The flow-induced microstructure of a mesophase pitch was studied within custom-made dies for changing wall shear rates from 20 to 1,100 s (-aEuro parts per thousand 1), a flow scenario that is typically encountered during fiber spinning. The apparent viscosity values, measured at the nominal wall shear rates ranging from 500 to 2,500 s (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) using these dies, remain fairly constant. The microstructure was studied in two orthogonal sections: r-theta (cross section) and r-z (longitudinal mid plane). In these dies, the size of the microstructure gradually decreases toward the wall (to as low as a few micrometers), where shear rate is highest. Furthermore, as observed in the r-theta plane of the capillary, for a significant fraction of the cross section, discotic mesophase has a radial orientation. Thus, the directors of disc-like molecules were aligned in the vorticity (theta) direction. As confirmed from the microstructure in the r-z plane, most of the discotic molecules remain nominally in the flow plane. Orientation of the pitch molecules in the shear flow conditions is consistent with that observed in controlled low-shear rheometric experiments reported earlier. Microstructral investigation suggests that the radial orientation of carbon fibers obtained from a mesophase pitch originates during flow of pitch through the die.