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MS in Finance vs MBA: Difference Between MS in Finance and MBA

MS in Finance vs MBA: Difference Between MS in Finance and MBA

Edited By Tarun Bisht | Updated on Sep 10, 2024 03:13 PM IST | #CAT

Difference Between MS in Finance and MBA - An MS in Finance vs MBA can appear to be similar but have differences that need to be understood and considered before making any decision. Both MS in finance vs MBA cater to different curriculum objectives, career prospects, focus, and long-term career goals. An MS in finance would equip candidates with different skills and knowledge as compared to the regular MBA. However, candidates going for an MBA can also choose to specialize in the finance domain. Both are postgraduate programs that can be pursued after graduation from any discipline. In this article, a comparative study of both programs is provided to candidates to make an informed decision

MS in Finance vs MBA

MS in finance vs MBA have different aspects unique to each one of them. MS in finance offers a deep understanding of financial concepts, including financial modeling, valuation, investment analysis, and risk management. An MBA on the other hand, focuses on covering a wide range of business disciplines for a particular domain like finance, marketing, human resources, operations, IT, supply chain management, etc.

MS in Finance vs MBA Key Differences

The notable key differences between MS in finance and MBA are discussed briefly in the table below.

Criteria

MS in Finance

MBA

Focus

Specializes in finances and financial analysis.

Broad business management, leadership, and strategy development.

Curriculum

Advanced financial concepts like valuation, financial modeling, and risk management.

Core business subjects include finance, operations, marketing, and management.

Duration

18 to 24 Months

24 Months

Structure

Focused more on advanced finance-specific courses.

Includes courses and learning modules for different business disciplines with electives.

Career Paths

Financial Analyst, Investment Banker, Portfolio Manager, Risk Manager

General Management, Consulting, Marketing, Operations, Entrepreneurship.

Objective

To provide specialized skills in finance and prepare individuals for technical roles.

To provide a broad business perspective and prepare for leadership and management roles.

Skill Development

Financial Analysis, Quantitative Method, Financial Modeling

Leadership, management, problem-solving, strategic thinking

Networking

Finance-specific networks, finance industry events

Broad networking across different industries and functions

Alumni

Finance Professionals and Experts

Professional across multiple sectors and industries

Cost

Less expensive than an MBA

Expensive depending on how premium the B-School is.

Return on Investment

High for finance roles with specialized skills

Potentially high across diverse roles.

MS in Finance vs MBA Pros and Cons

The pros and cons of MS in finance vs MBA are given in the table below.

MS in Finance

Pros

Cons

  • Specialized Knowledge

  • Narrower Scope

  • Targeted Career Paths

  • Career Limitation

  • Shorter Duration

  • Specific to Finance

  • Industry Relevant

  • Less leadership training

  • Cost Effective

  • Less networking opportunities

MBA

Pros

Cons

  • Broader Business Knowledge

  • Less Technical Aspect

  • Versatile

  • Generalist Approach

  • Networking Opportunities

  • Expensive

  • Strategic Thinking

  • Market-based Demand for professionals

  • Diverse Career Paths

  • Lack of Depth

MS in Finance vs MBA Which one to choose

The candidates can consider the following bullet points in mind before choosing any of the courses.

Candidates can go for an MS in finance if:

  • You want to specialize in finance.

  • Aspire for finance-specific roles.

  • Prefer a shorter and more focused program.

  • Want to seek technical and analytical skills in the field of finance.

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Candidates can go for an MBA if:

  • You want a broad business education.

  • You aspire to go for leadership and management roles.

  • You value versatility and career flexibility.

  • You want to be part of a big professional network.

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Based on the various factors discussed above candidates can decide which program to go for based on their preference of long-term career goals. Candidates wanting a mix of both worlds can go for an MBA specializing in Finance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which is better, an MS in Finance or an MBA?

MS in finance offers a deep understanding of financial concepts, including financial modeling, valuation, investment analysis, and risk management. An MBA on the other hand, focuses on covering a wide range of business disciplines for a particular domain.

2. Is doing an MS in Finance better than an MBA?

Both MS finance and MBA have their unique qualities. Doing an MS in finance can be better than an MBA if a candidate aspires to have advanced skills and knowledge in the field of finance.

3. Who earns more, an MS in Finance or an MBA?

From an earning point of view, an MBA is more appealing than an MS in Finance. The MBA specializations tend to get candidates in senior management roles which are highly compensated.

