Your Counsellor Replies

Your Counsellor RepliesI‚m a science graduate of Mumbai University with over 21 years of technical experience in a hospital. I‚m interested in pursuing a healthcare management study programme in Mumbai. Please advise.S. D. Rane, MumbaiThere are a number of prestigious institutions across India which offer postgraduate study programmes in health administration. However in Mumbai, only one institution ‚ the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) ‚ offers a two-year Masters programme in hospital and health administration as also a one-year diploma programme in hospital administration. Eligibility requirements include a bachelor‚s degree in any subject with a 45 percent average (35 percent for SC/ST candidates) and a minimum of five years work experience in a healthcare institution. Since you‚re a working professional, perhaps a more suitable option will be the Symbiosis Centre of Health Care, Pune which offers a one-year distance education programme, also available online. Career prospects in the healthcare sector are good with a sharp upswing in the demand for professional health administrators from state-of-the-art hospitals and healthcare institutions springing up countrywide. I‚ll be writing my class XII (science) board exam in 2008. Subsequently I want to write the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance exam as I‚m keen on working in the defence services. What are the eligibility requirements?Ranbir Singh, ChandigarhUnmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 2, 1990 and not later than January 1, 1993 are eligible to write the NDA exam scheduled for August 2008. For the army wing, candidates need to clear class XII. For the air force and naval wings, clearing class XII with physics and maths is mandatory. For further information on the NDA exam, visit www.upsc.gov.in. Although I‚ve graduated in medicine, I‚m interested in pursuing a career in the paramedical or pharma industry. Please suggest some study options.Sunita Venkatraman, BangaloreOne option is a postgraduate course in rehabilitation (visit www.rehabcouncil.nic.in for further information). An MBA or postgrad diploma in pharmaceutical management will prepare you for the drugs and formulations industry while an M.Sc degree in biological sciences will equip you for a research career in the pharma industry. I‚m a class XII student, keen on a career in journalism. Should I pursue a bachelor of mass media degree with specialisation in journalism or should I graduate in arts and then do a Masters in journalism? Please advise. Namrata Kelkar, PuneA social science (arts) undergrad degree before entering journalism training is the better option for aspirant mainstream journalists. Admission into a postgraduate course is based on a written test (language and general awareness knowledge) and personal interview.I‚ll be graduating in commerce next year and wish to enroll in the hotel management (hospitality) degree programme of BHMS, Switzerland. What are my career prospects after graduation? Ashok Roy, KolkataBHMS is an internationally reputed institute. You might also consider applying to the Swiss Hotel Management School which offers an MA in international hospitality management. Opportunities in the hospitality industry are numerous and your chances of landing a highly-paid job are very bright.I‚ll be completing class XII (science)…