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Is mba tech i.e. dual degree in civil engineering is good to pursue?

M.Tech./MS/MBA or a Job -- what should an Engineering Graduate in India choose?

  • Many students who are in their last year of an Engineering degree (or completed graduation) are confused about whether they should go for higher studies (MS / M.Tech.), or do an MBA, or directly go for a job. There is also a question of when and where. Can you provide an answer tackling the following questions: 1. How should a student choose between higher studies (tech), MBA, or a job? 2. When: Immediately or after a few years of work experience? 3. Where: Abroad? In India, but in top colleges only? Or are local colleges also OK?

  • Answer:

    This question is similar to asking a question - where should I go for a vacation, "a beach or a hill-station" ? The answer really depends upon what you want. Given the way this question is phrased, I would assume that it is primarily driven by opportunity to earn. If so, at least historically and in terms of averages, an MBA is a slam dunk. Look no further. However I suspect going forward the difference between the two will grow a little less stark. Do realise the essential difference between the two. One is like mining - it requires you to go into depths, whereas the other is like cross country racing - it requires you to have a breadth of skills and the versatility to deal with a variety of different challenges. While I have not been through a M. Tech, I have done a MBA and I can tell you it is a completely mind opening experience. In two years you start to look at every situation from many dimensions simultaneously. Regardless of whether it helped me in my career, I would spend those two years all over again since it made my thought process and perspective so much broader. However management also brings with it a whole bunch of functions many despise. Optimising (as opposed to maximising), tradeoffs, politics, sales pitches, jugaad - all in a relentless goal for profits, for self and company. That may suit a person's outlook or may not. Yet it brings with it an ability to make a difference on a much bigger scale - something that motivates quite a few (thats applicable for many techie situations too, but I am referring to "on an average"). With regards to institutes - I would definitely suggest it is far better to get educated in an institute with a fairly high set of standards and with a complete non focus on learning by rote. Else the institute of hard knocks in real life might actually be much better. If not sure of what you would want to do - spend a couple of years working before deciding. Edit: Navin asked a really tough question in the comments below, and the best I could come up was as follows : I tried to think of things we do in real life and realised it is a little hard to project from that. eg. being good at maths could mean you might excel at engineering, but then you could do wonders at finance too. Let us say you are a civil engineer and have learnt how to "in principle" design a bridge. And now a new bridge needs to be built outside your town. Let us look at what challenges the engineers and managers likely to deal with Engineers : What are the water speeds, water temperatures, air speeds How prone is the area to earthquakes What is the geological composition of the rock bed below the river What kind of cross section would best suit the wind conditions What kind of bridge structure would be appropriate given the river bed span What should be the exact dimensions of the bridge Most importantly - the actual operations of then taking the design and building the bridge and dealing with the operational challenges that come with it (raw materials different from specifications etc.) etc. etc. etc. Managers : How will the bridge building be funded How much will the local economy be benefited by the bridge How much is the maximum acceptable toll given the income distribution of the local population Can I divert traffic from other bridges nearby to increase toll collections Can I build other attractive things like multiplexes, food courts, spanking highways to help attract traffic from adjoining roads Where can I hire the right engineers to build a sound bridge. How do I get the right consulting teams to support them Since the municipal corporation does not have money what is the best way to raise money - debt, government grants etc. How can I as the bridge builder maximise my profits At what point can I start funnelling the revenues from this project to start building even more bridges Operational challenges such as employee turnover, interest rate fluctuations, political environment changes etc. etc. In many situations engineers eventually grow up into "management" unless they turn specialists. So there's multiple ways to reach management. But looking at the above list of things, perhaps it might be a little obvious what you might enjoy more than the other or what you might be more skilled at. If you do like the management side of things more, an MBA is likely to accelerate your path. I really don't have sufficient evidence to believe how much a MTech is likely to accelerate your growth (in terms of seniority and money). I am not even sure if an MTech is necessary for the nature of the tasks I described above unless one wants to be a specialist. But as I said I don't know the lay of that land very well. I wish I could make the decision tree even simpler than that. But if there is a way, at least I cannot imagine one right now.

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As rightly mentioned, this question is more to do with personal preferences and ambitions than whats the 'best' way to move forward... But as an Indian engineer myself and now pursuing MBA in the US, I do understand your confusion and here are my 2 cents: Upon completion of your undergrad (BE) degree, go for a job in a field you are currently interested in - IT, H/W, Start up, Creative.. anything. Understand your job, function and that particular industry in depth. While at work, observe and learn what MBAs work on, what MS grads work on and is there any difference between those educated in India and otherwise. (in terms of their work, working style, approach, etc) If you are keen enough, you will find an answer to your confusion. I went through these steps (rather unknowingly) and found out that decided on the path I want to take. Work experience is also very valued when you apply for schools abroad and now even at home, so it would be worthwhile for sure. Hope this helps.

