Computer Science MSc valuable with an engineering BEng?

I am thinking about studying a computer science MSc with a specialism in Artificial intelligence. I am quite interested in the topic and I believe it will open me up to many roles in a sector that is massively booming as they require coding experience and computer science qualifications. I hold a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and I was just worried if this was a bad decision as many people hold an integrated engineering masters and are very focused in one area whereas I feel like my skillset is all over the place. I could study an engineering masters but I do not see the point and have little interest in studying the same subject again. I am still interested in engineering roles however so I am worried that this might close off that path. Is it a case of they will see I have a masters, as long as it is STEM, and see it as a positive or will this possible close off options and also not be enough to give me a chance in the Software engineering field? This all comes also from failing to land a graduate role following my bachelor's at a top 5 university, a placement year and an internship - things are difficult! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Reply 1

hotpud

Why do you want to study this course? For me, there are two answers

It is interesting and I will enjoy it

I think it will help me get a job

If you are walking down path number 2, then I would back up a bit and think about what job do you actually want and more specifically, what skills is that employer looking for, do I have those skills and if not, will I gain those skills on the masters.

The problem with degrees and masters is that students think that they are a ticket to a job and the higher the value the ticket (masters / Oxbridge / Russel Group) etc, the better the chance of a job. This thinking is just plain wrong. Employers don't care what ticket you have. They only care about what skills and knowledge you bring to the table, if you can do the job and what value you add to the business in terms of profitability. So by all means do this masters but have an end goal in mind before you waste a year and a lot of money. Remember - the real world is nothing like academia. There are no exams. No tests. No essays. No critical thinking. Just work to be done using skills and knowledge.

Reply 2

RobElliot

Original post by hotpud

Why do you want to study this course? For me, there are two answers

It is interesting and I will enjoy it

I think it will help me get a job

If you are walking down path number 2, then I would back up a bit and think about what job do you actually want and more specifically, what skills is that employer looking for, do I have those skills and if not, will I gain those skills on the masters.
The problem with degrees and masters is that students think that they are a ticket to a job and the higher the value the ticket (masters / Oxbridge / Russel Group) etc, the better the chance of a job. This thinking is just plain wrong. Employers don't care what ticket you have. They only care about what skills and knowledge you bring to the table, if you can do the job and what value you add to the business in terms of profitability. So by all means do this masters but have an end goal in mind before you waste a year and a lot of money. Remember - the real world is nothing like academia. There are no exams. No tests. No essays. No critical thinking. Just work to be done using skills and knowledge.

I guess my end goal would be to find a software engineering role, I think this is my logic for doing the master's as I find it quite interesting as well. At the same time in such a competitive job market right now, I have found myself to be turned down or questioned a lot for why I do not have a masters. There are also many tests that I have come across in interviews that vary including programming tests but also testing for knowledge on things that I don't know simply because I have a bachelor's in general engineering and they're asking about something that only an expert in their specific field would know. I originally thought that graduate schemes were there for you to find out your specialty and try different rotations but now they want you to know the exact job and to have such niche aspirations at the age of 21 which I feel very far from having. Atleast this has been my experience.