Choose your university wisely

Study Abroad Questions & Answers

Dear Madam,

My son has started his 12th integrated course in Science. He wants to join Aeronautical engineering in the US. He is also a US citizen. What are his options? Is he late for admission next year? Can you provide information about getting a scholarship?

NK

Dear NK,

Your son is not late for admissions for next year. We start the application process in September 2018 for admissions for September 2019. Please ask you son to register for and take SAT, Subject SAT in Math Level 2/ 2C, Physics and one other subject of his choice.

Scholarships are based purely on his marks in Class 10 to 12, and SAT scores. Universities look for students who are not only good in academics but also have an interest in community service, extra-curricular activities and sports.

Dear Madam,

I have completed BE and have been working as a hardware professional for a year now. I am looking to boost my career by doing either an ME or MBA. Which course has the highest scope? Which countries and universities are good to pursue these courses?

Jeeva

Dear Jeeva,

If you want to pursue an MBA, you need to work for three to four years. All other Master’s programmes will accept you with your one year’s work experience. If you want to go to the US, Canada, Singapore or Europe, you need to write the GRE and TOEFL iBT. Your MS programme will be for a duration of two years.

If you want to pursue your Masters in UK, New Zealand or Australia, you have to write the IELTS exam. MA, MSc, MBM, MEM, MET etc are all one-year programmes. If you are hoping to stay back in the country and work for a few years, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and Canada are good options.

Dear Madam,

I have got admission for MSIS in UC Denver and UT Dallas. I am in a dilemma of choosing between the two. Which is better in terms of job opportunities after graduation?

Suhas

Dear Suhas,

Both universities are equally good. While choosing your university, look at scholarship offered by both, tuition fees, location, weather etc. As far as job opportunities go, I personally think you might have more options in Texas.

Dear Madam,

I am a second semester BE student. I am looking to prepare for the GRE exam to do my Master’s in Germany. Which is the best tutorial in Bengaluru that I can approach?

Rahul

Dear Rahul,

Go to www.ets.org for information on GRE and past practice papers. There are online prep courses for GRE. You can practise on Manhattan and Magoosh. Ideally, you should have your GRE scores ready while you are in your final year of BE.

I would recommend you enrol for German classes at the Goethe Institute right away and learn German language. That will work to your advantage both in the job market and with your admissions.

Dear Madam,

I am a third-year Bachelor of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology student. I want to pursue postgraduation in Speech Language Pathology abroad. Which universities are good for the course? I want to continue my career in India. In this scenario, do you suggest that I do the course in India or abroad? Please guide.

A student

Dear Student,

If you are clear that you want to come back to India to work, I would recommend UK universities since their Master’s programmes are all for a duration of one year. You get to save on one year’s living expenses.

Universities in the UK for Speech Language Pathology are University College London, City, University of London, University of Reading, University of Essex, Newcastle University, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester and University of Strathclyde.

In New Zealand, Speech Language Pathology is offered by University of Canterbury in Christchurch. This is a two-year, full-time programme and it includes clinical practice. You could stay back in the country and work for a year or two before coming back to India.

Dear Madam,

I am a Class 10 student interested in pursuing Aeronautical engineering abroad. I want to change my board to IBDP for Class 11 and 12. Will taking IBDP be an added advantage for pursuing Aeronautical engineering abroad? Which universities are good?

Joshua

Dear Joshua,

You can reach your dream university irrespective of the curriculum in your Class 12. A level and IB courses are more demanding and prepare students for independent learning, critical and analytical thinking. Credit transfers are possible for some A level and IB subjects where a student secures high marks. However, universities accept students from all boards including IB, A Levels, ISC, CBSE, NIOS and PUC.

Some of the good schools for Aeronautical engineering in the US are Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Southern California, Purdue, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Virginia Tech, Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University and University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

Dear Madam,

I am a general surgeon. I am interested in pursuing a specialisation in surgical gastroenterology or surgical oncology in UK, Australia, New Zealand or Europe. What would be the steps to pursue the same?

Hemanth

Dear Hemanth,

There are many universities that offer Master’s in Surgical Gastroenterology and Surgical Oncology. In UK, you have Anglia Ruskin University, University of Glasgow, University of Nottingham, University of Birmingham, Queen Mary University of London, University of Liverpool among others.

In Australia, you have University of Sydney, Monash, Melbourne, University of Western Australia and
University of New South Wales. In New Zealand,
University of Auckland
and University of Otago
offer medical specialisations. For more details on
universities, courses, fees etc, visit www.umaaswani.com.

Prof Uma Aswani is an educationist and consultant based in Bengaluru.

Send in your queries to Education, Deccan Herald 75, MG Road, Bengaluru- 560001 or e-mail us at [e-mail] with ‘Study Abroad’
in the subject line.