Microstructure optical fibres (MOFs) have attracted significant interest because of their unusual optical properties. Therefore MOFs are expected to be integrated within existing optical fibre transmission systems. In this paper, we report on experimental and numerical techniques involved in characterizing the coupling losses of standard single mode fibre (SMF) and MOF. The theoretical results using finite difference full vector beam propagation method (FD-VBPM) are given as a function of the MOF's geometrical parameters and wave properties. In order to compare simulation results and experiment, a simple and reliable setup has been developed in order to study MOFs coupling with SMF using an arc electric splicer. Results show that losses caused by a mode mismatch are particularly sensitive to MOF's characteristics and propagation properties.