MBA vs MTech

Science and technology graduates usually tend to get stuck between two higher studies career pathways. Whether to go for the business-oriented Master of Business Administration [MBA] degree and begin a career in the corporate sector or delve deeper into the engineering and technology intricacies by pursuing a Master of Technology [MTech]. No doubt it is a tough choice as each program equips one with the latest industry skills and acumen opening up a world of opportunities in their relevant sectors. Although in the MBA vs MTech debate, the former can be said to be a popular choice, while the latter caters to a specific niche. Here we present a feature-based analysis of both programs.

MBA vs MTech: Criteria	MBA	MTech
Duration	1-2 Years	1-2 Years
Discipline	Management	Engineering & Technology
Eligibility	Undergraduate degree in any discipline	Undergraduate degree in scientific discipline [BTech, B.Sc, etc.]
Exams Required	CAT, GMAT, GRE	GATE Exam, GRE
Common Variants	Part Time MBA, Global MBA, Executive MBA programs, etc	Part-Time MTech
Job Sectors	Corporate Sector	Manufacturing, Technical as well as Corporate Sector
Costs	Expensive	Comparatively less expensive
Experience Required	Yes	No
Emphasis	Business Management Skills	Technical Skills

Note: This is only for indicative purposes and many features of MBA vs Mtech overlap with each other.

Quick Read: MTech for Working Professionals

MBA vs MTech: Disciplines

First off, it is important to draw a distinction between the two programs with respect to their discipline. The MBA qualification is business management-oriented and focuses on its particular aspects like Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Strategy, etc. Contrary to MBA, MTech courses are much more technical and aim to build an advanced level understanding of a specific sub-discipline of Engineering, namely, Civil, Mechanical, Computer Science, Electrical and so forth. However, at present, Engineering Management is an emerging field which imperatively draws from both these disciplines.

Also Read: Everything You Need To Know About MBA Specializations

Top Universities

The following are the top universities for MBA and MTech :

MBA

Universities US News Ranking 2023
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) 1
Stanford Graduate School of Management 3
MIT Sloan School of Management 5
New York University (Stern) 12
Harvard Business School 5
University of California, Berkeley (Haas) 8
University of Chicago (Booth) 1
Columbia Business School 8
Northwestern University (Kellogg) 3
Yale School of Management 7

MTech

Universities US News Ranking 2023
Tsinghua University 1
Nanyang Technological University 2
National University of Singapore 3
MIT 4
Stanford University 9
University of California, Berkeley 11
ETH Zurich 15
Imperial College London 20
University of Technology Sydney 22

MBA vs MTech: Eligibility

When it comes to eligibility, there are visible differences between MBA vs MTech. An MBA degree is open to almost everyone with an undergraduate degree or higher in any discipline. Although specific university restrictions may apply, this is the norm. The prerequisites for MTech are quite intricate. It caters to a specific audience which already has a foundation of engineering and technology fundamentals and is looking to gain further knowledge. A Btech or BSc is a typical requirement.  

Related Article: MBA Admission

MBA vs MTech: Requirements Regarding Experience

One particular point worth pondering is that MBA Courses commonly have a prerequisite of 3-5 years of industry experience. Owing to these criteria, professionals who have developed a practical outlook of the mechanics of business management are more suited. Its contemporaries, Master of Management Studies or MS in Management are able alternatives for younger audiences. Whereas, barring a few programs, universities offering MTech do not typically require applicants to have worked. However, any experience gained adds to the application. Read our blogs on MBA vs MS or MBA vs MIM for more information. 

Fees & Costs

Costs can be a major hurdle when it comes to postgraduate degrees in general. In particular, MBA colleges are known for charging expensive tuition fee rates and if you are planning to do an MBA in London or at other first-rate destinations, you need to spend more. On the contrary to MBA, MTech institutions also do not charge inexpensively but comparatively lesser than business schools do. 

Career Sectors

The pathways of MBA vs MTech are another point of difference to discuss upon. Pursuing an MBA degree sets you up for a solid career in a variety of sectors, most commonly, senior-level roles in management, consulting, strategy, finance etc. MTech degrees, although are inherently professional qualifications, tend to incline towards technical sectors like manufacturing, processing, designing, etc. In senior-level roles, there is a lot more fluidity and a large number of individuals readily make the switch between sectors. 

Also Read: MBA after MTech

Popular Job Profile

The following are the popular job profile for MBA and MTech:

MBA

MBA jobs	Average salary (INR)
Finance Manager	9.6 LPA
Marketing Manager	10 LPA
Sales Manager	10 LPA
Human Resources Manager	4 LPA
Operations Manager	7 LPA
Product Manager	15 LPA

MTech

MTech Jobs	Average Salary (INR)
Software Engineer	5.6 Lakh
Mining Engineer	4.4 Lakh
Ceramic Engineer	4.0 Lakh
Mechanical Engineer	3.8 Lakh
Chief Engineer	16 Lakh

Choosing between the MBA vs MTech is a tough choice to make especially taking into account the different paths it may take one towards. Needless to say, a bit of quality guidance goes a long way. Take the assistance of Leverage Edu’s AI-tool which shortlists the best courses for you based on your unique interests and inclinations so that you can take the right step towards building a vibrant career.