I’m a second year BA student interested in a career in photography. Which colleges in India offer study courses in photography? Is it necessary to enroll in a study programme abroad?
Ravi Narayan, Chennai
It’s not necessary to go abroad to qualify as a photographer. You could qualify right here in India, starting with short-term courses, attending work-shops by well-known photographers, and reading up on photography and practising your skills.
After graduation you can take up freelance photography assignments or work in a studio. In most Indian cities, short-term photography courses are offered by the Photographic Council or by local art colleges or design institutions. However the best option is to apprentice with an established photographer.
I’m in third year B.Com. Which institutions offer an MBA/ diploma in entrepreneurship?
Shailesh Patel, Ahmedabad
The Institute of Management, Nirma University of Science and Technology, right there in Ahmedabad (www.imnu.ac.in) offers an MBA in family business and entrepreneurship. Likewise the NMIMS School of Business Management, NMIMS University, Mumbai (www.nmims.edu) also offers a two-year PGDBM (family business) programme, as does the Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (www.mica-india.net or www.mica-edc.org), which offers a postgrad programme in communications management and entrepreneurship with specialisation in family business leadership. The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad (www.ediindia.org) also offers a variety of study programmes in entrepreneurship.
For more options visit http://www.sisimumbai.com/msmedi/othersmes.html — the website of MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) Development Institute.
I’m in Plus Two (science) and want to study aeronautical engineering. Which colleges offer this course and what are my job prospects after graduation?
Naresh Rao, Bangalore
A small number of colleges in India offer aeronautical engineering study programmes. They include Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh (www.pec.ac.in); Anna University, Chennai (www.annauniv.edu); Jawa-harlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (www.jntu.ac.in); Sardar Vallabhai Patel Institute of Technology, Valsad (http://www.svitvasad.ac.in/default.asp); Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai (www.hindustanuniv.com) and Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Secunderabad 500011. Job prospects are good for aeronautical engineers in research, design, development, testing, component manufacture and product assembly, technical sales, installation and commissioning operations and maintenance, etc.
However if you are unable to get admission into an aeronautical engineering study programme, you could study mechanical engineering and then acquire hands-on work experience in an aerospace company/organisation.
I’m keen on pursuing research in astrophysics after I graduate next year. Please advise.
Subhash Kerkar, Pune
Among the institutes offering doctoral research opportunities (Ph D) in the field of astrophysics are the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore; Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore and Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore. However, before you apply to any of these institutions you must first complete an M.Sc degree programme.
I’m in the final year of my bachelor of engineering programme. I want to enroll for a short-term diploma course in automobile design. Please advise.
Nitin Desai, Mumbai
MAEER, MIT’s Institute of Design, Pune (www.mitid.edu.in) offers a postgraduate programme in transportation design. The National Institute of Design, Pune offers a postgraduate diploma programme in transportation and automobile design to B.Tech/BE graduates in automobile/mechanical/mechatronics/architecture/product design. Career prospects for automobile designers are excellent with the automobile industry recording spectacular growth.
Please provide details of institutes offering M.Tech degrees in food technology and their admission eligibility criteria.
Nisha Puri, New Delhi
The Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore is the most well-reputed institute offering postgrad certification in food technology. B.Sc graduates with chemistry/biochemistry as one of the subjects or agriculture/engineering/technology with maths at the Plus Two or degree level are eligible to apply. Also check out the postgraduate food technology programmes offered by some agricultural universities. Visit www.icar.org.in for more details.
Please suggest reputed universities offering MA economics and their eligibility criteria. Also, apart from MBA or CFA, are there any courses in finance I can pursue in India?
Neena Gupta, Lucknow
Among the most well-reputed institutions offering Masters programmes in economics are the Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University (www.econdse.org); Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (www.jnu.ac.in); Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai (www.igidr.ac.in); Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune (www.gipe.ernet.in); Madras School of Economics (MSE), Chennai (www.annauniv.edu/pg or www.mse.ac.in) and Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata (www.isical.ac.in/-deanweb). Admission is usually based on an entrance test.
An MS (finance) degree is offered by ICFAI University in India and some universities also offer finance-related programmes. However, for better career prospects it’s advisable to enroll for an MBA in finance at a reputed B-school or in the banking and finance postgrad programme offered by the National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM), Pune (www.nibmindia.org).