Your Counsellor Replies

After my class XII (science) exam next year I would like to pursue a career as a marine engineer in the merchant navy. Please advise.
Alok Chatterjee, Kolkata

You will have to write and succeed in the IIT-JEE test to apply for the B.Sc (nautical science) study programme of the T.S. Chanakya, Karave, Nerul, Navi Mumbai 400 076 or the marine engineering degree programme of the Marine Engineering and Research Institute, P-19, Taratola Road, Kolkata 700 088. Alternatively you could sign up as a deck cadet in a private shipping company. The latter option is available to students who have completed Plus Two with physics and maths with an average of 60 percent plus. Marine engineering courses are also offered by R.L. Institute of Nautical Science, TVR Nagar, Aruppukottai Road, Madurai 625 022 and Tolani (www.tolani.edu).

Good physical health is essential for careers in nautical science and marine engineering. Defective colour vision and squints are not acceptable in the merchant navy. For nautical science, normal vision in each eye separately (6/6) is essential though wearing of spectacles is not a disqualification. For marine engineering, specs of upto plus or minus 2.5 are okay.

I’m a final year B.Com student and would like to know about institutes offering export-import management study courses in and around Mumbai.
Rohini Patil, Mumbai

Correspondence courses are offered by ICFAI University (www.icfai.org/icpe); Ahmedabad Management Association (e-mail: ama@ad1.vsnl.net.in); Pondicherry University and several other institutes which advertise prominently in national dailies. In Mumbai, part-time courses are offered at the World Trade Institute, Centre 1, 31st floor, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005; Indian Merchants Chamber, Churchgate or Export Trade and Training Institute, Jeejeebhoy Estate, Ram Mandir Road, Goregaon (West), Mumbai 400 104.

Other longer duration courses such as a one-year PG diploma in foreign trade and an 18-month part-time diploma in foreign trade management are offered by University of Pune (www.unipune.emet.in) and the Garware Institute of Career Education and Development, Vidyanagari, Kalina, Santacruz (E), Mumbai 400 098 (www.giced.com) respectively. In addition, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi (www.iift.edu) and Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Pune (www.siib.ac.in) offer two-year full-time diploma programmes in international business management. Make your choice based on your long-term career goals.

I will be completing my B.Com next year. I am interested in a career in banking and/ or insurance. Please advise.
Nikhil Iyer, Chennai

You can write the competitive exam conducted by the Insurance Institute of India (www.insuranceinstituteof india.com). As a graduate you are eligible to apply for the post of insurance advisor, provided you have good communication skills and self-confidence. Public sector insurance companies also recruit graduates as assistant administrative officers through a competitive exam. Moreover you could write the Bank Probationary Officers exam or if you have a first class degree, you could join a commercial bank as an officer trainee. As a first class graduate, you can also apply for Officer Gr. ‘B’ posts in the Reserve Bank of India (www.rbi.org.in). If you press on to pursue an MBA, you will be eligible for opportunities in foreign banks, major private insurance companies etc. The National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM), Kondhure, Khurd, Pune 411 418 (www.nibmindia.org) offers a one-year full time study programme in bank management. Graduates can apply on the basis of their CAT (Common Admission Test) scorecard.

I’m a final year BA student, keen on studying international travel and tourism. Please give me information about reputed institutes which offer this programme. Seema Pillai, Bangalore

Among the institutions offering travel and tourism programmes are the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (ministry of tourism, Govt. of India), Govindpuri, Gwalior 474 011 (www.iittm.org); School of Management Centre for Tourism Studies, Pondicherry University (www.pondiuni.org) and Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), Residency, Thycaud, Thiruva-nanthapuram 695 014 (www.kittstour.org).

KITTS offers a postgrad diploma in business administration (travel and tourism). The admission process comprises a written test, group discussion and interview. If interested, you can write to the director, KITTS at the address above with a demand draft for Rs.200. Download the application form from the KITTS website. You could also apply for the two-year full-time postgrad diploma in tourism and travel offered by the University of Mumbai, Garware Institute of Career Education and Development, Vidyanagari, Kalina, Santacruz (E), Mumbai 400 098.

I’m a Plus Two (science) student, interested in genetic engineering as a career. Please advise.
Francis D’Souza, Panjim

No formal undergrad degree programmes in genetic engineering are offered after class XII. However B.Tech (biotechnology) which includes genetic engineering as a specialisation is offered by some universities. For example the Allahabad Agricultural Institute (deemed university) (www.aadu.org) offers a B.Tech (biotech) with specialisation in genetic engineering/ biochemical technology and industrial microbiology. Likewise the B.Tech (industrial biotechnology) course offered by Anna University, Chennai (www.annauniv.edu) also allows students to specialise in genetic engineering, process development, computer application in bioprocess, design and development of materials and machines in bioprocess. Some of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) also offer B.Tech (biotechnology) programmes.

I’m in my final year B.Com and would like to join the Indian Police Service after graduation. Please give me information on the UPSC exam.
Prakash Chavan, Nasik

The UPSC civil services examination is conducted every year, through which candidates are selected not just for the IPS but also for 25 all-India services including IAS, IFS, IRS etc. The exam notification appears in November in prominent daily newspapers and is open to graduates between 21 and 30 years of age (general category).

The examination is conducted in three stages. Initially, candidates write the preliminary exam, comprising one paper on general studies and a second paper on an optional subject. Knowledge of the optional subject should be of the bachelor’s degree level. After clearing the prelims successfully, you are required to write the conventional main examination. Visit www.upsc.gov.in for the list of optional subjects and other details.