MSc: Full Form, Course Details, Eligibility, Courses, Fees, Duration

Roumik Roy

MSc or Master of Science is a 2-year postgraduate program that deals with the advanced studies of engineering, science, and medicine stream with an emphasis on several specializations. The MSc syllabus is well-structured and covers all the fundamental aspects of Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany, Biotechnology, Microbiology, etc. 

MSc admission requires candidates to have a Bachelor's degree in Science or Technology with a minimum score of 55% from a recognized university. Based on the college requirements, candidates must also qualify for entrance exams such as GATE, BITSAT, IIT JAM, etc. The average MSc fee ranges between INR 3,000 PA to 5 LPA. 

In India, MSc course is offered in prominent colleges located in different parts of the country, the top colleges in Bangalore include the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in Chennai MSc courses are offered by Anna University, Madras University, etc, whereas the college in Pune includes IISER, Pune.

About MSc Course

MSc full form stands for Master of Science, a postgraduate course designed to impart theoretical and practical knowledge into the core functionalities of scientific fields. The course offers various specializations in the field like agriculture, mathematics, computer science, botany, life science, etc.

MSc job scope is extensive as students can acquire several job opportunities such as Data Scientist, Chemist, Clinical Research Specialist, Lecturer, etc. The average entry level MSc salary ranges from INR 4 - 10 LPA and after having five-plus years of experience can earn more than INR 15 LPA.

MSc Eligibility Criteria 

The basic MSc qualification requires fulfillment of various parameters like education background, entrance exam score, SOP, etc. The basic MSc eligibility criteria are given below:

• The candidate should have completed a BSc or BTech degree with a minimum of 55% marks for the general category and 5% relaxation in marks is given to reserved category students. Students also need to clear entrance exams like IIT JAM, GATE, UPCET, etc.
• Some colleges may also prefer students to have a minimum of 2 years of work experience. 
• There is no age limit for applying to an MSc course.

Why Choose Master of Science Courses?

Students who want to pursue the Master of Science should evaluate the MSc course details beforehand to ensure that they are familiar with the course curriculum thoroughly. Students frequently have several questions before enrolling for an MSc degree that includes MSc course benefits and "Who Should Pursue M Sc? " etc. 

Here are some of the following points to highlight the several benefits of pursuing an MSc course:

• According to IBEF, the nation's R&D expenditures in Science and Technology are expected to reach almost 2% of its GDP in FY22 - FY 23. 
• There has been significant improvement in scientific research and innovation across the country as global companies invest in several science fields' infrastructure and technology. 
• The course helps graduates to obtain relevant knowledge in Medicine, Science, and Engineering. 
• The science and technology sector has generated 1,497,501 jobs across the country, which makes the future scope of the Master of Science adequately opportunistic. 
• There are several job opportunities for students after the MSc degree, such as Biology Researcher, Geneticist, Taxonomist, Science Advisor, Lecturer, Oceanographer, Doctor, Biochemist, etc.
• Graduates of MSc have a great opportunity to pursue Higher studies to enhance their professional growth and industry-based skills, including Ph.D. and M.Phill.

MSc Admission 2024

Applications for MSc registration may be availed from the college website or by directly visiting the admission office of the institute. Some colleges may have an MSc qualification based on merit like UPES, while other institutes need candidates to clear the MSc entrance exam for MSc admission like IISER, Bhopal. 

The details of the MSc admission process are listed below:

• Step 1: Students need to clear the MSc entrance exam to become eligible for MSc admission.
• Step 2: The students need to fill out the college application form available in both online and offline modes.
• Step 3: After qualifying MSc entrance exam, students may need to appear for personal interviews and group discussion rounds for final selection.
• Step 4: Students need to provide valid documents for the document verification process after getting selected.

MSc Entrance Exam

The MSc entrance exams are the most common evaluation process of top MSc colleges in India to select potential candidates for MSc admission. Below are the MSc entrance exam details:

Read More: MSc Entrance Exam

MSc Courses List

MSc full form in education stands for Master of Science which is a postgraduate program that includes various specializations in science-related subjects. Several MSc course details along with a range of MSc specializations offered in India are provided below

• MSc Agriculture
• MSc Mathematics
• MSc Inorganic Chemistry
• MSc Clinical Research
• MSc Physics
• MSc Biochemistry
• MSc Microbiology
• MSc Botany
• MSc Life Science
• MSc Electronics
• MSc IT
• MSc Zoology

This MSc course list represents the popular MSc specialization available. 

Top MSc Colleges in India with Fee Details

The average M Sc course fees in India range from INR 3,000 PA to 5 LPA. The varying range of MSc fees in colleges may depend on the institutional facilities, faculty, prestige, infrastructure, and government quotas. The fees in government colleges is in the range of INR 3,000-60,000 PA, whereas the MSc fee in private colleges is in the range of INR 50,000-3 LPA.

The best MSc colleges in India 2024 are listed below: 

Top City Wise MSc Colleges in India

Below listed are location-wise MSc colleges in India with the average annual fees:

Types of MSc Courses

MSc course can be pursued full-time, distance, and through integrated education mode. Below listed is MSc course details:

Distance MSc Course

MSc distance education is recognized by UGC-DEB in India and is considered a valuable degree. Below listed are distance MSc course details:

• The distance MSc course can be pursued from colleges like Shivaji University, Osmania University, Jain Online University, etc.
• The average distance MSc course fees is in the range of INR 20,000-45,000 PA.
• The maximum distance MSc course duration can be extended to 4 years.

