Exchange Diaries  

By International Relations Cell

Outbound Diaries 2019

Aditya Jalin | Biotechnology

University of Oxford, England

Research Area: Molecular Biology

Duration: 2 Months


1. How did you apply for FT?

Ans: Basically I had also done an internship at the end of the second year in Bangalore in the same field. So the professor under which I had worked there went to the University of Oxford to present her work in which I had helped her. So I asked her if I could send mails to the professors at Oxford citing her as a reference. So I got selected through the first mail that I had sent there.

2. How did you manage your finances there?

Ans: My professor is a part of the biochemical society and they have grants for the summer students for there members. So I received that grant which helped me with the finances there. Overall I got 1600 pounds and I might receive 500 pounds more.

3. On a lighter note, how was your stay in Oxford?

Ans: My stay there was really good.Whether there was very great. The traffic there is especially very much less and much more obedient than here in India. The priority they give to the pedestrians is really remarkable. But the cost of living there is very high.


4. How is the approach of students present there different from us in terms of academics?

Ans: The amount of resources students have at Oxford isn’t even comparable to the resources which we are provided here , especially in my field. There were no undergraduates in the lab where I was working so direct comparison would be difficult. Overall the labs present there were much more advanced than those present here at Kgp.

5. Why do you think that foreign training is important?

Ans: I think foreign training is like super important. Research abroad is really different from that here. The professors there are much more interactive and friendly. Further, it adds to your work experience and the knowledge that you acquire there is priceless.

6. How important is CG to go for foreign training?

Ans: Generally whenever we apply for an FT they know that we don’t have a lot of practical experience. So the only way they can judge you is through your Cgpa and cover-letter. So a decent CGPA will obviously make your task easier.

7. What would you suggest to your fellow Kgpians who aspire to go for foreign training?

Ans: I think you should start making your CV at the earliest and after the month of October you should start sending emails to the concerned professors. If you are considering mailing as an option then never mass mail. Further, you need to be very patient as the procedure may take some time.