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Advice Regarding M Engineering Program from Canadian Universities in Petroleum and Chemical

 
Related Country: Canada by Guest on 16 Jan 2012 I hope this email finds you all in the best of health and prosperity. My name is Shah Zaman and I am an Instrument & Control (I&C) Engineer by profession. Currently working in OGDCL as an I&C Engineer, I have 4 years of very diversified professional experience of working in Oil & Gas and Fertilizer Industry. As far as my educational background is concerned, I did my B.E. in Electronic Engineering from NED with distinction (81% marks) and my intermediate with 86% marks (an overall 15th position in Karachi Board). Now that I am planning to pursue higher education from Canada, I wish to seek opinion and valued advice of members of this group regarding following queries:

1. Since it has been a long time (5 years to be precise) since I graduated and having no research experience and interest, I understand I am more suited to a course-based (M Eng) program rather than a thesis based program.

2. As per feedback received from a couple of my colleagues in Canada (I might be wrong however), the service sector in Canada especially Oil & Gas and Mining (fields relative to my experience) recognizes the kind of experience I have; all you need to land a good job in Canada after completing your master's in the said industry is a Canadian qualification from a university of good repute. Please advise if this really is the case.


3. I have shortlisted 6 universities based on following criteria:

- Location with respect to Oil & Gas industry
- Reputation/Rankings
- Fees (Because I will be funding my fees/expenses myself as almost all universities offer no or little funding to M Eng candidates, I am looking for universities that have comparatively less tution fee
- Field of specialization (Electrical Engineering with specialization in Control Systems

The universities are:

- University of Alberta
- McMaster University
- University of Toronto
- Queen's University
- University of New Brunswick
- University of Calgary

Given my profile, I would like to know what chance do I stand of getting into either of these universities? Please also let me know if there is any other university which fulfills above cited criteria. And how much money will I require to meet my tution and living expenses for any of these universities? Is there any possibility of getting any funding/scholarship/loan for M Eng students?


4. Finally, as I am working in Pakistan's largest E&P company, is it all really worth leaving my job? I read someone mentioning in one of the earlier posts on this group not to leave Pakistan if you have a good enough job back home. Though I am very eager and understand the importance of a foreign qualification and experience, I sometimes get overwhelmed by the fact that the decision of going abroad for master's may backfire.

I look forward to positive responses from you all.

Regards,

Replies

1. Thats right especially if you don't want to pursue a career in research and want to work in industry MEng. program is the best to go for. 2. They are quite right but as the job market is getting tightened up, most of the companies here want people with some kind of Canadian experience. I believe with your experience it will not be a big issue. 3. I guess your list is quite comprehensive and with your profile and experience I think you have a good chance to get in the MEng. program as for MEng. they will not provide any type of funding or scholarship. 4. Doing masters may backfire depending on your current job status and in general it is quite right in most of the cases that if you dont want to pursue your career in research and already have a good job back home then going abroad for masters may not be a good idea as it will require your time and commitment which if spent on job may be more beneficial but Canada has a good prospect regarding the nationality which attracts a lot of professionals and is one of the major reasons for coming to Canada.
by Guest  on 16 Jan 2012
Firstly I would like to appreciate my anonymous bro for answering concisely to your intriguing Queries. Im no expert! but would like to say 2 points..... a. Given the fact that you r working for such a reputable ORGANIZATION and appointed on a nice SCALE.....Resignation would b an INSANE decision.. coz you mentioned your prime objective is to hook again in any company(NO RESEARCH interest) , so my bro why doing MS then... Well , after 2 years of tedious education would probably land u a job of 3-4000 CAD Dollars...While you would b away from ur family for such a long duration too.. b...RIZQ is the INDEPENDENT factor that control human being... May Allah Bless u !!
by Guest  on 16 Jan 2012
Dear Mubbashir, I agree with you and wouldn't recommend Zaman to leave the job and come to Canada as you are right at maximum he will just get CAD$4000 job which you may also be able to get back home in OGDCL after 4-5 years more experience. So, please zaman consider this point as well cause you will be working in Canada far from family and the important point here to mention is that everyone here wants to leave to go back even if they do have their families here. I hope this is helpful. WaSalaam
by Guest  on 16 Jan 2012
Having read the replies you received; I would also like to share my two cents. 1. Education has its own value; it benefits you in some way in the end.... somebody may claim that since you already are doing a good job at a reputable organization so you shouldnt consider going abroad; well that depends on a few factors a) your motivation behind the studies; whether it is money or earning knowledge and getting exposure b) your ultimate goal I did my Electrical Engineering from NED University batch 2004-05 and had a dream job in KESC as the Assistant Manager at one of the Power Plant which was undergoing serious up-gradation. The job was excellent, with an awesome future perspective. My priorities were to settle abroad; getting exposure and increasing my knowledge. Ofcourse ultimately we all want to earn good in the end; and mashALLAH at the moment I m earning more than any of my fellow colleagues; and even during studies I had an scholarship which was much more than any of my classfellows working anywhere in the world. But anyway you will get as much RIZQ as is destined to you; wherever you be. Certainly I would agree, its a big risk leaving a set job with a future prospect; but progress comes with the risk. I took that risk, and certainly it is not an easy decision to take as you risk your whole career your decision; so it depends on you if you are willing to take this risk; remember going up require you to take risks in life !! 2. I would recommend you to go for MSc. (Thesis based Masters); the general approach of we as Pakistanis is, that research has nothing to do with industry and since we do not want to join academia, anything related to research is not for us. This is a completely wrong concept. I believe in all the developed countries, research is an integral part of their industry. Thesis based MSc would give you several advantages; 1. having experience of working with a well known Professor whose students may be working in the industry you..
by Guest  on 16 Jan 2012
Dear Zaman, I think you should go for your higher education in Canada, as this will open door of opportunities for you not only in Canada but in the rest of the world as well. Consider following points and take the decision: 1) Canadian Degree has lots of worth, not only in canada, but around the world as well specially in the Middle East. Even if you dont want to stay in canada, after education you may come to mideast and you will surely get higher pay. 2) One must get international exposure in terms of education and work in his/her life if there is a chance, and i am sure you will get a good job over there, in renowned companies in the Oil and gas sector. USA will be another option for your there. immigration opporunity is also an option. 3) Here in Pakistan, economy is already dwindling, law & order situation is getting worse day by day, industries are getting closed and job security issues are rising.If you are getting an opportunity of moving abroad you must avail this opportunity, keeping in view the future of not only yourself but your family as well. 4) If you dont take risk in your life you may hardly find success. Get yourself out from comfort zone and move on. InshAllah you future will be bright. I hope you are convinced :-)
by Guest  on 16 Jan 2012
 

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