Calcutta University M.Sc Review By Priyabrata Singh

The emphasis on lab skills as well as research is laudable in the M.Sc. Botany program at the University of Calcutta. The placement scenario is quite good as there are TCS, Wipro, Biocon, Pfizer, etc. who are ready to offer lucrative packages. The tuition fees are nominal, other than that there are merit-based scholarships for students. There are active cultural festivals, a variety of sports and a number of laboratories, but the arts’ life at the campus is quite average. The process of admission is not too complicated, there are entrance examinations for students who are not from CU. Faculty are nice and available, and the number of students correlates with this allowing personalized education. In summary, the university can be placed as best suited for candidates targeting research or academics stream and not suitable for candidates targeting active campus social life or industry interactions.

The reason for this is that the M.Sc. Botany program at the University of Calcutta seems to be an attractive area for study and a specialization since this academic center has a distinct focus on development of conceptual understanding of biological processes, laboratory skills as well as analytical skills that are very crucial in the field of research. This course builds up a firm base for further studies however I think there could be more of a focus on soft skills like communication and working in teams. According to eligibility criteria this requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Botany with a good percentage. Hence, CU students get admission through this method in their courses. On the other hand non CU students have to sit for the entrance examination. There are four semesters in the program; internal examinations are taken as well as final examinations at the end of each semester. The amount paid in both first and second years is cheap with 7,500 INR paid the first year then 4,000 INR on later semesters, also merit scholarships are given with maximum of 60,000 INR. The program was reasonably affordable, research opportunities were abundant and the academic rating of the university was great, that is the main reason I enrolled at the University and was able to perceive the Ph.D program in the future.

The average student-faculty ratio is approximately 2:25, which helps to maintain a reasonable level of individual attention. Faculty members are usually quite approachable, particularly students who display genuine interest in their subjects. KA sir in our Botany Department is popular among students for his teaching style and dedication to lecture. The faculty is highly knowledgeable and many professors holding Ph.D with great contributions in their respective fields.

In our hostel we eat meal two times a day and it’s given to us. The process of filing hostel registration application is really long process that we start from secretary office in technology campus, then continue in raja bazaar campus and finally in college street campus. But first and foremost, you have to live inside the margin radius of your given location to the campus, also in our case, 60km from the college campus to your home location. But even if you don’t get college hostel its ok, there is a big PG close to us in Salt Lake – near to outside our college campus.

The infrastructure of the University of Calcutta is of the mixture of the traditional and the modern architecture. This is so, but the idea is that most academic buildings are filled with basic teaching tools such as projectors and white boards and each department has their own library with good materials. Labs also support research, which are modern in the departments of science especially in the department of Botany and Biotechnology. Facilities provided on campus are outdoor sports facilities and hostels with some accommodation. The student union is active in extracurricular activities and there is program in cultural events. The internet is available in the institute but the Internet speed is very irregular. All the lecture halls may have at least very essential teaching equipment, for instance a projector, a whiteboard. Labs are well equipped and modern, readily available, productive, and have highly professional staffs.

My Campus life is a combination of academic activities and cultural performances and other activities. The FL School Cultural Day in which students showcases their proficiency in cultural dances, singing and dramas as well as talent and cultural competitions in February. All departments have their own personal library with sufficient amount all kinds of books, journals and research papers. It has various sports competitions including Cricket, Badminton, and football during winter season between departments. Student union body plays a key role to represent the student interest and organize functions. Overall, I would say that the institute life of University of Calcutta is very good.