Integrated MSc Course

There are several colleges that provide integrated MSc courses. The MSc course duration for these colleges depends on the academic structure. The integrated MSc course details are given below along with the MSc eligibility criteria for getting admission to the colleges providing this course. 

Integrated MSc Course (BSc + MSc)

It is a five-year program that allows students to simultaneously pursue a bachelor's degree and a master's degree (BSc for the first three years and MSc for the next two years). Below listed is the BSc+MSc course details:

• The eligibility requirements for the course require students to have 60% above in their High school degrees (10+2) from the Science stream.
• The duration of the course is five years.
• The average fee is between INR 2-6 LPA.
• Some of the top colleges for BSc+MSc are VIT, IIT, BIT, DU, YVU, MRIIRS, etc.

Read more: BSc + MSc Integrated Course

Integrated MSc Course (MSc + Ph.D.)

It is a five-year program that allows students to simultaneously pursue a master's and a doctorate (MSc for the first two years and a Ph.D. for the next three years). The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore is known for its integrated MSc course.

Candidates can get admission to the integrated M Sc courses through the IIT JAM entrance exam. Below mentioned is the MSc+PhD details:

• The candidate should have completed 10+2 with a 60% score along with passing the MSc Entrance Exam
• The average integrated MSc fee is between INR 2-8 LPA.
• Students can pursue MSc+PhD from top colleges like JNU, IISC, RMVU, KAU, YVU, University of Hyderabad, etc.

MSc Syllabus and Subjects

The syllabus of the MSc degree is structured in such a manner that the students get industry-relevant knowledge and specialized insights into the fundamentals of several scientific studies. The MSc course duration is 2 years. Some of the common subjects for an MSc degree are listed below:

Read More: MSc Syllabus and Subjects

MBA vs MSc

MBA degree is focuses on aspects of business and management, whereas, an MSc degree is focused on the advanced study of science, research, and mathematics. Here are some differences between the MSc course and the Master of Business Administration.

Read More: MBA vs MSc

MSc Graduate Salary in India

According to Payscale, the average salary offered to an MSc graduate is INR 4-10 LPA. Variation in salary among Master of Science graduates depends on factors such as industry, skill set, dedication, and diligence. The pay range increases as the experience and skill set of graduates enhance over time. Below is a list of a few MSc jobs with their average and experienced salary range:

Read More: MSc Salary in India

Courses After M Sc

MSc, full form in education, stands for Master in Science, which is a master's degree in the specialized study of scientific fields and also prepares candidates to obtain higher education to get more knowledge and skillsets. Some of the courses after the MSc degree are listed below:

• MPhil
• PhD
• MBA

Read more: MBA after MSc

Career Options After MSc

Career opportunities after MSc are available in both the public and the private sectors. The field and the sector in which the graduates can apply for a job depends highly on the specializations in Master of Science courses. Students who want to take up teaching as a profession after an MSc degree can opt for the NET exam and UPSC for civil service. Listed below are some of the popular MSc job roles that are available to students after graduation

Top Recruiters for Master of Science

Below listed are a few top recruiters for graduates with average entry-level salaries:

[Sources: Glassdoor & Ambition Box]

Read more: MSc Job Scope

MSc Scholarship

The Indian government offers several scholarships to students who aspire to pursue MSc courses for financially disabled, minorities, and physically challenged individuals. There are several private and government scholarships available to qualified individuals. The several MSc Scholarships are listed below:

Read more: MSc Scholarships

Skills to Excel as a MSc Graduate

MSc demands a very detailed study of the course. One should possess soft and hard skills to perform better in MSc exams and assessments. Some of these skills are listed below:

• Technical Skills: The graduate should be proficient in industry-specific software, and understand programming languages like Python, R, etc., for debugging code.
• Research Skills: The graduates who want to pursue their careers in research and academia should have good research skills like literature review, data analysis, conducting interviews, etc.
• Knowledge of Pharmaceutical Science: The graduate should have the skills to optimize bioprocess and upstream processing while working on cell culture technology.
• Mathematical Modeling Skills: The graduate should be able to create mathematical models to solve practical issues and evaluate and interpret the findings.

Top M.Sc [Master of Science] Colleges

IIT Madras

Chennai,Tamil Nadu

IISc Bangalore

Bangalore,Karnataka

IIT Bombay

Mumbai,Maharashtra

IIT Delhi

Delhi,Delhi NCR

IIT Kanpur

Kanpur,Uttar Pradesh

IIT Kharagpur

Kharagpur,West Bengal

IIT Roorkee

Roorkee,Uttarakhand

IIT Guwahati

Guwahati,Assam

VIEW ALL

Top Science Entrance Exams

IMUCET

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

NEST

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

IIT JAM

Result Date: Mar 22, 2024

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

IISER Exam

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

IELTS

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

TOEFL

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

PTE

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

JEST

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

VIEW ALL

MSc Fee Structure

See Various MSc Colleges in India