Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences and occasionally in the social sciences.The MSc is typically a "taught" postgraduate degree, involving lectures, examination, and a short project. Taught masters programmes involve 1 or 2 years of full-time study. Some universities also offer research MSc programmes, where a longer project or set of projects is undertaken full-time.
The Master of Science degree should not be confused with the more recent MSci, or Master in Science degree, now offered by U.K. institutions. This is an extended undergraduate degree, with honours awarded, and is intended to better prepare students for postgraduate study. Many research universities are now demanding MSci degrees for entry to PhD research programmes.
This education pattern in United Kingdom is followed in many Commonwealth Nations such as India, Pakistan, Canada.