University Selection

The following factors should be considered when you go about choosing your universities.

1. Area of Interest

The area of interest is a very important factor to take into consideration when choosing universities. Remember to identify exactly what you want to study for your higher education and then go about looking for the relevant universities.

a) MS: For an MS program, the coursework offered in your area of interest at a particular university should be taken into consideration. Sometimes universities recommend a particular set of courses in order to specialize in certain areas. It is important to explore the courses offered, the syllabus covered, and the faculty teaching those courses etc. before making a decision.

b) PhD: For a PhD program, the nature of research conducted in the university in your area of interest should be taken into consideration. Remember that you may not be able to work with a particular faculty member that you like because of multiple reasons. Hence it is good practice to identify universities that have multiple faculty members or labs conducting research in your area of interest.

2. Quality of Research at the University

The quality of research conducted at the university is a good reflection of the value your respective degrees will offer you. The following are good metrics to get an idea of the quality of research in the university:

a) The frequency with which faculty members are publishing their research.

b) The funding available to the university, the department of interest, faculty of interest etc.

c) Feedback from current / past students regarding research collaborations.

d) Frequency of talks and seminars conducted by the department of interest.

3. After Grad School

The statistics of the career paths chosen by past students can give a good indication of what to expect after graduating from a particular university or living in a particular country.

4. Funding

The statistics regarding the funding available to universities should be considered during university selection. The funding reflects the possibility of tuition waivers, scholarships; RA and TA positions etc. This gives a good indication of the financial requirements for the respective program. For a PhD student, it is a good representation of the funds available for research, stipend, travel etc.

5. Ranking and Reputation

There are different sources that provide university rankings for universities around the world. These rankings typically combine different parameters. The university rankings are a good source of identifying the universities known for your respective area of interest. The reputation of the university is another important factor to consider. Remember that you will be a future alumnus of the university you choose for your higher education. Hence it is important to think about this in the long run.

6. International Students

The number of international students in a university gives a good representation of the universities policy to diversify the student community. It also indicates how efficient the university is for helping the students complete the immigration and visa responsibilities.

7. Geography / Demography / Personal Life

Some universities are located in large cities while others are located in university towns. Factors such as industries in the area, weather conditions, cultural life etc. can also be considered while selecting universities. The university culture may also be important to some students. Remember that you should be comfortable in your personal life to be able to successfully complete graduate school.

An important question usually asked in the context of university selection is how many universities a student should apply to. There is no restriction on the number of universities one can apply to. However, it is important to note that students are required to pay a processing fee for each application that they submit to a university. Hence, one should decide on the number of universities to apply to depending on the financial requirements for the application process. Some universities allow students to apply to more than one program in the same or different departments.

Some students follow the x-y-z rule for university selection. This rule suggests that a student should shortlist x number of universities that are considered ambitions or tough universities to get into. The student should shortlist y number of universities that are considered moderately tough to get into, and z universities that are considered safe for the profile of the respective student. Kindly note that the BITS2MSPhD team recommends that you do not choose a lot of safe universities, as a lot of students end up accepting admits to the safe universities when they could have been selected for better universities.

Finally, we recommend that students conduct extensive research based on the parameters mentioned here to get a better understanding of different universities. It may also be a good idea to take advice from students currently studying in or students who have graduated from the universities that you are considering for your application process.