Most of us learn the theoretical aspects of science right through school.

Applied Science differs from

basic science because the latter seeks to describe the most fundamental objects and forces having less
emphasis on practical applications. t includes testing a theoretical model through the use of formal
science or solving a practical problem through the use of natural science. Here we try and look at
interesting and non-conventional courses in Applied Science.
PG Diploma of Associateship of National Sugar nstitute (Sugar Engineering)
Fast Facts
nstitute: National Sugar nstitute (NS)
Duration: 1.5 years
Fee: Rs. 22, 660 divided in two terms
Eligibility: Degree in Mechanical or Electrical or Production or Electrical & Electronics
Engineering or Mechanical Technology or equivalent qualification
Website: www.nsi.gov.in
The course of Associateship of National Sugar nstitute (Sugar Engineering) enables students to conduct
research in various aspects of sugar manufacturing. t trains candidates to provide technical advice to
sugar and allied industries in the matters related to mills, boilers, power house, steam balance and
surplus power generation.
The diploma-holders can apply for positions like Assistant Engineers, Production Engineers in the sugar
industry. Along with theoretical knowledge, students get plant training at an experimental sugar factory
established inside NS. Established in 1936 as mperial nstitute of Sugar Technology, it was rechristened
as National Sugar nstitute in 1957 after ndia attained independence. To get admission to this course,
students do not need any experience in this specific industry. As per norms, around 25 students from
different categories are selected yearly on the basis of a pan-ndia written entrance test.
UG programmes in Maritime ndustry
Fast Facts
nstitute: ndian Maritime University
Duration: 3-4 years
Fee: Not available Eligibility: Passed 10 + 2 Examination with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and
English with at least 60% marks (55% marks in case of SC/ST).
Website: www.imu.tn.nic.in
The words 'maritime' refers to activities related to sea. Ports and Shipping form an integral part of
maritime commerce, which contributes greatly to the ndian economy. There are various courses
available for students including those offered by ndian Maritime University (MU). The programmes
offered by this institute include BSc (Nautical Science), BTech (Marine Engineering), BSc (Maritime
Science) and BTech (Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering). Successful students are able to
explore jobs in Shipping, Shipbuilding, Ocean Engineering ndustries, ndian Navy, DRDO, Classification
Societies, to name a few.
ts eight different campuses prepare students to become Navigating Officers, Marine Engineers and
Polyvalent Officers, who can reach high positions in respective fields with experience. Students are
selected on the basis of performance in the Joint Entrance Examination conducted by Ts. Other such
institutes include ndian nstitute of Port Management, Kunjali Marakkar School of Marine Engineering,
Marine Engineering and Research nstitute, Training Ship Chanakya and a few private institutes.
Diploma in Radiological Physics
Fast Facts
nstitute: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
Duration: one year
Eligibility: MSc Physics
Website: www.barc.ernet.in
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, is ndia's premier multidisciplinary nuclear
research centre. Radiological Physics is a branch of physics that deals with interaction of radiation with
matter in general and covers areas like radioactivity, atoms, alpha, beta, gamma rays and X-rays. t is
also linked to radiation therapy in medical field.
BARC offers the Diploma in Radiological Physics, a one-year course with an intake of 25 (five sponsored
and 20 non-sponsored candidates). Students with an MSc degree in Physics with 60 per cent marks
(aggregate in BSc and MSc) can apply for this course. The sponsored candidates are required to have at
least one year of work experience, ideally with a radio therapy centre. The applicants are screened for the
course through a written test followed by an interview.
B.Tech in Aerospace, Avionics & Physical Sciences
Fast Facts
nstitute: ndian nstitute of Space Science and Technology
Duration: 4 years
Fee: Not available
Eligibility: Passed one of the following exams: 10+2 board, ntermediate or 2 year Pre-University exam,
Final exam of the 2 year NDA's course of the Joint Services Wing, General Certificate Education exam,
High School Certificate Exam of the Cambridge University or nternational Baccalaureate Diploma of the
nternational Baccalaureate Office, HSC vocational exam and SSS exam conducted by the National
nstitute of Open Schooling with a minimum of 5 subjects.
Website: www.iist.ac.in
The study of space sciences deals with space travel and space exploration, including space medicine.
Astronomers are the people often related to this sector, which has a wider scope in different related
areas. Some of these are aerospace, avionics and physical sciences. ndian nstitute of Space Science
and Technology, a deemed university, offers three B.Tech programmes to produce professionals in these
areas. They are B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, B.Tech in Avionics and B.Tech in Physical Sciences.
The course in Aerospace Engineering focuses on space technology and has significant overlap with
Mechanical Engineering. Students can build their career in Flight Mechanics, Aerodynamics, Thermal and
Propulsion, Structure and Design and Manufacturing Science after it.
The course in Avionics covers Electronics and Communications programmes. t provides exposure to
Advanced Electronics in digital and communication, control systems and computer systems used in
aerospace systems. Successful completion of this course gives students a chance to apply their
knowledge in institutes like Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Trivandrum, SRO Satellite Centre in
Bangalore, Space Application Centre in Ahmedabad, Sathish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Bharat
Electronics Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and various other industries involved in design and
development of electronics systems.
