MASC or MEng ?? (Accepted into MEng ECE at Concordia University, Montreal)

[ECE Engr]

I applied for MASc ECE at the following.

McGill U (Rejected)
Concordia U (Accepted in MEng program)
U Calgary (Awaiting)

Profile : BS in Electronic Engineering 3.11/4
Toefl : 102
ILETS : 6.5

I applied very close to deadline and also did not contacted any professor for joining their research group.

Concordia University official replied:

"As stated in your letter of admissin, you were admitted to the M.Eng. program because no supervisor and/or funding was available.

Please note, the MASc program is a difficult program to get admission to because there are many applications received and a limited number of
professors in each given research area to supervise students and offer funding for. Your file was circulated to faculty members, but
unfortunately, you were not one of the applications chosen for admission to the MASc program.

The university automatically offers admission to the M.Eng program if you do not get admission to the MASc and once you have been admitted to the M.Eng. program, your application is no longer circulated to faculty.

My advice is for you to begin in the M.Eng. program. Many students begin as an M.Eng. program student, take a few courses, get good grades, and then speak with faculty members about transferring to the MASc program."

What do you guys suggest? Should I grab this opportunity or apply to next available term. How different is MEng with MASc in terms of market/industrial value? which one is better?

I have received mixed advises for both options and I am kind of confused here and would appreciate your help.

Thanks

 

[tiger007]

What do you guys suggest? Should I grab this opportunity or apply to next available term. How different is MEng with MASc in terms of market/industrial value? which one is better?

Hi,

It's not wise to compare M..Eng and MASc directly. Both has it's own purpose and you should pursue either M.Eng or MASc based on your personal interest and long term career goals.
M.Eng is course based degree more suited for those who after this degree, would want to directly work in the industry while MASc is for those who are interested in pursuing a career in research and academics and preferable would like to pursue a PHd. Saying this, there have been cases where the student may also opt for PHd or research career after M.Eng and /or few years of work experience in industry and those with MASc may also choose to work in industry later (may or may not be in the R& D department).

So, if joining the work force is your prime motive, then M.Eng (preferably with industrial co-op option) might be the ideal degree for you.

And, the only reason MASC is more difficult to get into, because research based degrees require more time, deeper studies (for research) which in turn requires supervision by a faculty member, and in most cases are fully or atleast partially funded. And Faculty members and funding... both are limited... scarce resource.. and not every qualified applicant can pursue research based degree by just paying up fees... and so... it's limited only to the best. But, in no way it means that MASc is superior to M.Eng.. it's just that.. both serve different purposes.

So, you got to decide... what's your interest and long term career goals are... and then proceed accordingly.

And if your interest lies in research... you can either keep waiting for a university that may accept you into their research program... or instead of waiting for or keep getting rejected..you may grab this opportunity at Concordia, and later by working hard and proving your worth (research capabilities)... you may shift over to MASc ..or even, in case that doesn't happen... you can always concentrate on M.Eng.. perform very well and bag a well paying job. Then after say 2-3 years of industry work ex., you may choose to directly apply for PHd. So..it's really upto you.... how you fare and excel in your studies... career... doesn't matter which degree it is! Moreover, by studying in M.Eng degree, you should simultaneously learn French, and clear till required level 3 intermediate DELB B1 French proficiency exam (usually takes 1 year - where doing M.Eng you will have comparatively more time.. but you can also complete DELF B1 level French in slow pace over 2 years, while pursuing research based degree too), which will make you eligible for direct CSQ (Quebec nomination) and PR (Permanent Residency of Canada) under PEQ Quebec graduate scheme.


Best of Luck.


*** All opinions expressed are purely personal, and pieces of information mentioned are to the best of my knowledge... You should consult other sources too.

 

[ECE Engr]

Hi,

It's not wise to compare M..Eng and MASc directly. Both has it's own purpose and you should pursue either M.Eng or MASc based on your personal interest and long term career goals.
M.Eng is course based degree more suited for those who after this degree, would want to directly work in the industry while MASc is for those who are interested in pursuing a career in research and academics and preferable would like to pursue a PHd. Saying this, there have been cases where the student may also opt for PHd or research career after M.Eng and /or few years of work experience in industry and those with MASc may also choose to work in industry later (may or may not be in the R& D department).

So, if joining the work force is your prime motive, then M.Eng (preferably with industrial co-op option) might be the ideal degree for you.

