I’m in my final year B.Sc (statistics) and want to press on for an M.Stats or M.Sc (statistics) programme. What’s the difference between the two programmes and which one offers better career advancement prospects?
Nalini Sawant, Pune
M.Sc (statistics) and m.stats are equivalent courses and both are equally job-oriented. After B.Sc (statistics), you could sign up for an M.Sc in statistics, operations research, quantitative economics or an MBA or LLB programme. You also have the option to write all-India competitive exams or the Probationary Officers exam for recruitment into public sector banks.
I complete my B.Com degree in 2012 and am keen on enroling for an MBA in retail management. Which institutes offer this subject?
Nikhil Patel, Mumbai
Reputed institutes which offer postgrad programmes in retail management include the Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai (www.welingkar.org); K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai (http://simsr. somaiya.edu/SIMSR/); Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai (www.nmims.edu); Asia Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi (www.asiapacific.edu); Birla Institute of Management Technology, New Delhi (www.bimtech.ac.in) and Future Innoversity (http://www.fhdl.in/mba.retail.html).
After completing my B.Sc degree in biochemistry next year, what are my further study options?
Ramesh Narayan, Chennai
You could do an M.Sc in biochemistry followed by a Ph D. But you’ll need to average more than 55 percent in your M.Sc programme to ensure you qualify for an M.Phil/Ph D programme. Job prospects are excellent for qualified biochemistry postgraduates and doctorates.
After completing my bachelor of engineering programme next year, I plan to study in the US, Canada or UK. What exams do I need to write to qualify for universities abroad?
Navin Chawla, New Delhi
Admission applications to universities abroad must be made a few months ahead of the academic year. Most reputed foreign universities require two-three letters of recommend-ation, academic records of the past three-four years, a statement of purpose explaining your future career goals, highlights of achievements, quality and quantity of research projects, intern-ships, work experience (if any), together with IELTS or TOEFL test scores.
American and Canadian universities usually require applicants to complete 16 years of pre-university education. Some postgraduate programmes also require students to submit GRE or GMAT scores. There are plenty of books and other preparatory material available in the market for all tests.
I am a chemical engineering graduate currently working in a government organisation. I want to enrol for a part-time or distance learning programme to improve my career prospects.
Ashok Chatterjee, Kolkata
You could consider enroling in a part-time M.Tech/ME programme offered by a local college. Contact a few reputable colleges for advice. You could also consider a part-time MBA or a distance education MBA from a reputed B-school.
I’m in class XII (commerce) and want to qualify as a chartered accountant (CA) while reading for my bachelor’s degree. Further, will my CA qualifi-cations be of any use if I want to write the IAS exam?
Rita Dias, Panjim
Under the chartered accountancy study system, you can register for the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) while you are in Plus Two and write the CPT after your class XII exam. Once you clear CPT, you can enrol in the CA programme. Re. writing the IAS exam-ination, you become eligible only when you are at least 21 years of age and a graduate. If you complete your B.Com and CA, you would have the advantage of possessing a professional qualifi-cation while you pursue your goal of becoming an IAS officer. You can’t be sure you’ll be selected. The selection process for the IAS is through the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. For more details log on to www.upsc.gov.in.
I want to enrol for a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering in a university abroad. Please advise.
Satish Mehta, Ahmedabad
For a Master’s degree programme in mechanical engineering, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and Georgia Institute of Technology would be ideal choices. You need to submit GRE and TOEFL scores to qualify for admission. Job prospects are good in India, but in the US because of the recession there, it might be difficult to find a good placement.
I’m a postgraduate in arts interested in a teaching career. Which univer-sities in Maharashtra offer the B.Ed programme through correspondence?
Seema Kolhatkar, Nasik
The website of the National Council for Teacher Education (www.ncte-india.org) lists all recognised institutions offering B.Ed and D.Ed courses in India. You can enrol for a B.Ed correspon-dence course only after you graduate from a recognised university and acqu-ire teaching experience of at least two years. You are also eligible to enrol in the B.Ed distance education programme of IGNOU which has a countrywide network of study/exam centres.
I’m keen on acquiring a bachelor’s degree in English literature and psychology in the UK or US. Please advise.
Sridhar Nair, Bangalore
US universities are a better option since students have the advantage of choosing their major after completing two years of a bachelor’s degree programme. You also have the option of pursuing two majors during the same time period irrespective of your academic background. Do a thorough homework of the programmes offered by University of Texas at Austin and University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in the US.
However, if you are keen on the UK, you could consider Kingston Univ-ersity, London for a BA degree in literature and University of Bath for a BA in psychology.