I have been accepted by two Scottish universities but am confused about which one to opt for. I can either do an MSc in international finance and economic policy at Glasgow University or study economic management and policy (MSc) at Strathclyde University. Which course will improve my job prospects? Kindly advise.

Dhanjit Thakur
Dibrugarh, Assam

Glasgow University is one of the top 50 European universities. It also features in the list of best universities in the world (within the rank bracket of 101 to 152), according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2006, done by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. Strathclyde University, on the other hand, does not even make it to the top 100 European universities. So, if you would like to focus on quality of education, quality of faculty, research output and size of the institution (parameters on which SJTU ranks universities), you should opt for Glasgow University. Again, from the course content, the course offered by Glasgow University seems to be broader in areas covered and also gives an option of choosing two papers ranging from banking and finance to economy.

Recently, the economics department of Glasgow tried to document what its students do after graduation. It found that people find employment with good companies in their country of origin as well as in other countries. Given the booming economy in South Asia, you have a good chance of landing a job in India if you wish to return. Scotland also offers a special opportunity to international students called a Fresh Talent Scheme under which students can apply for a 24-month extension of their visa in order to find work in Scotland.

I am a final year student of physics (honours) at Calcutta University. I would like to do my MTech in electronics from Germany. Will I be eligible for it? Will that degree be treated as equivalent to an MTech from any Indian or foreign (US or UK) university?

Aniruddha Dey
Calcutta

You normally require a bachelors degree in engineering (related specialisations only), physics or a related subject and a good TOEFL or IELTS score for admission to a masters course in electronics or a related field. Some universities also require a few years of professional experience.

Many universities admit students who have a bachelors degree in a course of study of six semesters plus one semester of additional qualification. The Fachhochschule Südwestfalen follows this model and one can do the extra semester at the university before entering the masters level. Some universities require a bachelors score that is equivalent to the German grade, Gesamtnote Gut.

The degree from a German university will be considered equivalent to such degrees offered by the universities in India, the US, or the UK. However, whether the degree will be treated at par with degrees from the UK or the US depends upon the standing of the university, which will award the degree.

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