Birla Institute of Technology and Science M.Sc Review By Anshul Khatkar

BITS Pilani is doubtlessly the best private engineering college of India. BITS Pilani is a deemed university which has remained in the top 10 Engineering colleges of India for decades. MHRD, Government of India declared BITS Pilani as Institute of Eminence in the year 2018. The college admits undergraduates only based on their score in BITSAT, with a few seats reserved for international students.

BITSAT is an entrance exam on par with JEE mains and advanced. Lakhs of students appear in BITSAT every year with only 3000 to 4000 seats available. Besides bachelors and masters in the science field, the college also offers masters in business and pharmacy.

I joined M.Sc (Hons) Chemistry in the year 2016. BITS Pilani offers a unique dual degree where it provides an M.Sc + B.Tech to the students. The students who have passed class 12 either in the same year or the preceding year from a recognised state or central board can appear for BITSAT.

The other prerequisite includes a minimum aggregate score of 75% in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The courses are well structured and provide the student with unmatched opportunities. The placement rate of BITS Pilani is close to 100%, and almost everyone gets placed.

There are over ten faculty professors for my course, who are also guiding PhD students. BITS Pilani houses over 13 departments with 150+ faculty members. The professors are highly qualified with their PhD from some recognised Universities of the world. They are highly skilled and knowledgeable teachers capable of guiding students through their courses.

There are 12 boys hostels and one girls hostel inside the campus. All the boys' hostels are not over the first floor. There is a minimum of 100 rooms in each hostel. The students are first-year usually get a shared room of two, while they get individual rooms from the second year. The food of the mess is of good quality and the staff also provides Jain food without onions. Every hostel is assigned to a Chowkidar, a Superintendent and a Warden. The chowkidar lives in the hostel with the students and is always available in case of emergencies. The Superintendents keep a regular check on the hostels and students under the sight of Wardens. The hostels are in vicinity to the messes and within walking distance from every important place on campus.

The campus is spread in an area of 328 acres out of which 49 acres are developed and 15 acres is used for BITS building. There are four buildings for academic purposes, namely New Academic Building, Faculty Department 1, Faculty Department 2 and Faculty Department 3. Besides, there is an extensive library, a workshop and an auditorium. There are several laboratories with the latest upgraded machines and equipment, providing the best infrastructure to the students. The college has a Student Activity Center for all the indoor sports and cultural activities.

There is an open ground with courts and fields for over eight outdoor sports, and a swimming pool. The students are provided with proper types of equipment for all the sports. The college has an all night Canteen which is open till 2 AM, and two other canteens and a cafeteria. The campus also provides emergency medical services and has a medical centre within the campus. Besides, there is a giant clock tower over the auditorium, facing a Saraswati temple in the centre of the campus. The campus also has a small Connaught place on a side, where one can find shops for almost everything from sweets to cloth stitching. The campus has a supermarket which has all vital materials for residents of the campus, for students, faculty and staff.

The college provides a zero attendance policy where students can choose to not attend the classes and study on their own. The campus life of the Pilani campus is unmatched. The campus is green and silent, and one can occasionally find peacocks jumping around. Students are not allowed to use motor-vehicles, and they wander on foot or cycle. There are clubs for almost all activities from karaoke to drama. There are over 15 sports teams, which participate in many tournaments throughout the year.

The student bodies of college organise a cultural fest, namely Oasis, a sports fest BOSM and a tech-fest APOGEE. OASIS is one of the most popular cultural fests of India. All three fests see participation from hundreds of college from all over India and outside. The fests last from four to five days, creating a fantastic atmosphere on the campus. The campus provides the freedom to the student vital to grow and thrive in life. The campus also has a vibrant nightlife with the library open 24 x 7 during the exams.