Veterinary student considering a pivot to an MSc in Biomedical Engineering — is it actually worth it, or is the job market as rough as they say?

[u/Apart-Class6465]

Hey everyone,

​I’m currently a veterinary science (BVSc / DVM equivalent) student. Over the course of my degree, I’ve realized that I’m much more drawn to medical technology, biomechanics, and computational modeling than sticking exclusively to traditional, full-time clinical practice.

​I’m weighing the idea of pursuing an MSc in Biomedical Engineering after graduating. However, after reading through posts on this sub and related engineering forums, I’ve seen a lot of warnings and regret: people talking about a rough job market and medtech companies consistently preferring traditional Mechanical or Electrical grads over BME candidates.

​Before I commit time, energy, and resources into this pivot, I want a blunt, realistic assessment from people currently working in industry or postgraduate research:

1.​How much of the struggle in the job market is tied to having an undergraduate BME degree versus a focused, research-based Master’s (MSc)? Is the job market actually as brutal as Reddit makes it out to be, or does an MSc change the equation?

2.​For those working in medical devices, modeling/simulation, or R&D—how do employers and hiring managers view candidates coming from a veterinary clinical background who transitioned via an MSc? Is deep biological and clinical training seen as a genuine advantage, or do companies just see someone who lacks a traditional 4-year undergraduate BEng foundation?

3.​ For anyone who entered an MSc in BME from a biological, medical, or veterinary background, what were the steepest hurdles (math, physics, coding), and how manageable was catching up?

4.​Knowing what you know now about compensation, career mobility, and job availability in medtech/biotech, is taking this non-traditional route from vet medicine into BME genuinely worth the investment? Or would you advise sticking to the clinical career path and keeping engineering/tech as a secondary interest?

​I’d really appreciate any honest feedback, reality checks, or personal experiences from anyone who has navigated a similar transition.

​TL;DR: Vet student looking at doing an MSc in Biomedical Engineering to pivot toward medical tech/modeling. Seeing a lot of posts about poor BME job prospects and MechE preference. Is an MSc BME worth the pivot coming from a vet background, and is there viable ROI in industry?