I’m in my final year BA degree programme and am interested in acting. Please give me information about FTII (Film & Television Institute of India), Pune. — Sarla Patil, Mumbai
The Film & Television Institute of India, Pune offers a two-year postgraduate diploma in acting. Admissions are open to graduates through a FTII entrance examination followed by personal interview. The National School of Drama, New Delhi also offers a three-year full-time diploma course for graduates intending to make theatre their profession.
Alternatively you could consider short-term courses provided by numerous local drama schools. The Center for Research in Art of Film and Television (CRAFT), Rohini, Delhi offers a full-time six-month course in acting and modeling. Veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares, Mumbai also offers three-month full-time courses.
I’d like to qualify as an aeronautical engineer. Please advise. — John Revello, Panjim
An aeronautical engineer designs, develops and tests aircraft, space vehicles and missiles by applying engineering principles and techniques. An aerospace engineer designs, develops, tests and helps produce commercial and military aircraft, missiles and spacecraft. It’s a specialised branch of engineering where only the best students are accepted. Employment is usually with research and development organisations, universities, defence services and other manufacturing industries.
The Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh admits students in its BE programme through a common entrance test conducted by Punjab University. Anna University, Chennai offers a B.Tech (three years) programme in aeronautics to B.Sc degree holders. The IITs (Bombay, Kanpur, Kharagpur and Madras) offer four-year B.Tech programmes as well as a five-year integrated M.Tech (excluding Kanpur) in aerospace engineering.
I’m interested in a career in archaeology and heritage management after acquiring a BA degree in history. Which institutes offer these programmes and what’s the scope in this career? — Nalini Patel, Mumbai
The University of Mumbai offers a bachelor’s degree in heritage management but that’s not advisable because you will already be a history graduate. For a career in archaeology, you should pursue a Master’s degree in the subject. If you are interested in heritage management, consider a two-year Master’s in archaeology and heritage management or the two-year conservation, preservation and heritage management programme offered by the Delhi Institute of Heritage Research and Management. Graduates in any of the humanities or sciences are eligible for admission.
While there is scope for jobs as heritage experts in India with so many heritage monuments to be taken care of, there are no assured placements. However, one could look for viable work options in research, writing, activism or publishing.
I’m a BE (electronics) graduate and would like to do a Ph D in astrophysics. How do I go about it and what are the job prospects for an astrophysicist? — Narendra Rao, Bangalore
Astrophysics is the study of the physical nature of stars, galaxies and the universe. Astronomers/astrophysicists find work in defence and space research organisations, with electrical and electronic equipment and search and navigation equipment manufacturers etc. They also tend to be employed by universities and large research and development laboratories and observatories.
Admission into a Ph D programme in astrophysics requires a consistently good academic record. You also have to take the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST). Doctorate programmes in astrophysics are offered by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore; National Centre for Radio Astrophysics of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (NCRA-TIFR) Pune; Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore and Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. Graduates with BE or B.Tech degrees are also admitted by IIA, NCRA and RRI.
Please provide information about the UPSC examination. I’m writing my final B.Com examination shortly. — Neelam Sethi, New Delhi
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts a number of competitive examinations for entry into several all-India services. The typical examinations it conducts include the Civil Services Examination, Indian Economic Service Examination, Indian Forest Service Examination, Combined Medical Services Examination, Geologists’ Examination, Combined Defence Services Examination, all of which are open to graduates/postgraduates in various disciplines. UPSC also conducts the National Defence Academy Examination for admission of higher secondary school leavers into the National Defence Academy and the Special Class Railway Apprentices Examination to select students who have completed Plus Two with PCM/allied combinations, for a four-year training programme to enter the mechanical department of Indian Railways as Class I officers.
Eligibility criteria in terms of educational qualifications and age limit vary depending upon the service you prefer. These examinations are usually conducted every year against the existing/projected vacancies. For more information on UPSC exams log on to www.upsc.gov.in.