A Master of Engineering, often abbreviated M.Eng (or MEng), can be either an academic or professional master's degree in the field of engineering.In Australia, the Master of Engineering degree is a research degree requiring completion of a thesis. Like the Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), it is considered a lesser degree than Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). It is not to be confused with Master of Engineering Science or Master of Engineering Studies which are coursework master's degrees. An exception is Monash University which awards a Master of Engineering Science by either research or coursework.
In Canada, the Master of Engineering degree is a graduate degree of typically two years length that involves coursework and a thesis or research paper of significant depth. Some Canadian universities offer a Master of Engineering or Master of Applied Science in engineering or both.
In Germany, the local engineer's degree (Diplomingenieur, a first degree after 5 years of study) will be abolished by 2010, and will be replaced by postgraduate master's degrees (M.Sc. and M.Eng).
in India A postgraduate program in engineering or technology generally leads to either the Master of Engineering (M.E) or Master of Technology (M.Tech.) degree, and is used to specialize within an engineering branch or field. In electrical engineering, for example, areas of specialization might include: power systems, electrical machines, instrumentation and control, high voltage or power electronics.
In South Korea, the master of engineering, which takes a minimum of two years, is a postgraduate program that follows the undergraduate of four years. It is commonly awarded for specializations in the field of engineering rather than the science.
In the USA, the Master of Engineering degree is generally a professional degree offered as a coursework-based alternative to the traditional research-based Master of Science. It is typically a two-year program, and many universities allow students to choose between the Master of Engineering and the Master of Science.
In the UK, the M.Eng is an undergraduate award, available after pursuing a four or five year course of study. These are taught courses, with only a small research element in the third and/or final year, and are not available as postgraduate qualifications in most cases. Most British universities offer both the traditional three or four year courses in engineering, leading to a B.Sc. or B.Eng, and a M.Eng respectively.