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Master of Science (MS) Research: Admission Process, Entrance exams, Colleges, Syllabus, Eligibility and Scope 2023

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Sounak Banerjee

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Master of Science (MA) Research is a 2-year post-graduate program top suited for candidates who are starting their research careers, or for those who are in quest of specific academic competence.

The applicant ought to have a bachelor's degree in engineering or a master's degree in science with marks/CPI not below 55% marks (or Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) of 5.5 on a 10-point scale) or the minimum pass marks (or CPI) whichever is greater.

Masters by Research provides knowledge and training in particular areas of Science, Technology, Mathematics, Behavioural Sciences, Medicine, etc. The program gives emphasis to the use of logical, analytical, experimental, and intuitive thinking skills in the pursuit of research. This program is characterized by noteworthy research components in the curriculum.

See Also: MS Research Top Colleges

Master of Science (M.S) (Research): Course Highlights

Course Level Post Graduate
Full-Form Master of Science [M.S] (Research)
Duration 2-3 years
Examination type Both Semester and Annual
Eligibility An aggregate of 55% in BE/ B.Tech/ Masters degree in Science
Admission Process GATE, CSIR-NET, or UGC-NET score followed by an interview
Average Annual Course Fee INR 40,000 - 50,000
Average Salary INR 5 to 9 Lacs
Top Recruiting Companies Microsoft, Intel, Oracle, Tata Projects, EXL Services, ICICI Bank, Goldman Sachs, HCL, Wells Fargo, and IQVIA, Uber (US), Rubrik Inc (US), and Micron Tech (Singapore)
Job Positions Research Assistant, Data Scientist, Project Manager, Software Developer, Data Analyst, College Professor

Master Of Science [M.S] (Research): What Is It About?

  • Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / Technology or Masters degree in appropriate Sciences with a suitable score in GATE/NET or equivalent national level examination can get into MS Research in appropriate discipline.
  • M.S. programmes usually take 2 years to complete. It is a research-based program and the duration to complete it varies based on thesis completion.
  • All GATE Qualified students are provided a stipend per month by MHRD for up-to three years. Sometimes stipend can be more as well if it is funded by an industrial project.
  • The M.S (Research) is a research-based postgraduate degree. It is often selected by students who want to extend their research skills and knowledge, and use them in their professional careers or as preparation for a doctoral/Ph.D. programme.
  • While the main focal point will be on conducting the research and writing a thesis, you will still have to complete courses, which usually deal with research methods, tools, and principles.

Why Choose MS Research Course?

  • The highlight of this program is its flexible duration and focus on research. Students graduate when they complete the requisite coursework and defend a high-quality M.S. thesis based on their research work. The maximum duration for fulfilling these requirements is 3 years. However, early completion is also possible and encouraged.
  • Once someone earns a master’s degree in scientific research, he or she may have stronger critical-thinking skills to help solve problems more effectively and efficiently. This type of program may also aid people in improving their organizational skills and work ethic, all of which can help further personal goals and increase work performance.
  • Completing a master’s degree has the potential to open new doors and help someone to propel his or her career. This type of education generally takes a few years to complete and can offer a student a deeper body of knowledge in his or her chosen field, as well as a greater understanding of the industry’s intricacies.
  • An MS is ideal for students who are interested in expanding their academic skills and looking for jobs that involve advanced research abilities. If you're not sure whether you're ready for a Ph.D. degree, enrolling in a Master of Research is a big way to test yourself and realize whether advanced research is what you really want to do.

What Is The Master Of Science [M.S] (Research) Admission Process?

Admission to the M.S. Research programs are generally offered to the students based on their performance in the Bachelor's degree in Engineering or the Master's degree in Science whichever applicable, the related entrance exams like GATE,NET etc. followed by a round of interview. MS programs have full-time as well as part-time registration options.

How To Apply For The Course?

  • You have to submit your application online using the given admission portal.
  • Scan and upload all required documents, as specified by the institute’s application portal.
  • An application fee is to be paid online during the submission of the application form.
  • Candidates called for written test/interview should bring with them (i) Photo ID Card (ii)/Final year thesis / dissertation / report / publications / copy of certificates / Mark sheets
  • Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of GATE result.
  • Admissions will be based on written tests and interviews given to shortlisted candidates.
  • The following documents should be produced at the time of admission,
  • Signed printout of the filled-in application form,
  • X & XII Mark statement or equivalent degree examination marks statement and Semester / Year-wise Mark list (or) Consolidated of your qualifying exam
  • Foreign Candidates should produce the sponsorship letter from the Parents/Family/Employer/Self and also a copy of the Passport/Proof of Residence.

Master Of Science [M.S] (Research) Eligibility Criteria?

  • Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or science or a Master's degree in science.
  • It must be noted that the eligibility criterion will vary from institute to institute.
  • A valid GATE (GATE/ CSIR/ JRF/ NET/ COGJET/other equivalent exams) score is required for admission to the MS (Research) programme in the case of regular candidates.
  • The requirement of GATE (GATE/ CSIR/ JRF/ NET/ COGJET/other equivalent exams in case of Cognitive Science programme) score is waived for the B.Tech/B.S (Four Years) graduates from IITs with a minimum overall CPI of 6.5 and a minimum CPI of 8.0 in the last two years in B.Tech/B.S.

M.S Research Entrance Exams

  • GATE- GATE is conducted for admission in Master of Engineering (ME), Masters in Technology (MTech), and direct Ph.D. admissions to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It also opens access to public sector organizations and in the field of research.
  • COGENT- COGENT is a combined entrance test for admission into postgraduate programs in cognitive science at IIT Kanpur, CBCS Allahabad, IIIT Hyderabad, Panjab University Chandigarh.
  • CSIR NET- CSIR is a national research and development organization. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts exams twice a year. This exam is for science stream candidates who would like to become junior research fellow (JRF) and assistant professors in colleges/universities.
  • UGC NET - University Grant Commission National Eligibility Test is a national-level exam that focuses on maintaining the minimum standards for teaching and research nationwide. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year and provides the JRF award to arts, humanities, management post-graduates.
Entrance Exams Exam Dates
CUET PG Check Here
BITSAT Check Here
NEST Check Here
IIT JAM Check Here
DUET Check Here
TISS NET Check Here

How To Prepare For The Entrance Exams?

The GATE exam is held once every year, usually in February. Keeping this in mind, some of the tips to prepare for the exam are given as follows:

  • Buy or get a copy of the previous year's question papers if possible with solutions.
  • Refer to the syllabus and analyze the number of questions asked in each subject.
  • Make short notes of important points and extra attention to important chapters.
  • Revise the syllabus two weeks before the exam. Resolve as many papers and question banks as you can get from any source.

How To Get Admission In A Good College?

To take admission to an MS course, a candidate has to be a graduate as well but in an appropriate engineering stream with 50% marks. The admission procedure depends on which country and/or college you are applying for. Colleges usually have an inclusive selection process for MS, and you have to send suitable documents along with the applications.

  • Research facilities: Before taking admission in a Post-graduation course in a college, you should also find out about the research funds and facilities available because at the PG level, students have to work on thesis-type projects which demand suitable research infrastructure.
  • Entrance exams: Admission is based on GATE Score and followed by an interview to a specific area. Here extra weight-age is given to the interview and a good compelling GATE Score is required to get shortlisted for written and succeeding interviews. An average GATE Score holder can get in this course based on their performance throughout the interview.
  • Supplementary Material: Colleges not only check for academic proficiency but also for the motivation behind the selection of courses and future plans of the candidate. Submit supplementary material including your research paper, extracurricular activities, personal statements that demonstrate your qualities, recommendation letters, etc. to the admissions committee.

MS Research Syllabus

Subjects
Applied Mechanics
Information Technology
Telecommunication Technology and Management
Biochemical Engineering
Biotechnology
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Science & Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Biological Sciences
Statistics
Operations Research

MS Research Top Colleges in India

MS Research College Comparison

Parameters Indian Institute of Technology, Madras Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Overview Indian Institute of Technology, Madras is one of the best Engineering colleges in the country. The college was established in 1959 and is approved by AICTE. Indian Institute of Delhi was established in 1961. It is an autonomous institute. The institute offers various Undergraduate, graduate and PhD programs.
Location Chennai New Delhi
NIRF Ranking 2021 1 2
Average Fee INR 23,070 INR 52,900
Average Salary INR 16.1 LPA INR 16 LPA
Top Companies Visited Microsoft, Intel, Oracle, Tata Projects, EXL Services, ICICI Bank, Goldman Sachs etc. HCL, Wells Fargo, and IQVIA, Uber , Rubrik Inc , and Micron Tech etc.

Master of Science (MS) Research: Course Specializations

MS includes concentrating in a specific field of study. However, candidates have plenty of choices when selecting an MS course.

