MSc
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Master of Science |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Education & Academia, Military, Organizations & Companies, Law & Legal |
| Also written | MSC |
MSc has four meanings. The most common are Master of Science (degree) and Military Sealift Command (military unit and organization); it can also stand for Mediterranean Shipping Company and Mandatory settlement conference.
Meanings of MSc at a glance
| # | MSc stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Master of Science | Education & Academia › Degree |
| 2 | Military Sealift Command | Military › Military Unit and Organization |
| 3 | Mediterranean Shipping Company | Organizations & Companies › Company and Brand |
| 4 | Mandatory settlement conference | Law & Legal › Litigation |
1. Master of Science
Education & Academia · Degree Abbreviations
Postgraduate science degree in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, India and Europe, usually a one-year taught program in the UK or a two-year research program in Canada. Most continental European universities award it as the second cycle under the Bologna Process.
Example: Her one-year MSc in economics ended with a dissertation written over the summer.
Written M.Sc. in some countries. A UK taught MSc carries 180 credits and lasts about 12 months, much shorter than most American MS programs. In Canada, the MSc is typically a research degree with a thesis, closer to an American thesis MS.
2. Military Sealift Command (MSC)
Military · Military Unit and Organization Abbreviations
Navy command that operates support ships for refueling, resupply, hospital, survey and strategic sealift missions, crewed mostly by civilian mariners. Its ships carry the prefix USNS rather than USS. Headquarters is in Norfolk, Virginia.
Example: An MSC oiler refueled the destroyer at sea during the transit.
MSC is the sealift component of Transportation Command. Its fleet includes the hospital ships USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy, which deploy for disasters and humanitarian missions. Civil service mariners are federal employees, while contract mariners work for private operators.
3. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
Organizations & Companies · Company and Brand Abbreviations
Swiss-Italian container shipping and cruise group, the largest container shipping line in the world by capacity since 2022. Headquartered in Geneva.
Example: Our containers are on an MSC ship due in Rotterdam next week.
Founded in 1970 by Captain Gianluigi Aponte, starting with a single ship. It remains privately owned by the Aponte family. The group also operates MSC Cruises and has expanded into ports, logistics and rail.
4. Mandatory settlement conference (MSC)
Law & Legal · Litigation Abbreviations
Court-ordered settlement conference held shortly before trial, in which a judge or appointed settlement officer meets with the parties and counsel to explore resolution. Parties with full settlement authority are usually required to attend.
Example: The MSC is set for two weeks before trial, and the insurer's adjuster must attend.
Common in California state courts under California Rules of Court, rule 3.1380, which requires settlement conference statements. Federal courts hold similar conferences under Rule 16. Failing to attend with settlement authority can lead to sanctions.
Related abbreviations
More degree abbreviations
- MPS – Master of Professional Studies
- MRes – Master of Research
- MS – Master of Science
- MSBA – Master of Science in Business Analytics
- MSCS – Master of Science in Computer Science
- MSEd – Master of Science in Education
- MSF – Master of Science in Finance
- MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
See all 139 degree abbreviations →
More military unit and organization abbreviations
- MEF – Marine Expeditionary Force
- MEU – Marine Expeditionary Unit
- MLR – Marine Littoral Regiment
- MoD – Ministry of Defence
- NAVAIR – Naval Air Systems Command
- NAVSEA – Naval Sea Systems Command
- NG – National Guard
- NGB – National Guard Bureau
See all 126 military unit and organization abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.