And, the only reason MASC is more difficult to get into, because research based degrees require more time, deeper studies (for research) which in turn requires supervision by a faculty member, and in most cases are fully or atleast partially funded. And Faculty members and funding... both are limited... scarce resource.. and not every qualified applicant can pursue research based degree by just paying up fees... and so... it's limited only to the best. But, in no way it means that MASc is superior to M.Eng.. it's just that.. both serve different purposes.

So, you got to decide... what's your interest and long term career goals are... and then proceed accordingly.

And if your interest lies in research... you can either keep waiting for a university that may accept you into their research program... or instead of waiting for or keep getting rejected..you may grab this opportunity at Concordia, and later by working hard and proving your worth (research capabilities)... you may shift over to MASc ..or even, in case that doesn't happen... you can always concentrate on M.Eng.. perform very well and bag a well paying job. Then after say 2-3 years of industry work ex., you may choose to directly apply for PHd. So..it's really upto you.... how you fare and excel in your studies... career... doesn't matter which degree it is! Moreover, by studying in M.Eng degree, you should simultaneously learn French, and clear till required level 3 intermediate DELB B1 French proficiency exam (usually takes 1 year - where doing M.Eng you will have comparatively more time.. but you can also complete DELF B1 level French in slow pace over 2 years, while pursuing research based degree too), which will make you eligible for direct CSQ (Quebec nomination) and PR (Permanent Residency of Canada) under PEQ Quebec graduate scheme.


Best of Luck.


*** All opinions expressed are purely personal, and pieces of information mentioned are to the best of my knowledge... You should consult other sources too.

Thank you so much! your reply has been really really helpful, It's all clear to me now. At this point I am kicking myself, I should have applied for MEng in McGill and U of Calgary, I think I might had a better chance of getting into them through that program. See as an international student, you'd want to choose the best university/program for you because it comes against thousands of dollars!
I had this concept that MASc is a superior degree but now I know the difference and I think at this point a MEng is more suitable for me.

Well I'll process my CAQ tomorrow and then apply for the study permit with Concordia I hope this university serves my career goals well but it was certainly a lesser preference for me but then I have waited long enough after my bachelors and I'd wanna continue with my graduate studies without further delay.

*Fingers Crossed*

Thanks alot man! Really appreciate your help

 

[tiger007]

Thank you so much! your reply has been really really helpful, It's all clear to me now. At this point I am kicking myself, I should have applied for MEng in McGill and U of Calgary, I think I might had a better chance of getting into them through that program. See as an international student, you'd want to choose the best university/program for you because it comes against thousands of dollars!
I had this concept that MASc is a superior degree but now I know the difference and I think at this point a MEng is more suitable for me.

Well I'll process my CAQ tomorrow and then apply for the study permit with Concordia I hope this university serves my career goals well but it was certainly a lesser preference for me but then I have waited long enough after my bachelors and I'd wanna continue with my graduate studies without further delay.

*Fingers Crossed*

Thanks alot man! Really appreciate your help

Hi,

Yeah.. you should have definitely applied to M.Eng programs at Mc-Gill and Calgary!

Nevertheless, focus and give your best efforts in the M. Eng program at Concordia, learn French... and you should be good to go.

Best of Luck.


***All opinions expressed are purely personal, and pieces of information mentioned are to the best of my knowledge... You should consult other sources too.

 

[ECE Engr]

Hi,

Yeah.. you should have definitely applied to M.Eng programs at Mc-Gill and Calgary!

Nevertheless, focus and give your best efforts in the M. Eng program at Concordia, learn French... and you should be good to go.

Best of Luck.


***All opinions expressed are purely personal, and pieces of information mentioned are to the best of my knowledge... You should consult other sources too.

Any chance if one can get transferred to another university once you are there, I mean transfer of credit/migration to another university..

I can't apply now to another university since all deadlines are gone.

 

[tiger007]

Any chance if one can get transferred to another university once you are there, I mean transfer of credit/migration to another university..

I can't apply now to another university since all deadlines are gone.

Hi,

It really depends on the university in which you are studying and the university to which you intend to shift to. You will have to talk to/ contact the Universities/ department heads and inquire about credit transfer. It may or may not be possible depending on the universities, specific program, availability, agreement of credit transfer between universities etc. etc.


***All opinions expressed are purely personal, and pieces of information mentioned are to the best of my knowledge... You should consult other sources too.