Examples of MS specializations include,

  • Applied Mechanics
  • Power Engineering
  • Information Technology
  • Telecommunication Technology and Management
  • Biochemical Engineering
  • Life Sciences
  • Biotechnology
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Science & Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

MS Research: Course Comparison

Parameters MSc Clinical Research MS Research
Full Form Master of Science Clinical Research Master of Science Research
Duration 2 Years 2 Years
Examination type Semester Semester
Admission process Merit or Entrance exam Entrance Exam or Merit
Eligibility Criteria Graduation in Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and related fields. Minimum 55% in BE/ B.Tech/ Masters degree
Average Course Fees INR 5,000 – 5,00,000 INR 40,000- 50,000
Job Opportunities Clinical Research Associate, Clinical research Analyst, Clinical research Project Manager, Clinical Research Project Coordinator, and Clinical Research Physician etc. Research Assistant, Data Scientist, Project Manager, Software Developer, Data Analyst etc.
Average Salary INR 3 to 12 LPA INR 5 to 9 LPA

MS Research Job Prospects And Career Options

  • A Master of Science (by Research) course is a good option for students who wish to prepare for industry roles.
  • The program is offered to students who are interested in exploring in-depth research problems in their fields.
  • Students who show brilliance in their academic performance and research potential also have the option to convert to the Ph.D. program.
  • On successful completion of the course, the M.S. post-graduates probably will be hired as Research Assistant, Design Engineer, Senior Software Engineer/ Developer, Senior Business Analyst, College Professor, Senior Project Manager, Team Leader

Job Profiles With Description

Name Of Job Profile Description Average Salary In INR
Research Assistants Research assistants use multiple streams of data to find information. They use the internet, surveys, legal documents, and other published research to help the person they are assisting collect information INR 3,08,457
Data Engineer The job role of a data engineer requires a lot of coding skills and software development, design, build and install the data systems. INR 7,37,257
Software Developer They develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device and develop the underlying systems that run the devices or that control networks. INR 4,98,024
Senior Business Analyst The job role is for reviewing assigned business processes from end-to-end to identify and address operational, financial, and technological risks. Identify opportunities to improve efficiency. INR 9,89,572
College Professor Assistant Professor Job in any top institutions like IISERs, IITs, etc. INR 2,50,000

MS Research Future Scope

  • MS stands for Master of Science. MS turns out to be fruitful if it is pursued from one of the very well-established universities. This degree type focuses on both the technical and theoretical elements associated with conducting scientific research.
  • Earning an MS by Research may aid in advancing your career and taking your professional development to the next level.
  • Course work is based on the research you want to do, you can say it as Mini-PhD where you choose your guide and pursue your research area in a specific field, you do coursework related to that particular field and then you try to finish your research in 2 years. The duration is not fixed in this case

MS Research FAQs

Ques. What is the duration of the Master of Science (Research) program?

Ans. M.S. programmes usually take 2 years to complete. It is a research-based program and the time to complete it varies based on thesis completion.

Ques. Do I need GATE for the part-time programmes?

Ans. No, GATE is required only for full-time students getting assistantship from the Institute

Ques. As a part-time student, can I get hostel accommodation?

Ans. No, you are not eligible for hostel accommodation

Ques. For how much time GATE Score valid?

Ans. GATE score is valid for three years.

Ques. What is the selection procedure for admission to MS programs?

Ans. Admission is based on GATE Score and follow-up by written and interview to a specific area.

Ques. What is COGJET Test?

Ans. Cognitive Science Joint Entrance Test is a joint entrance test for admittance into post-graduate programs in cognitive science. IIT Kanpur is conducting the Test on February, 2023.

Ques. Can I apply for various Research programmes in the same department?

Ans. If you are fulfilling the eligibility criteria to apply for a various research programme(s) in a particular department, then you can register application individually for each research programme in the same department and pay the application fee separately.

Ques. What topics is the written test based on?

Ans. Test includes both aptitude and quantitative skills questions.

Ques. What can be expected in the interview?

Ans. There is no specific format or style of the interview. Candidates may be asked about their background, past projects, course-work, and motivation in addition to questions related to general topics.

Ques. What is the NIRF 2020 ranking of IIT Kanpur MS Research?

Ans. IIT Kanpur ranked 5th position.

Ask your question

Answered Questions

AB

Aditi Banerjee

28 Mar 23

One of my friends was an MS student at IIT Madras and she loved the time spent pursuing that course. 

  1. It gave her a sort of exhilarating experience of freedom to pursue whatever and however she wanted in her academics. 
  2. The research helps you learn how to tackle the challenges on your own.
  3. Since you do not belong to a certain class, you might feel lonely sometimes but for some this might actually be a good thing. You get more time to invest in studying for your research.
  4. A typical morning of an MS student at IIT Madras begins around 8-9 and there are no fixed timings as you don’t have any classes to attend. You wake up and check if the computation you had left overnight on the supercomputer has converged or not. 
  5. After this, go to the mess for breakfast and then head to the labs.
  6. You start coding and solving problems. If you face a problem you read and try to get a solution on your own. You keep working till 1: 30 after which you head to have lunch. 
  7. At around 4 30 in the evening, your guide approaches you to get updates on your work for the day. You get to take a tea/coffee break with them which would not have been possible as a BTech and MTech student. They guide you not only academically but also enlighten you on fundamentals like professionalism, discipline, humility, principles, and morals of a human being.
  8. Post the tea break you are back with coding in your lab or reading a scientific paper. 
  9. After a while, you can pack yourself and leave for the hostel. Now you can catch up on your sleep, watch anything.


