Engineered for progress
Choosing an engineering postgraduate course can be a challenge but the rewards are there for those who persevere. Kwong Chiew Foong from INTI University College points you in the right direction.
Obtaining a postgraduate degree is an increasingly common trend today, especially among working adults who already have a first degree. It is common knowledge that getting a postgraduate degree provides an opportunity to climb higher on the corporate ladder. However, getting a postgraduate degree in engineering is more than just obtaining an academic qualification. It involves academic and practical training for engineers to enhance their technical know-how to help them to solve increasingly complex engineering problems.
Statistics from the Ministry of Higher Education show that enrolment for technical postgraduate courses increased from 4,069 students in 2002 to 6,141 students in 2006, in public and private institutions of higher learning. Although there was a slight drop in enrolment in 2007, more students as a whole are pursuing higher degrees in engineering.
The need for postgraduate qualifications
With the increasing demand for more specialised and technology-savvy engineers in the industry, more engineers with specialised skills are needed to meet the requirements. The knowledge and training they receive during their postgraduate studies will equip them with skills required to solve more complex engineering problems in the industry. Some large multinational companies require their engineers to have a minimum of a Master’s or Doctorate degree especially for research and development (R&D) purposes.
Some engineers take up postgraduate studies for a change in their careers, shifting their focus to specialise in a different area of engineering – eg from electrical and electronic engineering to telecommunications engineering.
Choosing the right programme
Traditionally, postgraduate programmes are research-based and students are expected to submit a thesis at the end of their course. Today, the trend is towards coursework-based programmes, especially at the Master’s degree level.
In Malaysia, there are three different categories of the Master’s degree programme determined by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA): A, B and C.
Structure A refers to a fully research-based course where students are expected to submit a thesis describing the results of their research work.
Structure B includes some coursework elements in the programme structure: Students are expected to attend some classes, sit for examinations in the first part of their course, then conduct some research in a chosen topic before submitting a thesis based on their research.
Structure C is fully examination-based where students are expected to attend classes and their results are based on the paper examination conducted at the end of the semester.
Perhaps the most important factor to consider before choosing the right programme is the accreditation by the MQA. The agency will scrutinise the quality and management of the programme to ensure it is up to required industry standards.
Planning the route
Although different universities may have different requirements, as a rule of thumb, a minimum of a lower 2nd class degree is a must for entry into an engineering Master’s programme. In some universities, especially if the courses are conducted in English, a good language proficiency examination result in IELTS or TOEFL is required. Some universities require students to take and pass a bridging course before taking up the core subjects.
Most postgraduate courses are conducted on a part-time basis to cater to working adults seeking to upgrade their qualifications while maintaining their jobs.
Conclusion
In general, getting a postgraduate degree requires high determination and a good academic foundation due to the rigorous programme that students have to go through. Obtaining a postgraduate qualification in engineering can be rewarding, as it can enrich your technical knowledge and analytical skills.
About the writer
Kwong Chiew Foong is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, INTI University College. He completed his studies in BEng (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire, UK in 2001 and received a scholarship from the University of Bradford, UK to read an MSc in Personal, Mobile & Satellite Communications, where he graduated with a distinction.
He is also the Head of Satellite & Mobile Group (MSSG) at INTI and his research interests include the cross-layer protocols and mobility management for hybrid terrestrial and satellite communication networks.
