Msc or MBA –for nil aviation experience

[bala_murali]

Hi there guys :):)
Would like to know what is the difference between Msc in Air Transport management and MBA in aviation management?:hmm::hmm:
I have got a offer letter from Griffith university in Australia for MBA in aviation management( Griffith University | Graduate Certificate in Aviation Management - Nathan (http://www17.griffith.edu.au/cis/p_cat/admission.asp?type=overview&ProgCode=3112) )
and Buckinghamshire new university in UK for Msc in air transport management for this January batch?(Air Transport Management (http://bucks.ac.uk/default.aspx?page=10036) )

I have done my bachelors degree in electrical and electronics and have worked in dell computers for 2 years as a senior hardware technical support executive. 60 percent of the people have told me that doing these masters degree in a waste of time and the rest 40 % told me that I is a very good way to enter the industry, especially for a person with no aviation experience like me . :sad:
From what I come to know, nothing in aviation is 100 % sure. So I am willing to take the chance. Flight operation is what I am mainly interested in! But yes if I don’t get through that I can work in other field also .I take these master degrees as an entry ticket to the aviation industry.
So guys I would like your views on both of the MBA and MSc . I will help me make a good decision. Thanks a million for your time :ok::ok::ok:

[minigundiplomat]

Hi Bala,

I tried to reply to your PM, but it said you were unable to receive PM's.

MSc's in aviation (or any other sector) are very in depth and concerned mainly with the particular sector. I know City University in London who run aviation MSc programmes insist on 5 years experience of the aviation industry as a pre-requisite for entry to the programme. These MSc's are aimed at individuals already in the industry who are looking to move into management positions within their organisation. They are really only of value if you have relevant experience to go with the qualification.

MBA's are general, and non-specific to a particular industry. Business knowledge that can be applied to any sector are part of the appeal of such courses. They are valued by potential employers (unless you bought it online!).

Having an aviation MBA therefore, seems to create a slight contradiction.

A few observations,

1. Without an aviation background any post-graduate study in the area will be extremely difficult.

2. You don't need an MSc or MBA for a career in operations (you will need a lot of luck in the present economic climate as aviation is taking a bit of a kicking at the moment)

3. Emirates Academy may have the course you are looking at, as may IATA (try the courses in their Training Webpages).

Good luck.

[bala_murali]

Hi there Mini Gun

From what you say MBA seems to be a much better opportunity for me than MSC considering i have no aviation experience . And what you told about city London is right . They did accept me since i no aviation experience .:sad::sad:

Didnt understand 1 things

1. Without an aviation background any post-graduate study in the area will be extremely difficult.
you mean to say the MBA in aviation management itself it very difficult to finish without any aviation experince . Or getting a job after finishing this course is difficult ?

2. You don't need an MSc or MBA for a career in operations (you will need a lot of luck in the present economic climate as aviation is taking a bit of a kicking at the moment)
I am hoping that the aviation industry would be in a much better position when i come out with a MBA or MSC. Thats why thought i would go to study mode till things get better . :*:*

The last question is if you were in my shoes ,given 2 option to take MSC or MBA without any aviation experince which you take . I know you are gono say " i will not take any of the two " LOL :}:}:} . But still given the choice which would you take ?

Thanks a lot for you reply . :ok::ok::ok:

[minigundiplomat]

In your shoes,

I would do an MBA, and not one that is necessarily aviation based. Aviation is becoming heavily taxed, on top of always being fiercely competitive.

If you have an MBA, it won't do your chances of a career in aviation any harm, plus you can always move into another sector which is expanding, hiring or paying well.

Bear in mind, Michael O Leary of Ryanair started out as an accountant not a pilot/engineer/ops.

[boredcounter]

MOL also started 'pay fo a job' ...............................

[ShinjukuHustler]

He started out as an accountant and it shows :oh:. Charging pax to take a leak...that is low!

[bala_murali]

hi there mini Gun

If you have an MBA, it won't do your chances of a career in aviation any harm, plus you can always move into another sector which is expanding, hiring or paying well.

Does this apply for MBA in aviation management also . OR are you tell me to do a general MBA without any specialization ?

[boredcounter]

Sorry to sound hard, make your call. Take your money and pay it! FAA started it, Degrees in classrooms, where next? No I am not turning on you at all, decide now. If you choose badly, for yourself, good luck. If you make the same mistake for a company, good luck to you and all others who do nothing to stop you. You may learn, if you buy an FAA ticket and it is accepted, your thinking time on a bad day is 10 minutes at best. As a graduate, I will bow to your greater knowlage!

[minigundiplomat]

Bala,

do an MBA without any specialisation. As boredcounter alludes to, an MBA in aviation won't teach you to think on your feet, only experience will teach you that.

However, it's your life.

MGD

[bala_murali]

Hi there minigun

Thanks for the suggestion . acutally almost every aviation professional i talked to talk me the same thing. And none of the airline manger in india that i met in person have done this course , not to mention those who didnt even know a course like this existed . only select few that i have met online have done a MBA in aviation mangement and they say that the average age of the person doing this course are in there mid 30's . Just though it was the best ticket for me to join the aviation industry
For the first time in pprune almost everybody i spoke to gave me a unified suggestion "Avionics ".:):) this is after i told i have done my engineering degree in electrical and electronics .
Checked some universities in that have the MSC in avionics -
Cranfield -
Avionic Systems Design (Option of Aerospace Vehicle Design MSc) - Cranfield University (http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/students/courses/page1226.html)

Sheffield -
MSc Taught Degrees (http://www.shef.ac.uk/eee/pgt/avionic.html)..

Checked the syllabus of both .. and its mind boggling .. i say this after 4 years my in electrical and electronics engineering . The master is avionics looks like a course for the elite . By elite i mean the truly intelligent and over archivers . I am not a top class student or anything in my class . Just thinking whether a course like this would be too complicated for my standards ? :ugh::ugh:

I can tackle with the mechanical and electrical side of things. I am very average when it come to electronics :sad::sad::sad:

People who have studies avionics . Please shine some light in . Is avionics for only a A+ kinda student. :ouch::ouch:

Thanks for your time .

[bala_murali]

Hey there Mini Gun
I was doing a little research on what you said about a General MBA . I spoke to some aviation professional and they did know even know a course called MBA in Aviation industry management existed. LOL.:O:O From speaking to people is understood that an MBA in operations is closely related to the aviation industry operations than an MBA in logistics and supply chain management. :rolleyes::rolleyes: And the opportunities for MBA in operation also seem to very wide.
Keeping in mind that the aviation industry is where I want to work , would it be good to go for an MBA in operation . This was I have a backup of going into other industries incase aviation doesn’t work for me!:ouch::ouch:

What is the relation between an MBA in aviation management and MBA in operations .

In case you forgot my background is a bachelors degree in electrical and electronics and 2 years experience in dell computers as a senior hardware technical support executive .