IIT PG Admissions Part 1 – MS or MTech?

Hi all,

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Its circus time again! Admissions season. Loads of decisions to make. Loads of data available, but very little information. Having gone through the entire thing last year, I thought I’d write a set of articles in aid of the poor souls trying to get in this time

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I’ll be talking about IIT admissions only, as my knowledge is limited to that. I’ll assume that people have decided to study here. Here or abroad is a question that must’ve been answered by now

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One of the first things to decide once you’ve decided to do your PG in India is whether to go for an MS or for an MTech. I wrote a detailed reply to this question in gatementor.com, on which the following is based.

MS or MTech?

FACTS:
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- MTech and MS need ~60 credits (or a scaled value, depending on the institution)
- MTech is 2 years;
MS is 1 1/2 years to 3 years
- MTech by definition is a course program, where the emphasis is on advanced coursework spanning various areas;
MS by definition is a research program, where the emphasis is on doing ORIGINAL work in one particular area.
- MTech credits is split as ~40 coursework and ~20 project;
MS credits split as ~20 coursework and ~40 thesis
- MTech courses span different areas;
MS coursework is typically chosen to provide knowledge in your chosen area of research
- MTech project (~1 year) is not necessarily research oriented;
MS thesis is research-oriented
- MTech in India is equivalent to an “MS with project” option in the US
MS in India is equivalent to an “MS with thesis” option in the US
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MY OPINIONS:
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It must be understood that one is not better than the other – both are equivalent programs. At least on paper. But the public perception and the perception amongst students (as evinced by the trends) is that MTech is better than MS. iIdisagree; both cannot be compared. They’re like the cliched apples and oranges. Is apple better because its sweet? Does it mean being tangy is bad? No such comparison can be made.
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How to choose between MS and MTech
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Decide what you want first. If you’re interested in working in one particular area, then MS is the thing for you. If you are not able to decide and want to taste different areas in CS, then MTech is the thing for you.
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I’ll tell you my case:

I didn’t get a GATE rank good enough to get Direct Admission, but got interview calls. I got an admit at IITD (JCA) and IITK(Mtech CS) and IISc (Msc Engg. EC), but I chose IITM (MS) because this suited my interests best. I am interested in VLSI/Computer Architecture/OS. My institute is really good for VLSI, and there is a prof here with whom I really wanted to work. My research area here is precisely what I mentioned. The coursework I’ve done/doing here are Computer Architecture, Digital Design Testing, Digital Design Verification, Device Drivers Practicum and Mathematical Concepts for CS. No more courses. No dumb SE or Networks. Total focus on one area, and an extensive thesis on that. Pretty cool no?
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Whereas if you’re an MTech, you’ll have 3 or 4 courses that are compulsory. Apart from that, you need to choose 5 or 6 papers as electives. You also need to do a semester long (year long in some places) project.
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I chose MS, a supposedly lesser course over MTech though I got it. I chose IITM over the supposedly better places – IISc, IITK and IITD, though I got admits there. And guess what? I’m having a FANTASTIC time here!! I THOROUGHLY ENJOY the work I do, the place everything! That’s because this was the best thing for ME.
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Please DO NOT do ANYTHING simply because others are doing, or because its the politically correct thing to do. Do what YOU want to do
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A Caveat: In MS, unlike MTech, you’ll come directly under your guide. Choose your guide well. Many profs are good, but not all. There will be some profs who’ll give you an MS in 1 1/2 or 2 years itself, provided you’ve done good work. There will be some who’ll be particular that you work for 3 years. There’ll be some who’ll guide very well. There’ll be some who will not give much guidance. Every IIT will have profs of both kind, and naturally, we being inside, cannot publicly speak our mind about each prof individually Ask around before choosing a guide.
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I hope this gives at least some direction to think in so as to decide between MS and MTech. Next part (hopefully I write it!) may be on the interviews, or on choosing the institute.. Please do ask if you have any clarifications, or if you have a specific question in mind.

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karthrags