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Institution Forums > General > Whether or not to pursue a masters (MSc) degree View modes: 
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Alex Srdanov - 01/08/2012 22:41:50
   
Whether or not to pursue a masters (MSc) degree
Hi everyone,
 
I am considering the option of pursuing a masters degree in structural engineering in UK. I graduated in civil engineering in Serbia. 5 years curriculum with emphasis on structural engineering. Afterwards I worked for 2 years for a small consultancy office in Serbia and 5 years for a famous international contractor on remarkable landmark civil projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Even though I saved up enough to pay for the masters, the 15000 pound tuition fee plus the expenses for 1 year of life in UK are still a questionable investment for me.
In addition to Serbian citizenship I am a holder of Hungarian (EU) citizenship but that does not help me to apply for a masters course as an EU student since I never resided in any of the EU countries.

So my question is:
Suppose I am good enough to pass the IStructe exam and to become a member (without
taking the masters). I would like to hear your opinion on whether the UK MSc would significantly improve my chances of international employment compared to only having a Serbian BSc degree and a MIStructe membership.
 
Thanks a lot for your input.
 
Regards,
 
Alex

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Andrew McNeill - 02/08/2012 12:54:27
   
RE:Whether or not to pursue a masters (MSc) degree
Hello


I don't know if it would improve your chances significantly, as I'm not an employer and not familiar with their requirements in this regard. It probably varies from company to company.

However, once you have chartered status that will certainly stand you in good stead with the majority. It's often quoted on job offers as desirable.

Are you sure your degree is accredited for chartered member status? If you don't know, you can check with the IStructE. If it's not, I think you would probably need a Masters to gain it.

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Alex Srdanov - 03/08/2012 10:28:42
   
RE:Whether or not to pursue a masters (MSc) degree

Thank you very much for your replies,

I followed the links on the IStructe website and checked out the list of accredited courses(http://www.jbm.org.uk/uploads/JBM150_MEngCourses_v9_JULY2012.pdf). All of the listed courses are from UK universities.

Regarding the educational requirements IStructe website says: "You must hold an Institution accredited MEng or equivalent." Now what I hope is that I can prove that my degree falls into that 'equivalent' category. At the time I enrolled to university we did not have the BSc-MSc European 'Bologna Convention' system. I believe that my degree is more like the European MEng/MSc degree rather than the 3 year BSc degree but I didn't want to go deeper into this.

For example the design manager on the construction project I am currently working on is an Indian engineer and a MIStructe who did all his studies in India. He explained me once the procedure he went through to the membership. If my memory is correct, he became an Associate member first and it took years till he became MIStructe.

There's another thing about UK MSc courses & IStructe educational requirements I noticed on university websites. For example Sheffield (http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/civil/pg/structure):
"Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, and Institute of Highway Engineers approved as satisfying part 2 academic base requirements for a Chartered Engineer under UK-SPEC*"

And the asterisk means:"* - as long as your first degree is accredited by the above institutions."

Therefore, speaking only about IStructe educational requirements, the UK MSc would not spare me from having to prove that my undergrad studies are equivalent to the accredited courses.

Thanks again for your reply.

Regards,

Alex

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Jacob - 02/08/2012 16:03:30
   
RE:Whether or not to pursue a masters (MSc) degree

I don’t know whether your Serbian BSc degree is recognized (by means of some EU directives) by the IStructE and you can go straightaway to take the IStructE interview and sit the exam. If your degree is accepted, you should go get a MIStructE or some qualification first. If not, as Andrew suggested, you need an MSc.

In my opinion, an MSc can “show” you got some knowledge about “fancy analysis” or advanced analytical skills (e.g. 2nd order nonlinear analysis) but it doesn’t mean your work experience/practical knowledge shown on your CV is up to a certain level of an experienced and competent engineer. To prove it, taking an interview or exam and challenged by interviewers or an exam.

I am not a job interviewer and don’t know what employers really look for. But a proper qualification looks important in the eye of an employer. Last year, my boss told me he was flooded with a large number of CVs and cover letters. I asked whether you had plenty of good candidates to choose and he said “No, because a lot of them don’t have chartership”.  He also said it was a bit weird that engineers with 10 yrs experience not chartered.

Having said that if you want to work in a field which is technically demanding (e.g. design a 2000m long cable stayed bridge or 500m slender tall building), you may a need a postgrad degree.


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Alex Srdanov - 03/08/2012 11:18:02
   
RE:Whether or not to pursue a masters (MSc) degree
Thanks Jacob,

I wrote a lengthy response above to Andrew that is related to the first part of your post.

I am well aware that it takes a lot of work and effort  to become an IStructe member. As well I'm aware of the benefits of a postgrad degree. I just wanted to hear people's opinions to help me decide whether or not to take an MSc course along the way to IStructe membership.

I am not shooting that high to design 2000m long cable stayed bridges or 500m slender tall buildings. I'd just like to be an average Joe designing average buildings and who knows, when I reach that level my appetite may grow.

Regards,

Alex

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Jacob - 06/08/2012 12:23:21
   
RE:Whether or not to pursue a masters (MSc) degree

I think the first thing you have to do is to contact the IStructE, just to check whether your BSc degree is equivalent to a UK’s MSc degree. As far as I know, if your degree is recognized up to BEng level only, you could 1) top your qualification up to an MSc or 2) take engineering council exams.

If your degree is well above a UK BEng but just a little bit below an MSc/MEng, the IStructE may probably ask you to take 1 or 2 papers. After passing the exam, you can go straight to sit the CM exam. If the institution says your degree is good enough for a CEng, the story ends here.

Taking the AM exam first is another route. But the AM exam, in my view, is as tough as the CM exam except for no need to do 2 schemes. I do admire those who are brave and capable enough to take 2 tough exams.


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