If you’ve recently earned your bachelor’s degree, you might consider completing a Master’s course. Not only does it open doors to more opportunities, but a master’s degree also provides you with the appropriate knowledge and skills that would help you climb the corporate ladder faster.
Aspirants can choose to go into the business and management-related streams through an MBA or pursue a technical field via an MTech degree, amongst other options. To facilitate students in understanding the similarities and differences between MBA vs MTech, we have compiled the following guide, which compares all their key attributes and future scope.
What Is an MBA?
A Master of Business Administration program is a dynamic course designed for those interested in business analysis. It aids the candidates in advancing their careers at a faster pace. MBA candidates acquire a specific skill set during their degree, which, combined with a few years of work experience, helps them gain better skills for problem-solving and strategizing and more fundamental knowledge about their fields. Some core skills taught are creative and critical thinking, analysis, collaboration, communication, and leadership.
Some of the popular concentrations taught to MBA candidates are business strategy, finance, corporate ethics, and human resource management, amongst many others. Students are trained to fill roles across different corporate departments and acquire an appropriate skill set during the process to manage responsibilities like staying up to date on industry trends, advising on strategic direction, providing market insights, and managing products, processes, and people.
What is MTech?
Master of Technology is a professional postgraduate course for engineering aspirants. It helps students in gaining practical skills, hands-on experience, and industry knowledge. It’s typically designed with a specialization in the coursework, like Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Students are acquainted with the necessary skills that they would need to tackle complex technological challenges and lead innovative initiatives in the corporate world.
Graduates of MTech typically have competitive leverage over their contemporaries in the job market due to their enhanced skill set. The degree provides a gateway to higher opportunities in the field of technology and engineering since students are introduced to advanced coursework, practical training, and research opportunities.
Difference In The Eligibility Criteria For An MBA Vs MTech
The eligibility criteria are one of the major attributes to consider while comparing the differences between an MBA vs MTech. Students who have studied under either the 10+2+3 pattern or the 10+2+4 pattern are eligible to apply. Students currently studying in their final year of undergraduate are also eligible to apply to either program.
For the Master of Business Administration course, a minimum aggregate of 50 percent marks in any degree is required from an accredited or recognized university. Scores of certain entrance exams are also taken into consideration, like CAT, MAT, CMAT, and GMAT, or state-level entrance exams like MAH CET, TSICET, UPSEE, and TANCET.
On the other hand, for an MTech degree, candidates are expected to have an engineering background. Anyone with a BE or BTech degree can pursue a Master of Technology program. Admission is granted based on the scores achieved in entrance exams. Some of the popular entrance exams are GATE, OJEE, UPSEE, TANSET, and GRE. State-level exams, like CET or CEET, can also be considered.
In terms of work experience, MBA candidates typically have a few years of work experience since the degree is a stepping stone to progress in your career. On the contrary, previous employment isn’t necessary for MTech as it is designed to provide deeper knowledge for your specialization before you work. Of course, industry experience in any field enhances your portfolio, even if it isn’t mandatory.
Cost Of Tuition
Considering the cost of tuition between an MBA vs MTech before pursuing either course can provide useful input to your decision. Since the tuition fees depend on the specializations, the selected university or college, the popularity of its location, and the standard of education, it can be challenging to narrow down the expected tuition.
The tuition for an MBA program ranges from around INR 6,00,000 and can go up to INR 28,00,000 per year. Comparatively, MTech courses cost less than MBA programs. The fees in government or public institutions range from INR 50,000 to INR 2,50,000. The annual fee in private institutions can be between INR 2,00,000 and INR 10,00,000. The tuition cost can go even higher, depending on the quality of education and the institution’s reputation. If you choose to study abroad, your tuition and semester fees can increase manifold.
Average Salary
Since MBA and MTech have different coursework and practical backgrounds, one can expect a difference in their average salaries. MBA graduates are offered substantial salary packages and benefits. According to surveys, the average starting salary was found to be INR 8,00,000 per year, whereas the average annual salary is approximately INR 22,00,000.
On the other hand, MTech graduates are typically offered a starting salary between INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000, whereas their average annual salary can range from INR 6,00,000 to INR 20,00,000. Since these are approximate estimates, aspirants must note that they can expect a different salary depending on the placements by the college, coursework, tie-ups, and their specialization. Any job’s pay scale also depends on the acquired skill set, previous work experience, qualifications, industry trends, and the current job market.
MBA Vs MTech: Expected Job Profiles
Even if you properly comprehend the similarities or differences between an MBA and vs MTech, if the degree doesn’t get you your desired job profile, it might not help accelerate your career. The extensive knowledge and skill set acquired through an MBA degree open doors to several opportunities. Some of the most popular job profiles that students can expect are –
- Marketing Manager
- Financial Manager
- Sales Manager
- HR Manager
- Medical And Health Services Manager
- Management Analyst
- Chief Executive Officer
On the contrary, MTech jobs are comparatively restricted to technical fields depending on your specialization. You can expect job profiles as follows –
- Software Engineer
- Mining Engineer
- Ceramic Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Chief Engineer
MBA Vs MTech: Summary
| Sr. No. | Particulars | MBA | MTech |
| Popular Coursework | Business strategy, finance, corporate ethics and human resource management | Civil engineering, Mechanical engineering, Chemical engineering, and Electrical engineering | |
| Core Skills | Creative and critical thinking, analysis, collaboration, communication, and leadership | Advanced technical knowledge, research and analysis, design and development skills, and problem-solving abilities | |
| Eligibility Criteria | GMAT, CAT, MAH CET, UPSEE, MAT | GATE, GRE, UPSEE, OJEE, TANSET | |
| Cost Of Study | INR 6,00,000 to INR 28,00,000 per year | Government/public institutes – INR 50,000 to INR 2,50,000 per year Private institutes – INR 2,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 |
|
| Duration Of Full-time Course | Two years | Two years | |
| Duration Of Part-time Course | Three years | Two years | |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 8,00,000 per year | INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 per year | |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 22,00,000 per year | INR 6,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 per year | |
| Popular Job Profiles | Marketing Manager, Financial Manager, Operations Manager, Medical And Health Services Manager | Software engineer, mining engineer, ceramic engineer, mechanical engineer, chief engineer |
FAQs
Who earns more, an MBA or an MTech graduate?
Ans: An MBA degree will typically fetch you more money if done from a reputed university. The average salary of MBA graduates is INR 22,00,000 per year, whereas that of MTech graduates ranges from INR 6,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 per year.
Is an MBA tougher than MTech?
Ans: Usually, the coursework of an MTech degree is more challenging than that of an MBA. It is because it requires a lot of hard work and learning specialized skills. It is also more technical than MBA.
What is the ideal age for an MBA?
Ans: MBA candidates are typically 25 to 27 years old since an MBA degree usually needs previous work experience.
Which entrance exam do I need to take for MTech?
Ans: Students can apply to an MTech program through entrance exams like GATE, GRE, UPSEE, OJEE, and TANSET.
Is MTech cheaper than an MBA?
Ans: MTech is comparatively cheaper than MBA. On average, the cost of tuition for an MBA degree ranges from INR 6,00,000 to INR 28,00,000 per year, whereas that of an MTech course is between INR 50,000 to INR 10,00,000 per year.