What are my job prospects after I complete M.Sc in biotechnology next year? Please also suggest a few job-oriented part-time courses I can sign up for after postgraduation.
Shekhar Iyer, Chennai

Job opportunities are excellent for biotech postgrads in chemical and pharmaceutical companies. If you wish to study further, a course in clinical research is a good option because institutions offering clinical research provide campus recruitment services. 

After graduating in mechanical engineering next year, I want to pursue postgraduate studies in the US. Will I get admission in a reputed US university with a 55 percent average? 
Ashok Kelkar, Pune

Admission into American universities is primarily determined by a student’s academic success. In addition you need to submit good GRE and TOEFL exam scores. Based on your academic profile, I suggest you check out the Masters programmes offered by Northeastern, San Jose State, and South Florida universities; University of Massachusetts at Lowel, Drexel, and George Mason University.

After completing my BA in 2014, I want to sign up for a postgraduate degree programme or diploma in population studies. Please enlighten me about the courses and prospects in this field.
Renuka Swamy, Bangalore

Specialisation in population studies offers work opportunities in international aid agencies such as USAID, Population Council, Ford Foundation, UNFPA, CARE etc. Central government-run organisations such as the Census Office, Registrar General and Census Commission and the Union ministry of family welfare also employ population specialists as do some NGOs and professional bodies such as the Indian Association of Population Studies.

A Masters degree programme in population studies is offered by the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Deonar, Mumbai. A sui generis institution worldwide, IIPS is a deemed university solely focused on the study of demographics. Its Masters in population studies (MA/M.Sc) is also available through distance learning (two-four years). You also have the choice of several other courses offered by IIPS or an M.Phil in population science at JNU, Delhi. 

I’m in my final year B.Com (banking and insurance). I want to press on for an LLB degree programme and a company secretary course simultaneously. Alternatively, should I enroll in an MBA degree programme? Please advise.
Nirmala Puri, New Delhi

An LLB programme exposes you to all legal specialisation subjects. Company secretary is a specialisation of corporate law. You can read for both simultaneously and opportunities are excellent in both these careers. As for an MBA degree, it’s inadvisable if you are interested in law, banking and insurance.

I’m keen on pursuing undergraduate studies in biotechnology in the UK after I complete my Plus Two (science) next year. Will I need to write the GRE or TOEFL exams to qualify?
Sumit Advani, Mumbai

GRE is a requirement of most universities in the US for admission applications for Masters programmes. For admission into an under-graduate degree programme in the UK, you are required to write only the TOEFL exam. You should aim for a distinction in Plus Two to secure admission into top-ranked British universities. The universities of West-minster and Nottingham offer bachelor degrees in biotechnology.

What study options are available in design at the postgraduate level?
Shekhar Desai, Ahmedabad

At the postgraduate level, apart from fashion design, there are two main streams — visual communication and industrial design. In industrial design, specialisations offered are product, automobile and transportation, furniture and interior design. Engineering and architecture graduates are best suited for these specialised programmes. In communication design,  specialisations offered are graphics, film and video animation, photography, new media, software interface, and IT integrated design.

Graduates are eligible for admission into postgraduate degree programmes in graphics, film and video, animation, toys and games, new media and retail design. Among the best institutions offering Masters degrees in design are the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad; the Industrial Design Centres of IITs; MIT Institute of Design, Pune; Srishti School of Design, Bangalore; DJ Academy, Coimbatore; Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune; and Department of Industrial Design, School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi. All these schools conduct stringent entrance examinations covering written tests, and studio tests, interviews with portfolio presentation.

After completing my bachelor’s degree in economics in 2014, I want to sign up for a Masters in financial economics. Which universities abroad offer this specialisation?
Sudhir Ghosh, Kolkata

Postgraduate degree programmes in financial economics are offered by University of Warwick (M.Sc in finance and economics); University of Manchester and City University (M.Sc in financial economics) in the UK, and Bond and Monash universities in Australia. Finance and economics postgrads have excellent job opportunities. However, job prospects are better if you graduate from a well-known university. Corporates in India value students with international qualifications and often give employment preference to them.

I’m quite enamoured with the bartending profession. I will be completing my hotel management course soon and want to know about career prospects as a bartender.
Gerald D’Souza, Mumbai

Bartending is a glamorous career, but requires a lot of hard work. For a beginner, a certificate course in bartending is ideal. With hotels and restaurants mushrooming, job opportunities are aplenty. For starters, a bartender can earn upto Rs.15,000-20,000 per month initially, but in a couple of years salaries can go up to Rs.50,000-80,000 per month.