I’m in second year B.Sc (microbiology) and interested in a career in virology. Which institutes offer this study programme and what are my career prospects?
Sridhar Raghavan, Chennai
M.Sc degree programmes in virology are offered by the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh (http://pgimer.nic.in); Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati (www.svuniv-ersity.in); National Institute of Virology, Pune (http:icmr.nic.in/pininstitute/niv.htm) and University of Pune (www.unipune.ernet.in). You can also pursue research or further studies in virology after postgraduation in microbiology.
Qualified virologists work in academic, industrial and government research institutes or health agencies (developing new drugs or vaccines). They investigate disease outbreaks and are employed in government health departments. Virologists can also be employed as teachers in colleges/ universities or the World Health Organisation. In addition, virologists can use their knowledge to pursue careers as science writers or reporters, in business administration, or law especially involving the pharmaceutical industry.
After graduating in the liberal arts next year I want to enrol for a postgraduate degree in mass communication. I’m keen on working in corporate communications. Please advise.
Radhika Nair, Bangalore
Corporate communications is a dynamic field with a variety of challenging and interesting career paths including media relations, events planning, public relations, accounts management and internal communi-cations. You should also consider acquiring an MBA in communications management or advertising and communications management for direct recruitment through campus placement.
Please provide information on institutions offering postgrad programmes in logistics and supply chain management. I’m currently in my second year B.Com.
Nalini Gupta, Mumbai
Among the reputed institutions offering this study programme are AMET University (www.ametunivac.in) which offers an MBA in shipping and logistics management; Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata (www.iiswbm. edu) which offers a postgrad diploma in public systems management with specialisation in transportation and logistics management. The Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Pune (www.siib.ac.in) offers a postgrad diploma in international business management with specialisation in supply chain management, and the University of Petroleum & Energy Studies (www.upes.ac.in) offers an MBA degree in logistics and supply management.
Keep track of admission notifications in local dailies for leads on other institutions. Prospects are good in this career especially if you graduate from a reputed B-school/institution.
After completing M.Com with specialisation in marketing, what are my job prospects?
Avinash Sood, New Delhi
You should apply for marketing jobs across all industries including banking, insurance, retail, fast moving consumer goods etc. Though you may not be able to get the openings usually offered to MBA graduates from reputed business schools, you could be employed in organisations where you can learn on-the-job and improve your career prospects. Further education could be in marketing management either as a part-time student after two-three years of work experience, or in the full-time programme of a reputed business school.
I want to pursue a Ph D programme. Please advise.
Swati Ganguly, Kolkata
Ph d programmes are offered by most universities. Students are expected to write a substantial thesis based on original research. The thesis is usually related to your postgrad subject. Some universities admit students into a Ph D programme based on performance in their Master’s degree while others require them to complete a one-year M.Phil degree course. A pre-doctoral programme such as M.Phil can either be completely research-based or could include course work as well. When you investigate Ph D options in a particular university, inquire whether there are suitably qualified guides in your chosen subject.
I’m in class XII and want to qualify as a sound engineer. Which institutions offer study programmes, and what are their admission requirements?
Suresh Rao, Bangalore
Audio/sound engineering is a component subject of audio sciences which focuses on the recording and reproduction of sound through mechanical and electronic media. It draws on several disciplines, including electrical engineering, acoustics, psychoacoustics and music. Sound engineers in recording studios use sophisticated electronic equipment to record sound for music videos, radio, TV, film and commercials, corporate videos, websites, computer games and other types of interactive media.
The Film & Television Institute of India, Pune (www.ftiindia.org); Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata (www.srfti.gov.in); Whistling Woods International Institute of Film, Television, Animation & Media Arts, Mumbai (www.whistlingwoods.net); L.V. Prasad Film & TV Academy, Chennai (www.prasadacademy.com) are some of the well-known institutes offering audio engineering or sound recording/ engineering study programmes.
I want to study in the US after my graduation. Do I need to write the GRE and TOEFL exams?
Leena Mehta, Ahmedabad
When you apply for postgraduate study programmes in US univer-sities, you should have completed at least four years of undergraduate study in India. So if you have done a three-year bachelor’s degree, you must complete at least one year of a Master’s degree before applying for admission. Good GRE (Graduate Record Exam-ination) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test scores are needed for admission into most Masters programmes in the US. For further information visit www.ets.org.