After completing my bachelor in management science degree next year, I want to qualify for entry into a people-oriented career such as counselor in a hospital, or psychologist. Please advise.
Shirin Mistry, Mumbai
A postgraduate programme in social work (MA social work) will help you become a counselor in the health sector. Alternatively, you could opt for a postgraduate programme in human resource management (HRM). Study programmes in social work and HRM are offered by several universities/institutions including University of Mumbai and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
Please provide information on special education programmes offered by education institutes in Singapore.
Colleen Fernandes, Panjim
The NGEE Ann Polytechnic in Singapore offers an advanced diploma in early childhood intervention (special needs), while the Modern Montessori Training Centre offers a diploma in Montessori education.
I’m in class XII (science) and wish to qualify as an aeronautical engineer. Please suggest some reputed colleges which offer this study programme.
Bhaskar Rao, Bangalore
Some well-known colleges offering aeronautical engineering degree programmes include Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh (www.pec.ac.in); Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (www.jntu.ac.in); Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Secunderabad 500 011; Sardar Patel Institute of Technology, Valsad (affiliated to Gujarat University); and Hindustan College of Engineering, Chennai 603103.
I’ve been working for the past 15 years after completing a four-year diploma in production technology post class X. I want to sign up for a degree course in management. To qualify, do I have to write the class XII exam?
Nalini Patil, Pune
There’s no need for you to complete class XII before enroling in a bachelor’s degree programme. You can apply directly for admission into bachelor degree programmes offered by open universities such as IGNOU or Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (www.ycmou.com) after completing a preparatory programme. Keep track of admission notifications which appear in newspapers. You could also check with the Institute of Distance Education (www.mu.ac.in), Mumbai on eligibility criteria for admission into its B.Sc (IT) and allied programmes.
I’ll be graduating with a science degree in 2010. Which colleges in India offer an MBA in aviation?
Nikhil Iyengar, Chennai
MBA in aviation is offered by a few institutions in India. They include Hindustan University, Chennai (www.hindustanuniv.ac.in); University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (www.upes.ac.in); Noorul Islam University, Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, Kumaracoil Thuckalay (www.niceindia.com). You could also consider signing up for an MBA in marketing or finance, and still find employment in the aviation industry.
I’m in third year BA and want to become a teacher. Do I have to write the CET exam for admission into a B.Ed programme? Which are the top-ranked institutes offering Montessori training?
Meena Desai, Ahmedabad
In general, CET or an admission test is the most common route for admission into B.Ed colleges. Montessori training centres are listed on http://www.montessoriindia.org/training.htm. Also explore options offered by the Indian Montessori Centre (http://indianmontessoricentre. org/tsep.0942/inc_det.php). A diploma course in early childhood care and education is a good alternative.
I’m interested in enroling in a postgraduate course in geographical information systems (GIS) after completing my MCA (Master of computer applications) degree next year. Please advise.
Uday Karnik, Pune
After completing MCA, you are eligible to sign up for a postgrad degree in geoinformatics offered by the University of Pune (www.unipune. ernet.in) and Symbiosis Institute of geoinformatics (SIG), Pune (www. sigpune.com) or a postgraduate diploma in Geoinformatics offered by CDAC, Pune (http://acts.cdac.in/actsonline/website/html_asp/homepg/dgbro.asp).
After completing my B.Com next year I wish to pursue a career in international relations leading to jobs in politics and the diplomatic service. Should I do an MA in international relations in India or abroad, and top it up with a Ph D degree?
Dipanita Khanna, New Delhi
Entry into the Indian Foreign Service is possible only through the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Services Commission. A degree in international relations is not directly linked to a career in the diplomatic services or politics. The few universities in India which offer a Masters in international relations mandate tough eligibility criteria, and require students to have sufficient knowledge of political science as a subject. Applying for an MA degree abroad requires you to have some work experience in the field. Admission into Ph D is considered only after you complete a postgrad degree and acquire some work experience.
I’m a B.Tech graduate very keen on a career in animation. Should I pursue a Master’s degree in animation design at the IITs or would an animation diploma course from a private institute such as ZICA or Arena Multimedia do?
Abhijeet Singh, Mumbai
You can enrol in specialised courses in animation offered by several private institutes such as ZICA (www.zica.org); International College of Animation Arts and Technology (www.icaat.net); Toonz Animation Academy (www.toonzaca demy.com); Whistling Woods Institute of Films, Television, Animation and Media Arts, Mumbai; Arena; Maya and Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Gandhi-nagar. Admission into IIT-Bombay is very competitive.