MPhil and MBA both are academic qualifications sought by aspirants in any field that attracts their interest. Both of these courses offer specializations in various fields and are very good options.
MPhil vs MBA
The main difference between an MPhil and MBA program is that MPhil degrees are usually offered in varied fields of work, while the MBA is based on more business fields and to get entry into the corporate world.
MPhil or Master of Philosophy is an advanced course usually taken up after post-graduation in particular fields of work. While an MBA or Masters of Business Administration is a course that can be taken up after graduation as well as post-graduation.
Mphil programs require extensive research in that particular field as well as a research thesis and an article to be published in HEC Approved Journals, while MBA programs focus more on course work.
Comparison Table Between MPhil and MBA (in Tabular Form)
| Parameter of Comparison | MPhil | MBA |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Master of Philosophy is an academic research program and can be pursued by candidates from any fields like Commerce, Science, Humanities, etc. | Master of Business Administration is a more corporate job oriented management and business course that can be taken up by candidates from every field. |
| Credit Value | MPhil degrees do not have a credit value as they are not made up of individually assessed units or modules and is completely a research-based qualification. | MBA normally has a credit value of 180 CATS / 90-120 ECTS and is considered to be more of a professional and corporate course based on academic subjects. |
| Eligibility | The basic qualification to enroll for an MPhil degree is to have completed a Master’s degree or Post- Graduation from any recognized university or institution with a minimum of 55% marks. | The basic qualification criteria are that the person should have completed a Bachelor’s Degree course from any recognized University or Institute with a minimum of 50% marks. There may be also different entrance exams for different colleges. |
| Duration | The minimum duration for an MPhil course varies from 1 to 2 years according to the institution. The maximum time within which MPhil should be completed is within 3 to 5 years. | A traditional full-time MBA course takes 2 years to get completed, while part-time courses and long-distance ones may take even longer. Some institutions also offer fast-paced MBAs that get over within a year. |
| Scope | MPhil is usually taken up by people who would want to have an edge over others in the research and most importantly the teaching field. | MBA is taken up by people in the fields of business and management to get access to the corporate filed. |
What is MPhil?
MPhil or Master of Philosophy is a higher educational qualification sought in the field of research. It is mostly done after post-graduation and is considered to be one of the first steps towards doing a Ph.D.
The main highlight of the program is that it consists entirely of a person’s independent research and thesis work, rather than well-formulated academic units and assessments. According to the National qualification frameworks, MPhil stands at Level 7, along with other Master’s degree programs.
The course can also be referred to as a pure research degree. Though from the title of the course, it seems to be a Master’s degree, it somewhere lies between a master’s qualification and an advanced research postgraduate training.
In some countries, the course comes under the category of ‘second-round qualification’.The MPhil degree is awarded almost in every subject and hence is considered to be a ‘generic’ degree.
There are mainly two ways of registering for an MPhil degree. They can be pursued as a standalone degree, which means as a terminal degree or can even be a step towards doing a Ph.D. in that particular subject. The type of registration will determine the duration and the assessment of the course while the content of the study and research remains the same.
A full-time standalone MPhil is for a duration of two years, while a part-time program may take anywhere between four to five years. Another major factor to be noted is that the achieving of this degree solely rests upon the candidate’s independent research work.
The MPhil thesis and research work should be able to indicate that the candidate has a thorough and proper deep understanding of their particular field in the present scenario. As MPhil is based on research work and not on individually assessed modules or units, they do not have a credit value.
The initial training for research methods for the program has a normal credit value but does not contribute to increasing the overall credit value for the degree. But even though MPhil does not have any credit value, it is still a globally recognized Master’s Degree.
What is MBA?
MBA or Master of Business Administration is one of the most sought after courses after graduation in India as well as abroad. It is considered to be a kind of ‘elite’ qualification for those professionals in the business field.
It is a kind of professional degree focussing mainly on management and business subjects. The program tries to inculcate leadership, initiative, and excellent skills required in the entrepreneurial and corporate world.
Today these programs are considered to be very prestigious and hence have well-restricted entry and application requirements. Many colleges prefer candidates or students with some experience in their field of graduation while others conduct entrance exams with scores.
The course mainly focuses on giving advanced knowledge to the student in a particular subject and hence achieving an MBA degree from a well known and recognized institution is a very good sign and adds on to the CV. MBA is usually considered to be proper and effective for people or professionals in a particular field with work experience, as their career- enhancers.
MBAs are normally terminal degrees and people study it as a final educational qualification, though there are a variety of avenues open after it. According to the National qualification frameworks, MBA stands at Level 7, along with other Master’s degree programs.
The program has a credit value of 180 CATS / 90-120 ECTS and is available worldwide in a few different formats. These are designed to meet the specific career goals of the candidates. The various options available in the MBA are:
- Standard MBA programs
- Accelerated MBA programs
- Executive MBA programs
- Graduate entry MBA
- Dual MBA programs
The reputation of the university or institution is very important in case of pursuing an MBA. There are various domestic, regional, and international organizations that accredit business schools and hence make them reputed and sought after ones.
Main Differences Between MPhil and MBA
- MPhil is mostly taken up by candidates interested in the field of research and wants to have extensive knowledge usually for entering a teaching field, while MBA is pursued by those who wish to specialize in the fields of business and entrepreneurship.
- The main difference between MPhil and MBA is that while MPhil is pursued after completing a post-graduation degree, an MBA can be pursued after completion of graduation.
- Usually, MPhil degrees do not have any credit value as they do not have any well-formulated assessments rather than the research thesis, while MBA completely focuses on academic subjects and hence has a certain credit value.
- MPhils can be done as a terminal degree as well as a path to pursuing a Ph.D., while an MBA course is majorly done as a terminal degree and not often continued to the next level.
- In some institutions that offer integrated MPhil- Ph.D. degrees, MPhil holders are given some exemptions regarding doctoral coursework, while these kinds of exemptions are not found in an MBA.
Conclusion
Both MPhil and MBA are qualifications sought for higher levels of education and helps in specializing in fields of interest. While MPhil degrees can be enrolled after post-graduation only, MBA programs can be done after graduation also.
Holding these degrees from reputed institutions provide candidates with an edge over others who do not possess that, hence enhancing their careers.