4. What is the salary of MS Finance?

The average salary for MS Finance based on different roles is approximately between Rs. 6 to Rs. 12 lakhs per annum. The salary is dependent on various factors like job role, job location, college, market demand, etc.

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Questions related to CAT

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello aspirant,

The only on-screen calculator that CAT permits use is a simple one. It is not permitted for you to bring the actual calculator into the center. This approach is predicated on the idea that the CAT assesses an individual's aptitude for solving challenging mathematical puzzles and making fast mental computations.

Thank you

A CAT percentile of 90 or above can strengthen your application to MICA, it is not the only factor that determines admission.MICA considers scores of CAT and MICAT which are weighted 50–50 percent for the interview call.

Strong performance in the Pshycometric test and descriptive writing increase your chances to get into mica even if you score 80 percentile.the admission is based upon whole performance including every marks.

ALL the best!!!!


Hello aspirant,

A timetable is essential if you are preparing for the CAT in addition to your college coursework. It will give you an idea of how long it will take you to finish your syllabus and then set aside the appropriate amount of time for revision and mock exams. Without a set timetable, you risk taking your time and not completing your preparation as thoroughly as is necessary.

Thank you

Hope it helps you.

Hello Nikita,

To get into any of the top IIMs, such as IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, or Indore, a good percentile in CAT is required, although academics play a vital role too. Let's break it down below:

CAT Score: 98+ percentile is an excellent score and makes one competitive.

Academic Scores:

Your 10th score at 84% is quite good.

A 12th score of 65% is on the lower side, which might hamper your chances at some of the top IIMs since they give weightage to past academic performance.

IIM Selection Criteria:

Every IIM has its own weightage for the scores of academics, CAT percentile, work experience, if any, and diversity.

For example, IIM Ahmedabad requires consistent academic records, while IIM Bangalore puts the strongest focus on work experience and diversified profiles.

Graduation: You are currently pursuing graduation, and your performance during that will also be considered in the shortlisting process.

While your CAT score is going to be the major pointer, your academic record-doing in class 12-is going to affect your prospects a bit at IIMs that place significant emphasis on your past performance. Still, you will have a healthy shot, at least at institutes like Lucknow, Kozhikode, and Indore, where a good score in CAT may offset lower marks in academics.

If you have diverse profiled extracurricular activities, leadership roles etc, or work experience, then it can build up your application further.

Directions for question :

M/s Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, one of the top four audit and accounting firms in the world with headquarters at London, UK, and with an operational presence in 153 countries, hires Management Trainees (MT) from all the premier management institutes of India thrice every year, in the months of January, May and September.

Each new group of Management Trainees (MT) have to go through a four month rigorous training schedule, after which they have to pass through a test consisting of a written assessment and a case-analysis. The top hundred ranked Management Trainees (MT) based on the performance in the test are confirmed as Management Executives (ME). The rest are given the opportunity of undergoing the training for four months one more time along with the next batch of Management Trainees (MT) and then passing through the subsequent test consisting of the written assessment and case-analysis. The Management Trainee (MT) who fails to get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the second time is fired.

The scatter-graph below depicts the number of Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte taking the tests from January 2020 till May 2022, and the vis-à-vis hired Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte who were fired :

It is also known that for the month of September 2019 at Deloitte, 96 hired Management Trainees (MT) failed to be confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the first time, and that 36 hired Management Trainees (MT) were fired. 

Question :

In which test did the minimum number of Management Trainees (MT) get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) in the second attempt ?

Option: 1

September 2020

 

 


Option: 2

May 2021


Option: 3

January 2021

 


Option: 4

January 2022 


Directions for question:

Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'. 

They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared. 

They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders. 

On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. 

On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :

Question: 

Assuming that the next customer's order could only be attended to when the previous customer's order was closed, at what time would the first customer's order be considered closed ?

 

Option: 1

6.15 pm

 

 


Option: 2

6.17 pm

 


Option: 3

6.18 pm

 


Option: 4

6.20 pm


Directions for question :

Six sticks of equal lengths were kept in the vertical position in an empty flower-vase, to be arranged at the six corners of a regular hexagon. The two ends of each of the sticks were of different colours. 

The top ends of the sticks were one of each of the following colours – Red, Cyan, Pink, Brown, Black and Green. The bottom ends were one of each of the following colours – Blue, Yellow, White, Orange, Purple and Grey. Both the sets of colours mentioned were in no particular order.

