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The long road to research
ANANTH KRISHNAN SARAH HIDDLESTON
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Some suggestions on finding the right university for doing research abroad
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Studying at the world’s top research universities sounds appealing. But it’s a long, expensive and occasionally lonely road: finding the right university to match your interests should allow you to make the most of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Most Indian students automatically turn to the United States and the United Kingdom for research degrees abroad because of the quality of research on offer and funding available. Various rankings are available on the web such as the U.S. News and World Report, and The Times and The Guardian League Tables.
Finding the right fit
Rankings serve as a good indicator to start your search, but they should be treated with a pinch of salt. “Rankings are significant, but at the post-graduate level matching your research interests [with the faculty] is very important,” says Aarti Ramaswami, a Ph.D. student in Applied Psychology at Indiana University, Bloomington. “You should look out for schools where professors are actively involved in research and publishing continuously.”
“The most important thing is to choose the university correctly,” adds Lavanya Anneboina, a Ph.D. student in development economics at the University of Bath, U.K. “I chose Bath because I was clear I wanted to work under my supervisor. It’s not that funding is not important, but it’s more important to know who you want to work with.”
Dr. Alexandre Akoulitchev, senior research fellow in molecular biology, Oxford University, advises applicants to make informal contact with faculty members and show a clear understanding of the department’s research focus. Establishing that relationship can improve a candidate’s chances. For many postgraduate research programmes in the U.S., getting admission usually means you also receive funding. In the U.K., it is important to apply for external sources of funding, including scholarships for Indians and U.K. Research Council grants.
“When you are offered admission, discuss the project with your supervisor and finalise the area of research. Then apply to funding agencies for financial aid, as competition is so high,” says Ranjith Rajasekaran Unnithan, an electrical engineering Ph.D. student at Cambridge University.
Changing cultures
Adjusting to the life of a research scholar abroad can be difficult for an Indian student, who, as Ranjith says, is used to a “boss-student relationship” in Indian universities.
“There is no spoon-feeding. The student has to discover the subject,” says Priti Parikh, who is doing a Ph.D. in sustainable development at Cambridge University.
Vanisha Lakhina, a Ph.D. student in neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania, says “I would strongly suggest that before applying students should try and get as much research experience as possible, even if it means volunteering.” Lavanya adds that the first few months in a new academic environment can be “hazy”, but doing a good literature review helps to formulate your research question. The life of a research scholar involves more than just long hours in the lab or the library. “It is important to integrate because you are so alone in your work,” says Lavanya. Adapting to a different environment can take time. “It took me two to three years to immerse myself in this culture, embed myself in the community and understand people, things, and events,” Aarti says.
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Education Plus
Karnataka
Chennai
Coimbatore
Hyderabad
Madurai
Tiruchirapalli
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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