The third course, in Physical Sciences, helps in analysis of basic sciences in Space Science, Space
Technology and Space Application with emphasis on Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. t gives
exposure to important applications of space technology such as Remote Sensing and GS, Astronomy
and Astrophysics, and Earth System Sciences. Selection to all these programmes is done through All
ndia Admission Test (SAT).
MSc and PG Diploma in Bioinformatics, Biotechnology and Cheminformatics
Fast Facts
nstitute: nstitute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology
Duration: 18 months (MSc and PG diplomas)
Fee: MSc - Rs. 50,000 per semester (includes tuition fees, laboratory fees, software fees and library
fees).
PG Diplomas: Rs. 165,000 (across three semesters)
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in science or technology, namely Life Science (Agriculture, Biotechnology
etc.), Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Pharma, Veterinary or Medicine.
Website: www.ibab.ac.in
Over the last two decades, we have witnessed branching of biology into new areas like biotechnology and
bioinformatics. While in bioinformatics, computers are used to gather, store, analyse and integrate
biological and genetic information; biotechnology is the field of applied biology that involves the use of
living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine, among others. Further,
bioinformatics involves integrative or multidisciplinary approach that is inclusive, but not exclusive of
computational, mathematical and statistical methods to study, organize, analyse and interpret biological
information, at the molecular, genetic and genomic levels.
The nstitute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (BAB), Bangalore, is an important research
and training centre under Department of nformation Technology, Government of ndia. t offers an
eighteen-month MSc in Bioinformatics and Biotechnology (degree awarded by GNOU) along with PG
Diplomas in Bioinformatics or Cheminformatics and PhD programme (degree awarded by Manipal
University). The PG diplomas also have a duration of eighteen-months divided into three semesters.
BAB hosts GANT Labs, a multi-institutional public-private partnership (PPP) effort under the aegis of
Department of nformation Technology, Government of ndia, and Department of T, BT and ST,
Government of Karnataka, which works in the area of genome sequencing and data analysis. The
students are exposed to the most recent advances in the biotech industry and academic research through
the large number of scientists who visit BAB all year around from across the globe. These courses are
essential for entering the fields of biotechnology and allied sciences.
Post Graduate nternship in Radio Astronomy
Fast Facts
nstitute: Tata nstitute of Fundamental Research (TFR)
Duration: 1 year
Fee: None
Eligibility: Candidates pursuing BE/ B.Tech Degree
Website: www.ncra.tifr.res.in
Studying radio astronomy entails dealing with celestial objects at radio frequencies. Engineering students
working in this field detect radio waves from astronomical objects like Karl Jansky first observed radiation
coming from the Milky Way in the 1930s. Discovering entirely new classes of objects in the universe and
beyond is the domain of radio astronomy. This internship programme helps students build a research
career in astronomy, particularly in radio wavelengths.
The programme consists of courses in basic physics (classical and quantum mechanics, statistical
mechanics and electrodynamics) at the Master's level, allied with exposure to computation, data analysis
and basic astronomy. The students will have a first-hand experience on the Giant Metrewave Radio
Telescope (GMRT), a facility at National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) at TFR, during the
internship. They also get a chance to participate in observatory-related and academic activities at NCRA
and GMRT, and will be given campus accommodation and a stipend.
The skills and experience that the students will acquire during their study have broader applicability in
other branches of astronomy and physics. Once the course is done, students can qualify themselves for
NCRA-UCAA nter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics graduate school through an
entrance examination. They can then join NCRA as research scholars and work towards a PhD degree.
Certificate course in Cyber Security and Computer Forensics
Fast Facts
nstitute: National nstitute of Finance Management
Duration: Three months
Fee: Rs. 67,000 (inclusive of boarding and lodging)
Eligibility: Graduates in any discipline with working knowledge of computers can apply for the course
Website: www.nifm.ac.in
As the use of computers and the nternet continues to spread in all areas of human endeavour, concerns
over data security and cyber crimes are increasing rapidly. n this age of technology and communication
convergence, one cannot help but be impacted by technologies and innovations that centre on computers
and the nternet. But as our daily lives revolve around these technologies, there are times that we feel
truly paranoid about our own safety. May it be our physical safety or the security of our personal hardware
and software.
National nstitute of Financial Management, an autonomous organization under Ministry of Finance, offers
a three-month certificate course in cyber security and computer forensics in collaboration with Gujarat
Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar. National nstitute of Finance Management was envisaged as
a training institution for officers recruited by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) through the
annual Civil Service Examinations The course, which has been divided into modules of T security and
Computer Forensics, seeks to create skilled manpower in the field of information security and computer
forensics. Graduates in any discipline with working knowledge of computers can apply for the course,
though candidates with degrees like BCA, BE, B.Tech, MCA, M.Tech would have an advantage.
The selection of the candidates is based on a written test conducted at NFM campus. The institute also
offers two-year full-time postgraduate diploma in financial management. The Program is duly recognized
by the All ndia Council of Technical Education (ACTE) and has also been recognized equivalent to
Master's programme in Management by Association of ndian Universities (AU).