may have some options such as ‘deferred MBA’, but while acceptance rates into these programs are incredibly low, they too require the accepted geniuses to gain a couple of years of industry experience before joining the program. This is only expected, since, as discussed before, one can only do justice to an MBA program upon gaining an overview of the industry that one wants to work in. In short, if you wish to gain entry into a reputed management program, it is better to have 2-5 years of experience before doing so. If, on the other hand, the degree is just a formality for you, it is ok to go for a fresher’s MBA degree from a lesser-known University.

The expectations of an MS program, on the other hand, is that of a more malleable mind that can be molded into the intended area of specialization. In this case, someone with 5+ years of industry experience, already aware of the underpinnings of the technical aspects would find it difficult to blend in with the population majorly formed of young, curious minds. As a result, such experience is not appreciated in MS classes and it becomes difficult for matured learners to gain an entry. In fact, the whole idea is that such individuals would not find any novel ideas to be excited about while pursuing an MS degree. Moreover, even when the MEng (or MS with project) degree may still be more accommodating in this respect, the research-based degree basically prepares one to be a scientist in any which form (in the industry or academia) and it is much easier to train fresh minds in this direction. As a result, MS degrees are undoubtedly tailored for the new graduates. Even if one wants to avoid the core technical areas, many of these MS programs can help one specialize in areas of business management such as MS in Finance, Marketing, HR, etc. These can channelize students into the industry and thereafter opt for an MBA, as discussed above.

To put it all together, if you are a freshly baked Engineer, straight out of the oven, and looking for a higher degree abroad, it is advisable to choose the right Master’s degree based on your aptitude, interests and long term goals, get a job afterward, and with a few years of experience, get an MBA degree from a highly revered business school such as Wharton, Ross, Harvard, Standford or even Kellogg, Fuqua, SDA Bocconi, INSEAD, HEC Paris, and the list goes on depending on ‘the good fit’. MBA is not an escape route. Conversely, it is one of the most difficult programs to get into, requiring years of hard work and preparation. The rewards are numerous only if you are planning it right. Landing into the right MS program is also challenging and requires one to choose and prepare well, as well as apply prudently. This can actually pave the way for a well laid out future ahead, provided you are choosing the right program and getting into the right college. The discussion on what a right college means will of course be carried on further in my next blog since it is a topic worthy of detailed analysis and individual treatment.