The routine of a typical day of an MS student is mostly self-driven and thus varies from person to person.  You get immense exposure as you have to work with BTech students, Ph.D. students, and sometimes even with the placement committee. Unlike BTech and MTech students, you have practical and theoretical knowledge of many concepts.

...Show More

AS

Aditi Sengupta

28 Mar 23

The MS program is solely research-oriented and has minimal research work, while M.Tech is coursework based and has very less research angle. It's up to you to decide which aspect is more suitable for you and then only choose the program.
 

The subject or area of your work defines your MS program because the entire research will be based on that area only. Chronologically, an MS student has to go through these

  • Choose 5 courses related to your area of work and try to complete them within a year
  • Once you are done, start your research work and publish your paper
  • Sit for placements and get placed with a good package
  • Synopsis meeting after which you have to write your these
  • You are ready to leave IIT Madras

There is no fixed duration of the degree and one can even complete it in 2 years. It all depends on your capabilities and your area of research. Some even convert their MS degree into Ph.D. after the 1st year. The faculty pool is very cooperative and guides you continuously throughout your research work. Some important research topics include

  • Computer Architecture
  • Machine learning
  • NLP
  • Speech 

As far as IIIT Hyderabad is concerned, its MTech program is coursework-based will little research in comparison to MS. So make a good choice of both institute and program based on your career prospects and preferences.

...Show More

AS

Ashmita Sinha

05 Apr 23

The MS (R) program offered at IIT Delhi is one of the finest courses offered at the institute. Academically, its credibility lies between MTech and Ph.D. Apart from your core courses, you can choose any course and gain additional knowledge in that field. 

Research-wise, the program is very dynamic and students are as actively involved in research as the Ph.D. students. Unlike BTech and MTech, the primary focus is on research rather than academics and project work.

Placements-wise, the branch is excellent with a 100% placement percentage.MB(R) students get placed even before MTech students. Many companies offering research-based job profiles consider the students of this branch.

So be it academics, research, or placements, the program offers it all and is thus a good choice.

...Show More

AA

Aishwarya Anand

27 Mar 23

While many confuse MTech and MS as similar, both programs have extremely different perspectives. Hence their worth and demand cannot be rightly compared. 

The two major points of difference are that

  • MTech has a fixed duration of 2 years whereas MS has no fixed duration and is completed whenever your professor decides.
  • MTech is a good option for those looking for high packages whereas MS is for the ones passionate about research.

MS is usually completed once all your research work comes to an end in addition to the first year's coursework. Most people opt for PhDs from top foreign universities. Admission to such universities becomes easy if you have some valuable publications under your name. 

Job prospects: Once you have completed your Ph.D. from a reputed university, you can enter teaching professors in top universities. Another option is the R and D section of some elite companies of the world. So we can safely conclude that both MTech and MS have their own individual benefits.

...Show More

RB

Ranjini Banerjee

30 Mar 23

The basic differences between MR at IIT Madras and Ph.D. at IIT Madras are

  • Research: MS program has less research work than Ph.D. It is considered an extended version of MS and many MS students go for a Ph.D. afterward.
  • Degree: An MS degree is awarded if the student has a minimum of 1 international conference paper and if the panel is satisfied that the work has met the standards of the institute. Whereas a Ph.D. is awarded only when the student has a minimum of 2 international journal papers and if the panel is satisfied and considers it as per the standards of the institute.
  • Coursework: An MS student needs to take at least 5 graduate courses whereas a Ph.D. needs to take 4. Additionally a Direct Ph.D. or M.S.+PhD. needs to take 8.
  • Duration: The time taken to complete an MS program is between 1.5-3 years whereas for a Ph.D. and M.S. + Ph.D it takes 3-5 years. This duration might be increased in case a student is unable to complete it in the given time frame.
  • Viva: In Ph.D., you are required to pass a challenging Viva Voce, while in M.S. you need not. The difficulty level of this viva varies from department to department.
  • Stipend: Under the HTRA scheme, an MS student gets INR 12400 while a Ph.D. student gets INR 25000.

Despite these differences, the general routine and schedule of both MS and Ph.D. are similar. Ultimately, more than your program, your research topic and performance will matter.

...Show More

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