I’m scheduled to write the entrance exam for admission into the MSW (Master of social work) programme of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. How should I prepare for it? Which other reputed colleges offer the MSW programme? 
— Prakash Rele, Pune

The Common Objective Test (Part I) of TISS assesses students’ general knowledge about contemporary social issues, analytical/logical, and verbal reasoning skills while the Programme Test (Part II) is of descriptive type. You could consult books prescribed for competitive examinations such as the Bank Probationary Officers exam, quantitative aptitude and English test books as well, and keep yourself up to date on current affairs. 

Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai, also offers MSW equivalent programmes for which admission tests are held around the time the BA/B.Sc/B.Com results of the University of Mumbai are declared. Delhi University, MS University of Baroda and several other universities also offer the MSW programme.

What are the career prospects of economics postgrads?
— Nalini Desai, Ahmedabad

With a Masters in economics, you are duly qualified for employment in industry and business, consultancies, market research, financial analysis and research, and to teach in institutions of higher education including B-schools. Moreover, there are specialist jobs for economists in commercial banks as also in apex financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, IDBI, NABARD and Sebi among others. 

The Reserve Bank of India also recruits research officers in its department of economic analysis and policy, through a competitive selection process. The Indian Economic Service (IES) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission is also open to postgraduates in economics. Economists are also routinely recruited by international organisations such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the United Nations.

I’m a third year B.Sc (statistics) student interested in pursuing a career in banking. What courses should I sign up for?
— Daisy Irani, Mumbai

The easiest entry route to a banking career is through an MBA or the probationary bank officers’ exam. However, there are other courses such as the postgraduate programme in banking and finance of NIBM (National Institute of Bank Management), Pune, the postgraduate programme in finance of the Centre for Advanced Financial Studies, Mumbai and the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), Chennai.

I am a practising chartered accountant keen on pursuing a Ph D in a commerce-related subject. Am I eligible to enroll for a doctorate programme at an Indian university?
— Dilip Roy, Kolkata

 As a qualified CA, you don’t need to obtain postgraduate credentials to qualify to write a Ph D thesis. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India’s official list of universities/ institutions which recognise the CA qualification as adequate for pursuing a Ph D, includes over 100 Indian universities and the Indian Institutes of Management.

I will complete my BE (IT) degree next year and want to press on for an M.Tech programme at an IIT. Do I need to write GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) to qualify for admission?
— Ashok Iyer, Chennai

Yes. You need to write GATE and submit the scores in your IIT admission application form. The GATE exam is usually advertised in the month of September and is held in February. The exam is tough, so be prepared for a hard grind.

I’m a third year engineering (IT) student interested in animation. I want to enroll in a full-fledged animation course after completing my BE degree. Please advise.
— Ravi D’Souza, Panjim

You could apply for admission into the two-year Master of design (animation) programme of IIT-Bombay. Admission is through a Common Entrance Examination for Design. Postgraduate programmes in design/animation are also offered by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (www.nid.edu). You should be able to secure placement in the animation industry after successfully completing your training in any of these premier institutions. Also keep track of admission notifications of alternative choices, such as the one-year postgraduate diploma in animation and multimedia programmes of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Chandigarh.

I’m keen on signing up for a degree in engineering physics after completing my Plus Two (science). Which colleges in Mumbai offer this discipline?
— Navin Kapoor, Mumbai

Engineering physics is best suited for students with an aptitude for physics and the skill to apply physics theory to technological issues across the formal boundaries of science and engineering. IIT-Bombay offers a B.Tech/M.Tech dual degree in engineering physics. Admission is through the IIT-JEE. The programme covers classical quantum and statistical mechanics, electromagnetic theory, atomic and molecular physics, condensed matter physics, nuclear physics and quantum electronics. 

Check whether a similar study option is offered by the University of Mumbai.