After completing my B.Sc degree in 2017, I’m interested in a career in healthcare management. What are the opportunities?
Ashok Ramnath, Chennai
Healthcare management is a very promising career path with a great future. The health sector is experiencing double-digit growth in India and several other emerging economies. For those willing to take the risk, there are ample opportunities to transform into entrepreneurs as well.
Healthcare management covers the entire wellness spectrum unlike hospital management whose scope is limited to managerial functions of a hospital. Several business management education institutes countrywide offer postgraduate diplomas in healthcare management. Freshers can expect a salary of Rs.5 lakh per annum for starters.
I’m in class XII (science) and keen on qualifying as a dietician or nutritionist. Please advise on study options and career prospects.
Nalini Rane, Pune
The boom in the healthcare and wellness industry has prompted rising demand for professional dieticians and nutritionists. To qualify as a dietician, you need a four-year bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics or a three-year science degree followed by a Masters in nutrition and dietetics, including practical training in a hospital. A nutritionist, on the other hand, is a non-accredited title and you can qualify after completing a short course in nutrition or a B.Sc in food, nutrition and dietetics (eligibility: Plus Two with chemistry and biology).
You could also enroll in a postgraduate diploma programme in clinical nutrition and dietetics. Dieticians and nutritionists can work in hospitals, the hotel industry, gyms and health clubs or practice privately.
After completing class X (science), I want to qualify as an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME). What are the eligibility requirements?
Deepak Rao, Bangalore
The DGCA (Director General of Civil Aviation), the licencing authority for all AMEs, requires students to score a minimum 50 percent in Plus Two in the science stream with physics, maths and chemistry. Some institutes offering the AME study programme also conduct an additional entrance exam. The course duration is three years, though some institutes offer a six-month diploma.
However, to give your career a flying start, it’s advisable to enroll in a full-time three-year AME study programme. In the final year, the student has to write an exam conducted by DGCA which awards the all-important licence. The career is rewarding as AMEs are in great demand. Starting salary for an aircraft maintenance engineer is Rs.25,000-40,000 per month with senior professionals paid Rs.70,000-100,000 upwards.
What’s the difference between the bachelor of fine arts (applied arts) and bachelor of design (graphics) study programmes? Which course offers better scope for a career in graphic design?
Reena Shah, Ahmedabad
Either programme is good for graphic design. Some of the top-ranked institutes are the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and National Institute of Fashion Technology which has branches countrywide. Several private institutes also offer graphic design courses.
The growth of digital and social media as also of the fashion industry has boosted the demand for graphic designers. Therefore professionally qualified graphic designers have a good future.
I was awarded my M.Com degree five years ago and I completed an MBA (finance) degree through correspondence. Do I need a B.Ed degree to qualify for teaching in a college/university?
Neela D’Souza, Mumbai
To qualify as a college lecturer, you don’t need the B.Ed qualification but you need to clear your state’s Teacher Eligibility Test or the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by UGC (www.uge.ac.in). A B.Ed degree will qualify you for the position of teacher in senior secondary (Plus Two) school or junior college. www.ncte-in.org lists all recognised institutes offering B.Ed programmes countrywide.
I’m an MBA in finance working full-time. I want to enroll in short-term professional courses in finance. Please provide details of institutes offering such courses.
Ajay Singh, New Delhi
You should concentrate on using your MBA to carve out a career in finance. After some years of work experience, you could sign up for international certifications or enroll in a short-term diploma programme of a prestigious B-school.
I’m in the final year of my B.Sc degree programme and want to sign up for an MCA degree after graduation. Which are the best institutes offering this course?
Dilip Chatterjee, Kolkata
The basic qualification for admission into a Master of computer applications (MCA) programme is a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with maths as a subject until class XII.
Among the well-known higher ed institutions offering MCA programmes are the Mumbai and Pune universities; Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Delhi University; IIT-Roorkee etc. You have to apply separately to these universities. Also be prepared to write entrance tests of each institute/university to which you apply.