Presidency University M.Sc Review By Satyaki Dutta

Erstwhile Presidency College, Presidency University was also known as Hindu College when it began the journey back in 1817, in the heart of Kolkata, i.e. College Street. It was synonymous to the era of enlightenment with Indo-European courses in higher study. After functioning as a premier college under the prestigious Calcutta University, Presidency received the status of university formally in July 2010. Till date, it maintains the status as one of the top-tier institutions in West Bengal. The university is enriched with 17 departments in Science and Humanities, with unique offerings like Life Sciences, Performing Arts, etc. The departments offer graduation, post-graduation and research facilities. The university is functioning with two campuses at present and an expansion plan for a third one. The main campus comprises of modernised historical buildings. Besides the departmental libraries, the main library holds an impressive collection of books and manuscripts, built-up over 200 years, along with e-books and digital library. Presidency University is accredited A by NAAC, and also it was in the NIRF list of top 50 institutions in 2016. Since it is functioning as a University, Presidency University, Kolkata is associated with a number of famous national and international organisations. It has signed MoUs with prestigious institutions like the University of Dublin, University of Cambridge, Infosys Foundation, Department of Physics: University of Massachusetts Lowell, NSRCEL-IIMB, Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Indiana University (IU) etc.

For the admission, you have to apply if you match the minimum eligibility criteria based on the subject of your choice in the 12th standard examination. Then you have to sit for the entrance test. Generally, the final merit list is prepared, based on equal merit on the entrance examination marks and the 12th standard examinations marks. It is a pretty straight-forward process and is completed within a month by efficient management. The vice-chancellor of Presidency University is Prof. Anuradha Lohia, a distinguished molecular parasitologist, with years of extensive research at the Bose Institute, Kolkata. Prof. P S Venkataramu is the present Dean-Academics and Arun Kumar Maiti is the Dean-Students in Presidency University.

The course I joined in Presidency University for the first time was B.Sc. in Zoology, in 2011. After completing it, I joined the M.Sc. course too, in 2014. The eligibility criteria for the admission examination in Zoology was at least 70% marks in the 12th standard examination, with Biology as a compulsory subject. There was an entrance examination which was conducted by the University itself. At present, the University has given the task of conduction examination to the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board. I loved biology, especially the animal sciences part since the 8th standard. I opted for the admission examination after my 12th standard examination, only in this university and cracked it. Also, the excursion was in the syllabus, which was another major incentive. Initially, I decided to do a PhD in the subject, which changed later. The course subjects were Zoology as the major, Chemistry and Physiology as the Extra Departmental or pass subjects. The syllabus was extensive and covered almost all the aspects of the major i.e. Zoology. Chemistry syllabus was a bit basic, but the professors made up to it. Physiology syllabus was, again, more hands-on, which was really engaging. Yes, there are a number of job opportunities even if you move out of academics.

There are a number of administrative posts across the country and international fields in zoological surveys, forests and conservation projects, zoological parks, etc. In the case of India, there are a number of posts in the Central Staff Selection Commission, which are reserved for students of Zoology only. In case of UPSC, or the state PSCs, you can opt for Zoology as one of the optional subjects, which can help you score better. Also, you can opt for the Forest Service examinations on both state and national level, if you go through this course. Even if you go for private-sector jobs, there is a rising demand from students of this course. Also, in light of the recent pandemics and environmental misbalances, there is an increasing demand for students of Zoology who have hands-on experience.

I completed both my B.Sc. and M.Sc. from this institution. In my major i.e. Zoology, the total no. of faculties in full-time position was 11. With guest lecturers, faculties from other departments who appeared in special classes, the number was more than 20. Considering all the faculties at my University, for all the subjects, the number is not less than 200, as it runs 17 departments. The average year of experience was 10 years at least in my department, and those who were more green made up with their enthusiasm and fresh approaches.

Almost all faculty members have PhD degrees, and a significant number of them have done their post-docs too. When it comes to my course, the professors always strived to do better, not only for us but also for them. They were really helpful and knew what they were talking about. It was a mixture of theory and practical in the course, which helped a ton to learn and understand the subject. They inspired us to be better, which was reflected in their efforts. Yes, they DID teach us well and made us fall in love in Zoology.

Presidency University has a great alumni network, and it uses both direct and indirect method for placement. If you are planning to stay in academia, there is a greater chance of getting placed. However, you need not fret if your goals lie elsewhere. A number of MNCs, as well as educational institutes, visit the University for recruiting fresh talents. Besides Newton Bhabha PhD Placement, Gandhi Fellowship Program etc., companies like Wipro, TCS, Akash Institute, FITJEE, HDFC Bank, Reliance, Bridgei2i, Ernst and Young, Pathfinder, Paytm, KPMG etc. often visit for campus placement.

After B.Sc., one of the highest packages in my batch came from Wipro. The average package ranged from Rs. 3.5 to 5 LPA CTC. Around 70% of students in my batch were offered a placement option, but only one of them opted for it. For the rest, they are now either engaged in research or established in government sectors.

Yes, the hostel facility is provided, and there is separate girls and boys hostel. For the boys, there is the famous Eden Hindu Hostel just by the university main campus, which is 127 years old. Among its many famous boarders was the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad. One of the largest national hostels, it has six wards which can accommodate 274 boarders (both UG and PG). The Presidency University Girls' Hostel is located in Salt Lake, and it can accommodate 91 boarders (both UG and PG). Per year, these are the hostel fees- One time payable- Mess Advance (Refundable) ₹ 2500.00 & Establishment Charges ₹ 1000.00, along with Seat Rent ₹ 90.00 (shared) or ₹ 110 (single). Also, there is Bus fare ₹ 400.00 for girls, as their hostel is a bit far from the campus.

The hostel food depends on the cook actually. Generally, the standard is not great but hygienic. Both veg and non-veg food are available, based on preference. It offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hostels provide ample security with guards and a fixed time to get in at night. Besides, they are equipped with libraries, recreation centres, etc. Boarders take part in sports such as football, cricket, volleyball, table tennis inside the campus. They organise cultural activities as well as annual tournaments.

The Total area of the university campus is more than 5 square km across the campuses. In the main campus, where I studied, it was a combination of historical buildings which were renovated and modernised. The major buildings were the main building, Netaji Subhash Building, Baker Laboratory building, main library building. etc. The classrooms are spacious and a number of them are equipped for video presentations. There are well-established labs in the science departments with sophisticated equipment. The main auditorium is the Derozio hall, which seats more than 500 people. Besides, there are a number of smaller auditoriums across the campus, used for seminars and symposiums.

Surrounding the massive play-ground, there is the main library, which is divided into the arts and science section. Also, there are a number of departmental libraries. In the campus, there are two running canteens that serve hygienic and tasty food. Almost all the other necessities can be met just outside the campus as it is located in the heart of the city. For medical emergencies, there is the Calcutta Medical College, just after one campus.

Presidency University has one of the most vibrant and socially responsible campus life. Here, there are teams like NSS, college sports teams, chess club, movie enthusiast club etc. The students are encouraged to take part in academic competitions too, which helps in their overall growth. Besides the freshers’ welcome programmes, there are a number of fests organised by socio-cultural forums. The best one, of course, is the official one organised by the union, Milieu. Artists from across the country participate in the fest. Also, the teachers day', as well as Saraswati Puja, is celebrated on the campus with high enthusiasm.