Master’s in computers from Ireland

Pervin Malhotra
email your queries to [email protected]

Q.I’ve got admission to University College Dublin for pursuing master’s in computer science in Ireland. Is it a good option?— jaspreet ahluwalia

A.Yes, this college is certainly one of the best places to pursue computer science in Ireland. Moreover, the ‘stay-back option’ for master’s and PhD students has been doubled from one to two years by the Government of Ireland.

This makes it easier for Indian students who’ve graduated in Ireland to seek employment there. The new scheme is applicable to students from non-European Union/European Economic Area at level 9 and above of the National Framework of Qualifications.  

PhD in neuro science

Q. I’m a final-year student of BTech (engineering physics). However, I ‘ve developed a keen interest in neuroscience and would like to pursue a research-oriented career in this field. Please suggest how I should proceed. — Pawan Thakkar

A.In that case, I would advise you to take the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) which is a common exam for admission to PhD/Integrated PhD Programmes in Physics /Theoretical Computer Science/ Neuroscience or Computational Biology at any of the 30 leading participating institutes.

A common exam is conducted both for Ph D. and integrated PhD. programmes. You can take the JEST exam in either physics or Theoretical Computer Science but not in both. While the score is only valid for a year, there’s no age limit for taking the JEST, nor is there any restriction on the number of attempts you can take, although the JEST score is valid for one year only.

The question paper is based on the general syllabi of bachelor’s and post-graduate level courses offered by Indian universities & institutions.  Some questions from previous year's exams are available on the JEST website: www.jest.org.in

However, as qualifications for admission to PhD & Integrated PhD programmes in various participating institutes differ, do check out the specific eligibility requirements on the JEST website.

Incidentally, the National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Gurgaon, is the only institution that currently offers a PhD. in Neuroscience. The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc) Chennai offers a PhD in Computational Biology. The JEST will enable students like you who possess a Physics background to pursue research in Neuroscience or Computational Biology. Hence, you’ll have to take the PHYSICS JEST exam. Do visit the NBRC webpage or the IMSc webpage for more information. If you’re ready to take the JEST on February: 18, 2018 (35 centres), you’ll have to hurry and apply before 16 December 2017. Do give it a serious shot!

Work options for economics grads 

Q.What are the various work options for economics students? What would I do in a government or corporate job? Any other kind of jobs there might be? — Charu Rathod

A.There are various work options in the government sector, corporate sector, and beyond.

In the government sector, there’s the Indian Economic Service (IES) where you can start with working for the Planning Commission or the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). You would be assisting in various policy decisions through research, by analyzing data and coming up with trends. As an IES officer, you can work across 25-30 ministries. In the corporate sector, you could be hired as an economist or pursue roles in investment banking, consulting, marketing, etc.

That said, tere are various kinds of jobs in economics beyond the usual corporate and government ones.

In a research role, you could help the government in its research on the economy or help a business with its research on the capital market. You could of course do research work as an academician, to advance the boundaries of economics as a subject.

Even banks could hire you as a researcher where you’d be looking at data across economies and making projections on numbers like GDP growth, inflation, fiscal deficits, etc. You could also be looking at the micro level that would be the markets, involved in projecting where stocks and bonds, or currencies are headed.

As you must’ve gathered by now, economics is a truly vast field. It’s up to your inclinations and strengths on the type of job you’ll love. Keep exploring the various avenues based on your strengths and interest.