MSc or Master of Science degrees used to be the only choice for people looking for postgraduate education in STEM subjects back in the days… before the IITs were inaugurated and engineering programs took the country by storm. That said, even though MSc courses are not at the forefront of most people’s minds, they can still be a great choice for a lot of people who want to get a master’s degree after completing their graduation.
In this blog, we go more into detail about MSc degrees, their evolution, scope, benefits, and a lot more. So keep reading if you want to find out what a Master’s of Science degree entails.
Master of Science courses are 2-year postgraduate degree programs that offer in-depth knowledge on various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects or those related to these fields. They can be great postgraduate study options for students who already have a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree, especially if they want to gain theoretical and practical knowledge in a particular subject area.
Nowadays, MSc degrees have a broader scope in terms of the subjects you can opt for these courses too, with many technical subjects and some in the design, hospitality, and social sciences being offered too. To get a general idea of what this course might have in store for you in spite of the subject you choose to pursue an MSc in, take a look at the table below.
| Course Name | Master of Science (MSc) |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Type | Full-time, Part-time, Online, Correspondence |
| Mode of Examination | Yearly or Semester System |
| Eligibility Criteria | 50% or more in graduation with a relevant subject |
| Admission Process | Merit-based or Entrance Exam based |
| Common Entrance Exams | IIT JAM, CUET, BITSAT, CUSAT CAT, etc. |
| Average Fee Range | INR 20 thousand – INR 1 Lakh |
| Average Salary Range | INR 2 – 9 LPA |
| Areas of Recruitment | Research, Academia, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech, IT, Agriculture, Energy and Oil, Healthcare, etc. |
There are a lot of subjects or specializations that an MSc course might come in. There is no general MSc that combines all science subjects. After completing their graduation students are free to choose an MSc subject or specialization that is related to their graduation degree. For example, a student with an undergraduate degree in Biology may be able to choose an MSc in Biotechnology or Bioinformatics, but they can’t choose an MSc in Physics.
Some of the most common MSc subjects/ specializations are:
And much more.
Also Read: The Eligibility Criteria for a Master of Science Course
The scope of MSc graduates is immense, as it is a postgraduate degree after all, and higher qualifications lead to better job prospects. Still, the scope of an MSc graduate is still confined to the corresponding industries that can make use of their subject knowledge. Students who want to pursue research or academics, or both usually opt for these courses as the in-depth knowledge imparted in an MSc program is really incomparable.
Generally, these masters degree benefit a company that is heavily invested in R&D, so you’ll find some of the top recruiters are usually government organizations like DRDO, ISRO, CSIR, ICAR, ICMR, BARC, etc. Private companies also hire MSc graduates, usually in industries like medical research, biotechnology, f&b manufacturing, oil and gas, energy, automobile, space, and any type of manufacturing, among others.
Here are some of the common job roles MSc graduates can opt for, irrespective of the subject they specialize in. Do keep in mind that the average salary we are providing for these roles is just approximate across several industries, as the average salary of a lecturer in Biology is going to be a lot different than a lecturer in Quantum Computing, for example.
| Job Role | Average Salary (INR) |
| Research Scientist | 9 LPA |
| Junior Research Fellow | 3.7 LPA |
| Food & Drug Inspector | 7 LPA |
| Research Assistant | 6 LPA |
| Laboratory Technician | 5 LPA |
| Professor/Lecturer | 8 LPA |
| High School Teacher | 2.5 LPA |
(Source: Self-Made)
There are a lot of benefits to earning an MSc degree, some of which should already be clear to you by now. Still, here are some of the main benefits of pursuing a Master’s of Science degree in broad strokes.
Master’s of Science degrees come in a variety of subjects that are diverse as the branches of science itself, which are growing and ever-evolving along with our understanding of the world around us. With such a smorgasbord of choices, students who want to and are eligible for MSc degrees are spoilt for choices sometimes, as it should be. It doesn’t hurt that there are many benefits to getting a master’s degree either, with higher pay, better research opportunities, and much more.
1. Which MSc course is best?
There is no best MSc course per se. The best MSc course for a person is very subjective and involves a lot of factors like interest, background, course fee, etc.
2. How many years is a masters of science MSc?
An MSc is usually for a duration of 2 years in India.
3. What is next after MSc?
After completing your MSc, you can either choose to study further with an MPhil or PhD, or even a B.Ed if you want to get into teaching. Otherwise, you can look for jobs in various industries too.
4. What is the benefit of Master of Science?
There are a lot of benefits to pursuing a master of science program, the main among which include lower fees, more research opportunities, networking opportunities, and better job scope.
Copyright @ 2023 Cheran College for Women