I’m a second year B.Com student. Please brief me about entrepreneurship study programmes.
Vikram Swamy, Chennai
The Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Ahmedabad (www.edi india.org) offers a two-year full-time residential postgrad diploma programme. The institute also provides the option of distance education. Alternatively, there’s the one-year postgrad progra-mme in family owned business and entrepreneurship offered by IIM-Indore and the NIIT Imperia Centre for Advanced Learning, both open to graduates with at least a year of work experience. You could also opt for short-term courses such as the six-month certificate in entrepreneurship develop-ment offered by the Stanford Techno-logy Venture Programme, Stanford University, USA in collaboration with the National Entrepreneurship Network of the Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, Pune. And the diploma in entrepreneurship offered by Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.
I’ll be graduating in civil engineering this year. Would you advise me to pursue further studies at the National Institute of Construction Management and Research (NICMAR), Hyderabad, where I’ve secured admission, or should I sign up for a job?
Deepak Rao, Bangalore
NICMAR’s two-year programme in advanced construction manage-ment trains students for techno-management positions in the construction industry. This programme is tailor made for civil engineering graduates and improves their career advancement prospects. Moreover NICMAR, established by the Indian construction industry and recognised by the government of India, is a scientific and industrial research organisation.
I’m presently reading for an MA in history. I wish to press on to acquire a Ph D from an American university. Please advise.
Nilima Seth, Mumbai
Doctoral studies in american universities are conducted in three stages. First, a postgrad needs to complete a preliminary programme comprising seminar and laboratory studies and pass a written examination. Next, the student selects a subject for dissertation, forms a dissertation committee and designs her research. Once the student has developed and presented a research design blueprint acceptable to her advisor and committee, the independent research (third) phase begins.
I’m in class XII. My subjects are physics, chemistry, maths and biology. I want to pursue a career in nutrition and dietetics or genetic engineering. Please advise.
Nandini Mukherjee, Kolkata
If you are interested in making a career in nutrition and dietetics, it’s advisable to enroll in a B.Sc (home science) study programme and specialise in these subjects. For genetics or genetic engineering studies, a B.Sc in biological/life sciences is the starting point, to be followed by a Master’s in related subjects and specialisation in genetics. Alternatively, you could pursue B.Sc/B.Tech (biotechnology) en route to genetic engineering. If you want to keep both options open after B.Sc, then opt for microbiology/biochemistry/life sciences. After completing your bachelor’s degree, you can study for an M.Sc (home science) with specialisation in nutrition and dietetics, or a postgraduate diploma in dietetics or M.Sc with specialisation in genetics.
I’m in second year B.Com and confused whether I should read for an LLB or MBA after graduation. Which of the two offers better career prospects?
Nalini D’Souza, Panjim
Both law and business management offer good employment prospects. Your choice should be based on your understanding of how closely you can identify yourself with the demands of either profession. Study of law offers the option of private practice, entry into the corporate sector or a law firm, working in government, defence etc. A B-school diploma offers entry into industry and the corporate sector as also into consulting, research etc. Moreover LLB is a three-year study programme while an MBA can be acquired within two years.
What are the eligibility requirements for securing admission into a B.Tech (biotechnology) study programme?
Ashok Kelkar, Pune
For admission into a be (biotech- nology) study programme, you’ll have to write an entrance test. The eligibility for admission is a minimum of 50 percent in Plus Two or equivalent exam with physics, chemistry, maths and biology. First you need to shortlist preferred institutions and then find out specifics of their selection pattern. In the case of the IITs, you’ll need to write the IIT-JEE entrance exam.
Currently I’m in class XII (science). What are the eligibility requirements for admission into computer engineering programmes offered by reputed institutions? Do I have to write an entrance test apart from GATE?
Sanjeev Rane, Mumbai
Computer engineering is offered as a four-year bachelor’s degree course in engineering/technology colleges. Admission into a reputed engineering college requires excellent grades in the relevant entrance examination. For admission into engineering colleges in Maharashtra, you must write the MHT-CET conducted by the state government’s directorate of technical education. A computer engineering degree offers good career prospects, both in the hardware as well as software sectors. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) scores are required for postgraduate admission, particularly in prominent engineering institutions such as the IITs, NITs, and Indian Institute of Science.
I’m a third year BE (electronics engineering) student. I want to do my postgrad study abroad. Should I opt for an MBA or MS?
Nikhil Iyer, Bangalore
Most reputed B-schools abroad require at least two-three years work experience after graduation. It’s only in India that you can sign up for an MBA programme without work experience. So if you are very particular about doing postgrad studies abroad right away, the best option is to enroll for a Masters programme in engineering.