Monday, June 20, 2011

Best Cities for Higher Education Courses in India

MensXP takes a look at the higher education opportunities (with a major focus on undergraduate courses) in the four metro cities - New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

It's that time of the year when sun is the most ruthless. People prefer to stay indoors.
But there is a big lot who is waiting to venture out of their comfort zones. Thousands and thousands of teenagers in the country, who are done with their 12th class board exams, will be exploring avenues of higher education. Mission Admission has already begun in many Indian universities and is about begin in the rest of them.
Several surveys have revealed that Metro cities are the best education centres in the country.
MensXP takes a look at the higher education opportunities (with a major focus on undergraduate courses) in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

DELHI
The national capital is home to some of the best higher educational institutes in the country. These institutions are manned by some of the best academicians of the country and are the cradles of some of the brightest students in the country. University of Delhi is a premier university of the nation and attracts scores of students each year from different parts of the country. Its alumni has made waves in various arenas - Bollywood, bureaucracy, politics, science and technology etc. The IIT and Jawaharlal Nehry University are not only the best in the homeland, they have also made their mark at the international level. JNU is very well known for its humanities courses. Then there are two more universities known for their academic excellence - Jamia Milia Islamia and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.
Delhi is one of the fastest growing metropolises in the country. It has that unmistakable cosmopolitan feel but still retains many of its age-old traditions. With the coming up of satellite towns like Gurgaon and Noida, the number of good service sector companies and industries has risen tremendously. Life is fast-paced. However, the picture is not all that rosy. Weather conditions are extreme and crime rate is high. Traffic and crowd can be annoying on many occasions. One needs to keep his feet firmly on the ground to get along with the things in this city. All said and done, Delhi has a distinct charm of its own which refuses to go.

Prestigious Institutes

IIT Delhi, AIIMS, Maulana Azad Medical College, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology, St. Stephen's College, , Hindu College, Sri Ram College of Commerce, Lady Shri Ram College.

Markets and Hangouts

Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Lajpat Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Karol Bagh, Sarojini Nagar, Dilli Haat, Lalit Kala Academy, India Habitat Centre, National Gallery of Modern Art, Art Today in Hamilton House, Mughal Gardens, Lodhi Gardens etc. There are several malls and multiplexes as well.

Entertainment

Delhi is one those few cities in the country which offers a wide variety of entertainment options to its residents. From architectural wonders and gardens to glitzy malls and multiplexes, from art galleries and museums to theatre and song and dance, Delhi has it all.

Local Transport

There's the growing Metro rail network. Post the Commonwealth Games, Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has rolled out a huge fleet of AC and Non-AC low-floor buses which has led to the near-extinction of the those notorious Blueline buses. Then there are thousands of auto-rickshaws plying on roads of Delhi. By the way, the roads in the city are the best in the country. For covering shorter distances, cycle rickshaws are available in most localities. Cabs and tadio taxis are available too.

MUMBAI
While the lightning-fast life of Mumbai can be scary for an outsider, a student has plethora of opportunities to explore in the Maximum City. Whether you plan to apply for arts, science or commerce, the city offers a gamut of good options. Mumbai is the epicentre of film-making, so going for mass media courses can also be a good choice. Numerous media and finance companies of the city provide ample internship opportunities. The University of Mumbai, under which most of the colleges operate, is also one of the premier universities of the country. The city also has an Indian Institute of Technology - IIT Powai which is world-renowned for its academic excellence and research in technology. Grant Medical College has been constantly ranked among the top 10 medical colleges in the country. Then there is Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) known for its breakthrough research work in social welfare. The prestigious St. Xavier's College has now received autonomy.
Mumbai remains an overcrowded metropolis of India. But none can escape from its irresistible charm. The din and bustle, the chaos can be intimidating for some while others imbibe them in their lives and get along. Events such as St. Xavier's Malhar and IIT Powai's Mood Indigo and Sophia College's Kaleidoscope are big crowd pullers. Most colleges lack hostel facilities, so one has to look for PGs and other forms of accommodations.

Prestigious Colleges

St. Xavier's College, IIT Bombay, KJ Somaiya Colleges, Mithibai College, Wilson College, Elphinstone College, Sophia College for Women etc.

Hot Hangouts

Marine Drive in South Mumbai, Colaba Causeway, Bandra Linking Road, Bandra Bandstand, Infinite Mall in Andheri etc.

Entertainment

The National Centre for Performing Arts and the Prithvi Theatre a draw a lot of crowd. Then there is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum and not to forget the several historic sites, malls and multiplexes.

Transportation

A student has plenty of option for moving around in the city. Local trains, fondly called as the 'Local' is the most celebrated means of mass transportation. Cheap pocket guides available at the stations can help you understand the route better. Students can also get monthly passes made. State-operated BEST buses come next to the locals. Taxis and autorickshaws are also at your disposal.

KOLKATA
The city of joy is also the city of learning and knowledge. Numerous students flock to the capital of West Bengal in their pursuit of quality higher education. Kolkata is home 17 institutions, which include public universities and autonomous bodies and autonomous bodies that award their own degrees and diplomas. New colleges have been added to the University of Calcutta during the last few years. There are many new courses to choose from. Earlier, many students used to travel outside Kolkata for seeking higher education. Now the trend has reversed. However, many feel that Kolkata has been unseated as the leading learning centre in the country. Influence of politics on education is indeed a matter of concern. Jadavpur University in Kolkata is also a leading university in the country. The city is also home to the prestigious IIM Calcutta.

Prestigious Institutes

IIM-C, St. Xavier's College, Scottish Church College, Lady Brabourne College, Presidency College, Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration, Jadavpur University etc.

Hot Hangouts

South City Mall, City Centre in Salt Lake, JU Campus, Victoria Memorial, Inox/Forum etc.

CHENNAI
South India is big on technical but students also flock their studying various other disciplines. Students from Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal etc can be easily spotted in many colleges and not just the IITs. 165 years old University of Madras is renowned for some of its exclusive courses. The university has produced two Nobel laureates - C.V. Raman and S. Chandrashekhar. The university boasts of Rs 300 crore worth of equipment and facilities. Educationists based in the city say that students need not go to other places for library and research work. The admission process is transparent and the tuition fee for courses is very economic. Another big asset for the city is IIT Madras, an institute well-known for it high-quality education in sciences and technology.
The biggest problem faced by the non-South Indian students is of the language. However, with some patience, one can easily pick up as much Tamil as required to move around in the city. The culture is not as fast-paced as in Delhi or Mumbai. Some colleges also have dress codes - salwar kameez for women and formals for men.

Prestigious Institutes

Loyola College, Presidency College, Stella Maris College for Women, Asian College of Journalism, Ethiraj College, IIT Madras, Madras Medical College etc.

Hot Hangouts

Spencer Plaza, Express Avenue in Royapettah, Abirami Mall, Marina Beach, Ampa Skywalk Mall etc.

Multiplexes

Sathyam Cinemas, Escape in Express Avenue Mall, INOX in Citi Centre, Mayajal, EGA Theatres in Chetpet

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