Study Abroad: US designs 1-year professional master's programme for Indians; courses, eligibility

NEW DELHI: The US State Department recently announced a one-year professional master’s degree programme to enable science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students to join high-tech industries requiring professional expertise.

The programme was designed by Akhlesh Lakhtatia, a Jefferson Science Fellow who was entrusted with the task by the US State Department. Lakhtatia is a professor at Evan Pugh University.

The one-year master's programme has been designed to align with India’s National Education Policy 2020. Speaking at the Jefferson Science Fellowship Distinguished Lecture Series, Lakhtakia said: “It is a special project developed at the Bureau of South and Central Asia Affairs especially about opportunities available to US universities as a result of a New Education Policy of India.”

Students after completing the four-year bachelor's programme in India can apply for the one-year industrial master’s programme in the USA.

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Study in USA: 1-year master’s eligibility

As per the guidelines, students enrolled in a four-year bachelor's degree programme in an Indian institution may be selected for the 12-month professional master’s at the end of the third year of their studies. The 12-months will be spent at a US university.

To be eligible, the student must have a grade point average (GPA) exceeding 3.0 on the 4-point scale at the end of the third year of studies. They should also take at least two elective courses in the fourth year and the courses need to be conducted in an on-campus classroom and laboratory. Those opting for electives delivered online or through distance learning formats will not be eligible.

Shortly after selection, the student must apply to a US Consulate in India for an F-1 visa. Applications are being considered a year ahead of the beginning of the 12-month professional master's degree programme in the US to “avoid last-minute visa-related hassles”, said Lakhtatia in the lecture.

On completion of the bachelor's degree programme, the student joins the 12-month professional master's degree programme at a US university campus. The programme will comprise lectures, hands-on laboratory and workshop experiences. The students will be exposed to industrially relevant projects after which they receive the professional master’s degree.

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Study Abroad: Professional master’s degree

A student after completing the one-year professional master’s programme can apply for an Optional Practical Training extension of three years for them to gain experience at a US industrial facility. The student will also receive a salary from the industrial facility.

The need for such a programme was felt while discussing the need for high-tech manufacturing expertise in the United States. “We require a large number of high-tech skilled workers. They don’t need to have a doctorate, which is not important, they need to have high-tech skills which are generally acquired at a master's level in an intensive programme if it goes on for 12 months,” said Lakhtatia.

The US government has extended the Optional Practical Training (OPT) for three years.

The courses that the student can choose from include the following:

• Semiconductor processing
• Nanotechnology
• Photonics
• Display technology
• Quantum engineering
• 5G-7G communication systems
• Satellite guidance and control
• Unmanned, precision-guided micro-vehicles
• Renewable energy generation or distribution
• Eco-responsible industry operations
• Smart city planning and operations
• Additive planning and manufacturing
• Artificial intelligence applications
• Big data
• Geospatial informatics
• Health informatics
• Telemedicine engineering
• Genetic medicine

Study in USA: Professional master’s fees

The students selected in the third year of their bachelor’s degree programme will be guaranteed admission to the professional master's degree but must meet the minimum requirements in the fourth year. The Indian and US universities will collaborate on developing the fourth-year courses acceptable for entry into the professional master's degree programme.

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White the programme creates a scope for twinning at the policy level, it is not a study abroad scholarship. The selected student will need to pay the complete tuition fee in the fourth year at the Indian institution as well as for the programme at the US university. The student will also be responsible for all living and medical expenses as well as that of travelling to the US campus.