Anagha Mahajan

My take would be, go for a job after completing your Engineering. Work hard for couple of years and then think about your future prospect? You can have options like: 1. Doing a MTech / MS from India 2. Doing a MTech / MS from Abroad 3. Continue working for 2-3 more years 4. Prepare for MBA from ISB / IIMs 5. Prepare for MBA from Oxford, Wharton, etc 6. Join a startup company / partner / co-founder 7. Start your own venture Working for couple of years will give you enough experience and exposure to take a decision. It could be any one of the above listed options. The call will be dependent on your choice / willingness / skill.

Nitesh Ambuj

IF you get a good job after graduation, start with that. Do note that the first 5 years of your career will define your growth trajectory, so choose right opportunity. Small / Medium companies are preferable in early career. Ensure that you work in a satisfying job for at-least 2-3 years (switch job max three times to find a right job for yourself) If you are having a rewarding career growth, keep continuing. ON MS / M-tech Opt for MS / M-tech, if you are very sure you would become so skillful and smart in the domain of your interest, that you won't loose the second opportunity for good career trajectory Once you are done with MS / M-tech the above points again applies for your early career. Nowadays, it doesn't matters M-tech or MS, what matters is how much you learn. But yes, try to get into better school or opt for learning through open-source projects, MIT Open Courseware, and many other online opportunities like courses at youtube, Udemy, Coursera, etc ON MBA: Never ever do MBA without experience or negligible experience. At-least 3 years of "valuable" experience is highly recommended before you opt for MBA. MBA is an experience sharing exercise and you try to grasp a decade long learnings from your peers (and case studies) instead of working for 10 - 20 years in various roles. Opt for MBA, especially when you are satisfied with your early career and very confident to risk one more time for another bumpy ride growth trajectory. No Job, No good MS / M-tech opportunity, not smart to learn yourself, then? Don't jump into MBA...but Look for opportunities that were never thought of before... For engineers -> try door to door sales, journalism, counseling, etc For Doctors -> try creativity / corporate training, documentation / testing, etc For commerce grads -> try programming, visual or product design, etc IF you are not bothered about anything MS/M-tech/MBA OR IF nothing is working with you Try earning in whatever legal + ethical means you can for yourself - and you shall be an entrepreneur! PS: This does not means entrepreneurs don't have MS / MBA. There are MS / MBA / M-tech entrepreneurs. Somewhere in their career they feel totally not satisfied with their work or have a pressing problem that they want to win-it-once, that motivates them for an entrepreneurial journey...

Prashant Sachdev

If you want to do technical higher studies, you should do it immediately after your graduation! If you start working, you need a lot of perseverance and time to do it later not forgetting that you get out of studying mode. If you are more inclined to non-technical studies -- I would recommend getting 2 years at least of work experience. Then (if you have the capacity to quit a job) do an MBA full time course. That way, you can relate to the principles while studying and also get to know what branch in MBA (Systems, Marketing, HR) etc. you like. Regarding location -- its purely a monetary factor. IIMs or IIT (M.Tech) are all at par with most institutions in the world. Getting in the key! If you have the money, do an MBA from US, UK, Australia or Singapore. (Its not that doing a MBA from Indian premier institutes is any cheaper). Picking up a job after graduation is Amazing for those (I speak from personal experience) who like to do things practically and believe in 'learn while your earn'. You learn on the job a lot more in 4 months that you could learn in 4 years of engineering. Of course, you realize quickly if you are a 'good worker' and if that's what you want to continue. Bottom line: if you keep learning -- you keep earning. The moment you look at the money factor only, its going downhill from there.

Gautam Rege

In addition to the notes by , where he has articulated a set of guideposts to help make a decision, it is imperative to correctly ascertain a student's current standing (in addition to his/ her interests) to make an informed decision. I will go out on a limb and play devil's advocate here: your choice of engineering institute, your performance in the 3+ years at college, and your general academic and social demeanor will have already closed many paths for a student.  For instance, if a student went to an average engineering college and/ or muddled his way through with a middling GPA, a top MBA or job might already be out of the picture and he, unfortunately, might have to settle for an OKish institute or job.  However, for a student who has a strong GPA and a great set of possible recommenders to boot, a wider set of career paths opens up.  So before planning a future career marathon, it is imperative to know where you currently stand and plan with your existing constraints in mind.  If there exists a gap between long-term goals and current circumstances, an intermediary goal to bridge the path between dreams and reality might be a strategy to consider. This by no stretch of imagination means that one shouldn't aim for the sky and grit and determination can change an individual's course at any stage in life, but these people are exceptions and should be treated as such. My 0.02