It was also known that :

a) The stick with the red colour was opposite to the stick with the blue colour

b) There were exactly two sticks whose both ends had colours whose names started with the same letter

c) The stick with the grey colour was adjacent to the stick with the white colour

d) The stick with the cyan colour was adjacent to both the sticks with the brown colour and the one with the blue colour

e) The stick with the purple colour was adjacent to both the sticks with the grey colour and the one with the green colour

f) The stick with the white colour was opposite to the stick with the green colour

Question :

What was the colour of the bottom end of the stick having brown colour at the top end ?

Option: 1

 White 

 


Option: 2

Yellow 


Option: 3

Black

 


Option: 4

Grey


Directions for question:

Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'. 

They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared. 

They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders. 

On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. 

On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :

Question: 

Assuming that the next customer's order could only be attended to when the previous customer's order was closed, at what time would the third customer's order be considered closed ?

 

Option: 1

6.28 pm

 


Option: 2

6.35 pm

 


Option: 3

6.38 pm


Option: 4

6.45 pm


Directions for question:

Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'. 

They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared. 

They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders. 

On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. 

On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :

Question: 

Suppose Moloy and Niloy had decided to process multiple orders at the same time, however strictly prioritising a first come first serve basis, when would the second customer's order be considered closed ?

Option: 1

6.20 pm

 

 


Option: 2

6.18 pm


Option: 3

6.15 pm

 


Option: 4

6.12 pm


Directions for question:

Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'. 

They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared. 

They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders. 

On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. 

On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :

Question: 

Suppose Moloy and Niloy had decided to process multiple orders at the same time, however strictly prioritising a first come first serve basis, when would the third customer's order be considered closed ?

 

Option: 1

6.22 pm

 


Option: 2

6.25 pm


Option: 3

6.28 pm 


Option: 4

6.30 pm


Directions for question:

Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'. 

They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared. 

They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders. 

On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. 

On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :

Question: 

A fourth customer comes in and orders two plates of French Toast at 6.24 pm. Suppose Moloy and Niloy had decided to process multiple orders at the same time, however strictly prioritising a first come first serve basis. For exactly how many minutes would one of the friends be idle from 6.00 pm till serving the last customer, assuming that the four customers were the only ones to have come in within the period being discussed ?

Option: 1

9

 


Option: 2

13


Option: 3

18


Option: 4

21


Directions for question:

Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'. 

They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared. 

They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders. 

On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. 

On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :

Question: 

Had Niloy been absent on that day, and assuming that the next customer's order could only be attended to when the previous customer's order was closed, at what time would the fourth customer's order (refer to the previous question) be considered closed ?

Option: 1

6:38 pm

 


Option: 2

6:42 pm

 


Option: 3

6:47 pm


Option: 4

6:49 pm


Directions for question:

The bar-graph given below shows the foreign exchange reserves of Nepal (in million Rupees) from 2014 to 2021. Answer the following questions based on the graph :

Question:

What was the percentage increase (rounded to the nearest integer, if deemed necessary) in the foreign exchange reserves in 2020 over 2016 ?

Option: 1 None

Option: 2 None

Option: 3 None

Option: 4 None

Directions for question:

The Jadavpur University’s Prince Anwar Shah Road hostel consists of two large separate buildings, one for the ladies and the other for the gents, while having a common kitchen and dining hall. It is the hostel of the CS and the EEC department of engineering students of the university.

In recognition of the growing dissatisfaction and hence complaints among the inmates of the hostel regarding the menu served for dinner, the Dean of the engineering department, Dr Aparesh Sanyal, personally decided to investigate the matter. He set about collecting information about the preference of dinner among the inmates, separately from the gents and the ladies wing of the hostel.

Dr Sanyal was able to gather the following partial information :  

 

Hostel inmates

Menu preference for dinner

Total

Egg Meal

Fish Meal

Chicken Meal

Gents

   

20

 

Ladies

     

64

Total

 

60

   

 

The Warden of the hostel was consulted, who after investigation declared that the following facts were clear :

1. Forty percent of the hostel inmates were ladies

2. One-third of the gentlemen inmates preferred an egg meal for dinner

3. Half the hostel inmates preferred either fish meal or chicken meal

Question:

What proportion of the lady hostel inmates preferred a fish meal for dinner ?

 

 

Option: 1

0.25

 

 


Option: 2

0.50

 


Option: 3

0.75

 


Option: 4

1.00 


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