After completing my five-year bachelors degree in law, I want to pursue a Masters in law as well as an MBA. Can I study for both qualifications simultaneously? Also, will a Ph D enhance my career prospects? Nalini Rajan, Bangalore Generally it is impermissible to read for two Masters programmes simultaneously. However, check with the university you are applying to if this is permissible. If keen on a career in research, a Ph D is very useful. I’ve just completed Plus Two and want to study for a B.Com degree simultaneously with a diploma programme in banking. Anil Desai, Ahmedabad Most banking diploma courses are offered only to graduates, so first complete your B.Com degree programme. As a graduate (any discipline), you become eligible for the position of a trainee officer in private banks. You also become eligible for entry into public sector banks by writing the Probationary Officers Examination. A better option is to sign up for an MBA degree/diploma programme. I’m interested in a career in sports management. Which universities in India offer it as a study subject? Sukhwinder Singh, Delhi Sports management is quickly becoming a popular career option. Currently, individuals with diverse qualifications — MBAs, marketing professionals, business managers, sportspersons, etc — are involved in sports management. The Naval Tata Centre of Excellence in Sports Management, Mumbai; IISWBM, Kolkata (www.iiswbm.edu); Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, Chennai (www.tnpesu.org); Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education, Gwalior (www.lnupe.gov.in) and International Institute of Sports Management, Jai Hind College, Mumbai (www.iismworld.com) are among several institutions countrywide offering postgraduate programmes in sports management. I’ve completed my B.Tech degree from an IIT and am currently working in the field of corrosion and metallurgy. I want to sign up for a postgrad degree programme in corrosion or metallurgical engineering preferably part-time or via distance learning. What are my options? Suresh Iyer, Chennai IIT-Mumbai and the Tata Institute of Social Science offer study programmes in corrosion science, metallurgical engineering, materials science and process metallurgy. The National Institutes of Technology at Durgapur and Jamshedpur also offer these programmes while MIT, Pune offers a postgraduate diploma in piping design and engineering. You should contact these institutes to check for distance learning programmes as no institution of repute offers correspondence courses in these hands-on learning subjects. I‘m a second year student of computer science engineering and want to apply for a Masters degree in the US. However in Plus Two, my average was a mere 58 percent. Will a top-ranked US university accept my admission application considering my low class XII academic scores? Suresh Patil, Pune Admission into most top-ranked US universities is competitive and academic grades are primary criteria for selection. However, while a low class XII score is a setback, you could make up for it by topping your engineering class, getting involved in research or applied research and signing up for internships during vacations. You need to follow all this up with high GRE and TOEFL scores. American universities weigh students academic records…