Adi Jain

Thanks for A2A.If you are technically strong and wish to contribute something to the subject, go for M.S in U.S or M.Tech in India. You can then go for research.If you wish to set up a business or join an MNC or find a job and interested in pure management kind of stuff, go for MBA in India. (Attempt CAT)If you like both, go for techno-management courses like Project Management / Industrial Management etc.You get a white collar job with a decent pay after completion of these programmes.Some colleges are listed below where you can pursue these kind of courses.------------------------- -------------------------------------For Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Production Engineers, this will be helpful.National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) - MumbaiNational Institute of Industrial Engineering is one of the top B-Schools in India, located in Powai near Vihar Lake in Mumbai, India.It offers several programmes like:Post Graduate Diploma in PROJECT MANAGEMENT(PGDPM)Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Management (PGDIM)These Courses are accredited as MBA equivalent by UGC (University Grants Commission)-------------------------------------------------------------For Civil, Mechanical Engineers, this will be helpful.National Institute of Construction Management and ResearchProgrammes offered from Pune, Hyderabad, Goa and Indore. Visit their website for more details.NICMAR gives more weight on Managerial aspects of Construction.(Costliest option of all :D )http://www.nicmar.ac.in/Been there:-----------------------------------------------------------If you are a civil engineer, these options will be more helpful.Construction Technology and Management course -IIT Delhi and IIT - MadrasConstruction Technology and Management course -IIT Delhi gives more weight on Technical Aspects of Construction.RICS School of Built Environment, Amity University (UGC Approved)Set up in early 2013 as an industry led initiative, it is supported by leading employers & Ministry of Urban Development.It offers several programmes like:MBA in Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure,MBA in Construction Project Management,MBA in Construction Economics & Quantity Surveying,MBA in Infrastructure Management etcGlobal Institute of Construction Management and ResearchThis institute provides Post Graduate Diploma in some courses (AICTE approved)For more details, visit http://www.gicmar.org/Maharashtra Institute of Technology - PuneThis institute provides Post Graduation Diploma in Project & Construction Management.All are equally good from career point of view.Other opportunities are:1. IES : Indian Engineering Services. Believe me. You are now eligible to apply. (EVEN CIVIL SERVICES)2. PSU : If you are technically strong, you can apply for PSU's. Nowadays they are mainly dependent on GATE score. So, prepare hard for GATE. Give your best shot.Some Government departments like Department of Atomic energy etc conduct their own exams for recruitment. Follow their advertisements.3. State Government Jobs : Comparatively easy to crack.You are even eligible for Bank Jobs in India. (Bank PO's)4. Jobs @ Core companies. Go to their respective websites, search for CAREERS option, speak to HR persons or mail them your resume. If luck favours you, you might get a call for attending their interviews.You have many other options. I just enlisted what all came to my mind.Which one to choose?I am not the right person to decide it for you :)All the best :)Follow this for more: (For Indian Civil Engineers)

Kasee Sreenivas

Hi,1. For the first query, please read our blog post on http://www.idreamcareer.com/blog/engineering-dilemma-mba-or-mtech2. Yes definitely work for a couple of years atleast, whether, you want to get into MBA/ Tech. Particularly, if you want to apply abroad, work experience is given due weightage in the selection procedure. Besides, if you are getting really confused about what option to go for, work exposure will help to identify what you enjoy and what challenges and work roles you are capable of and enjoy taking up. This will help minimize your confusion.3. Whichever course you pursue, target the best universities. The better training you receive in better universities and, the better are your future prospects. Why do you think that people from the top universities are paid much higher and also turn out to be ones doing extraordinary work?Feel free to call us at 9555990000, for more information about us, visit http://idreamcareer.com/Team iDreamCareerhttps://www.facebook.com/Idreamcareer/ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbuxp5x8rsM | http://www.idreamcareer.com/blog

IDreamCareer Com

M.Tech: If you are really passionate about engineering and who have done really well in their UG not as per the CGPA/Percentage but sound in  Technical knowledge .People with 2 or more journals in respective fields at UG are really capable of doing exceptionally well in their masters . (Conditions Apply ).M.S: This is a bit research oriented program esp in india the IIT's offer a 3 yr full time courses for M.S which do include the Teaching Assistance. In Abroad it's a 2 Year program with TA.Passionate for Engineering is a prerequisite, don't forget. Bit expensive costs around 25-30 lakhs if we need to do it from top 100 Engineering schools of world ,but scholarships are always provided for the meritorious .M.B.A: Plan to launch a career in field of Management.This suits more to the people who are Mentally strong and shown great nerves of steel from the tender ages, as Leadership skills,Diplomatic skills,great memory towards the past-present-future trends esp if you want to land your career in Finance& Economics.Evergreen Branches : Marketing,HR,Operations.Secondary : Investment banking(IB),Economics ,Finance,IT,etc (not suited for all).In Additional to these an MBA graduate must be capable of implementing LEAN, SIX-SIGMA and TOC whenever necessary.

Vamsi Krishna Regalla

Look all three has a different career opportunities, it depends on you what you like more, is it that you want to go in the core sectors or just like to be one among the executives who deals with finance and market  stuffs. According to me Both M.Tech and MBA provide excellent career options and have gained importance in last few years. M.Tech or MBA is always an additional advantage to an engineer whether it is in terms of knowledge, experience or seniority. Seeing the current industry trends, Core fields have very good career and job prospects and there would be requirements for both M.Techs and MBAs. The former would be more of a subject matter specialist, while the latter would handle product marketing, sales, project management and consulting or customer service management. You can check Core sector MBA and M.Tech programs here: Various programs offering different degrees at UPES. Any way it is upto you now to see what are your primary preferences. IT will always be your choice of interest at the last. So feel free and ask yourself what you are comfortable in doing and what interests you more. All we can do here is provide assistance in suggesting. Ultimately it is you who has to take the final decision.

Mamta Gerg

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