Options in Commerce

Pursuing Higher Studies in COMMERCE stream

There are several higher study options for meritorious graduates in commerce which includes Master of Business Administration with various specialisation such as finance, human resource management, logistics and supply chain management, port and shipping management, health care management, international business, IT management, marketing management and so on. Another good option

is chartered accountancy/ cost and works accountancy/ company secretaryship. Law and journalism are some other options for higher studies. Courses should be opted according to one’s aptitude and interest.

Since the quality of management education is important, aspirant should seek admission to leading institutions. Some institutes screen applicants for group discussion on the basis of the percentile and score obtained in IIM-CAT or other management aptitude / entrance tests. Top level institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), call top CAT scorers for group discussion and personal interview.

IIMs at Kozhikode, Tiruchirappalli, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, Kasipur, Luknow, Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Shillong and Udaipur are top level institutions. They hold computer-based CAT every year to admit students to their postgraduate programmes (PGP) in management and fellow programme in management.

Those who have a degree with at least 50 per cent marks (45 per cent marks for student belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and the differently abled category) can take CAT. Those appearing for the final qualifying degree examination are also eligible to appear CAT. The IIMs conduct CAT across the country. In Kerala, Kozhikode and Cochin will be the test centres. The CAT score is valid for a year. The ranking and final selection may vary across IIMs as each

institute follows a diverse set of attributes including the score, written test, performance in group discussion and personal interview, academic merit, co-curricular achievements, and work experience for admission. Web site: www.catiim.in.

The two-year PG programme in management at IIMs aims at preparing young meritorious graduates for senior level managerial positions in industry. The students are encouraged to specialise in

two areas. The core courses comprise of finance, control and accounting, quantitative methods and operations management, marketing, IT and systems, strategy, organisational behaviour and human resource management and economics.

The programme lays great emphasis on knowledge assimilation. Summer projects are designed to

provide students an opportunity to put their learning into practice. Final placement process for the graduate batch takes place in March. IIMs students have enjoyed excellent placement records over the year.

Leading Indian and foreign companies visit IIMs to participate in the campus placement programme. In Kerala IIM functions at Kozhikode. Web site: www.iimk.ac.in.

Other prominent institutes

Some of the top Business Schools in the private sector in the country include Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur; SP Jain Institute of Management, Mumbai; Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar; Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS University), Mumbai; Symbosis Institute of Management Pune; Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgoan and K.J. Somaiyya Institute of Management, Mumbai. In the South one among the top-level institutes is Bharathidasan Institute of Management (BIM), Tiruchirappalli which offer two year full time MBA programme to meritorious graduates who qualify in the IIM- CAT.

Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) under the University of Delhi is another reputed centre which offers two-year fulltime MBA programme.

Graduates in arts, commerce or social sciences with at least 50 per cent marks or science with at least 55 per cent marks or mathematics/ statistics with at least 60 per cent marks are eligible for admission. The selection is based on entrance test and interview. Web site: www.fms.edu.

The XLRI Jamshedpur (www.xlri.edu) offers two-year postgraduate programmes in business management; personnel management and industrial relations for meritorious graduates in any discipline. The selection is based on XLRI – XAT score , group discussion, and interview.

Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (www.ximb.ac.in), conducts a two-year fulltime PG diploma course in management for graduates in any discipline. The selection is based on XAT score, group discussion and interview.

NMIMS University’s School of Business Management offers MBA. The selection is based on NMAT score, group discussion and interview. Web site: www.nmims.edu.

K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai, offers PG diploma in management. The selection is based on IIM-CAT score, group discussion and interview. Web site: http://simsr.somaiya.edu.

Besides these, several other business schools/ institutes/ departments of management studies of universities also offer MBA programmes.

MFC

The Master of Finance and Control (MFC) is another option for higher study. This programme is aimed to equip a select group of students with conceptual and analytical skills for financial decision making. The students are provided with inputs in the basic areas of managerial decision-making such as organisational behaviour, managerial economics, quantitative techniques, financial accounting and

corporate laws as well as in different areas of finance such as financial management, financial services, international finance, international accounting, investment management and so on. To keep

students abreast with the latest developments in the field of finance. Department of Financial Studies of the University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi, which is one of the premier centre, offers MFC programme. The centre has updated its curriculum and included new courses such as derivatives and risk management, treasury management, real estate investment management, insurance management, mutual funds management and equity research. The Delhi University offers students a two-year course with a fine blend of theoretical and practical inputs to take on challenging careers in the field of corporate finance, international finance, merchant banking, capital and money markets, portfolio management, investment advisory services, credit rating, venture capital, forex advisory services and so on. Graduates in any discipline with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible for admission to MFC. The selection is based on a national-level admission test and interview. Detailed information can be obtained from the web site www.mfc.edu.

Madurai Kamaraj University, Palkalai Nagar, Madurai; Punjab University, Patiala; Punjab University, Chandigragh; University of Lucknow; Kurukshetra University, Haryana; Himachal Pradesh

University Shimla; Aligrah Muslim University, Aligarh are some of the universities that offer MFC courses in India.

Logistics management

Logistics is the management of supply chain. A logistician is a professional who works in the filed of logistics management, controlling the flow of goods, services, energy and resources. MBA and PG diploma level courses are available in the logistics management. Meritorious graduates in any discipline can seek admission. The objective of MBA logistics management is to train graduates for leadership position in logistics management and manufacturing and service operations management in the global market place.

Students can look for jobs as logistics or supply chain managers, consultants and analysts. They

should have communication and analytical skills dedication, team spirit, and computer knowledge. Indian Martine University, Chennai, K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai; Institute of Business Studies and Research Navimumbai; Symbosis Institute of International Business, Pune are few among the institutes offering postgraduate study facilities in this discipline.

Port and shipping management

MBA programme in port and shipping management is highly job-oriented. The Indian Martine University under Government of India offers MBA degree course in port and shipping management at its Chennai and Kochi campuses. The entry qualification is a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least 50 per cent marks. The selection is based on entrance test, group discussion and interview. Web site: www.imu.tn.nic.in.

Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping, Mumbai, offers PG diploma in shipping management for graduates. Web site: www.nmis.net.

HRM

Human Resource Management (HRM) is one of the specialisation available for MBA/ postgraduate level management programmes. It deals with key factors in industrial relations, human resource planning, human resource development, advanced industrial relations training and development, wage and salary administration, guidance and conselling.

Human resource management also involves recruiting personnel and their training and handling union management relations. HRM specialisation is available in almost all business schools/

university departments/ institutes in India. Those who obtain MBA (HR) can find jobs as HR managers or HR executives.

Health care management

The health care services sector requires professionally-trained manpower to mange multi-specialty hospitals and medical facilities. The most suitable academic programmes in this field are MBA hospital and health care management and Master’s degree in hospital or health administration. Meritorious graduates in any discipline are eligible for admission.

The Department of Management Studies of Madurai Kamaraj University offers MBA hospital administration. Symbosis Institute of Health Sciences, Pune, conducts MBA in hospital and health care management course.

Manipal University offers an MBA course in hospital administration and health care management. The Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai; Department of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Calicut; School of Medical Education under Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam; Amrita School of Arts and Science, Kochi being offered Master of hospital/ health administration courses.

CA, ICWAI, CS

The details about chartered accountancy courses and examination can be had from the web site www.icai.org. Aspirants of cost and works accountancy should get details from the web site www.icwai.org and company secretaryship course details can be collected from the web site www.icsi.edu.

Courtesy to The Hindu news paper