Exchange Diaries  

Aditya Agrawal | Chemical Engineering

University of Essex, England

Research Area: Machine Learning

What was the University and topic of research that was taken up by you during the FT?

University- University of Essex
Topic- Analysis of vehicle network for assistance in autonomous vehicles in driving safety

Why is an FT important? How would one compare research in Indian universities and foreign universities?

FT is important because of the decent research experience you get and it also gives an early opportunity to see the research culture in the foreign universities. Collaborating with people in foreign countries adds to your exposure.
It is known that the research output of foreign universities is generally higher than the Indian universities so there are usually better lab facilities and equipments available there and under the guidance of professors which have higher experience. However, any virtual research work is not much different between the same I think.

FT vs corporate internship, what are all the things we are missing out on and what are we gaining more?

I have not done any corporate internship yet but I’ll try to answer it. In a research internship, we get to work in a particular field. One has to go through papers and has to study things thoroughly so there is a lot of theoretical work involved. You directly work under some instructors and might work alone or in a team. In corporate internships, a real world project is generally given and there is a lot of practical work involved and there will be a lot of people with whom you will be interacting with and you will have to present your work on a regular basis. These two are different fields and FT is generally opted by people who wish to go for research or are interested in a particular field and people who do corporate internships generally enter the corporate world at the earliest. Both of them have their pros and cons and I think there is no such thing like “missing out”.

Should BTech students aspiring for higher studies from abroad opt for an FT?

Yes, definitely. Foreign internships add great value to your resume. There is a lengthy process of applying to foreign universities for further studies and foreign internships can help a lot in your application and also add a strong point in your application.

What exactly is the application process for the FT? Are there any important documents one must keep?

I had applied through the portal of IRC so it was a fairly easy process. I chose the project from the list of available projects, submitted my resume, and prepared an SOP for the project. So, this was the process for me.

When should one start applying for an FT? How long did the procedure last till you got the desired FT?

I think one should start applying for FT as early as possible if they are interested in a field as it can be a time taking process. I started in January. I had also mailed some professors but didn’t get any reply. So, I applied through the portal in february for this project and I got selected in April after an interview.

What is the role of CGPA in the selection process?

CGPA is very important in the selection process but not the only factor. It does not show your knowledge or experience in the field you are applying in. One having a decent CGPA can get an FT provided that one has done some work or if you can convey your interest in the field through your SOP but if you have a high CG then it is a good boost to your application. A high CG is always a bonus.

How did the pandemic affect your application for the project? Did the pandemic have any positive impact on the project?

Though the pandemic didn’t have an impact on the application process, it did not have any positive impact on the project. The communication becomes limited and it is difficult to discuss and share your ideas virtually.

Where should a student, who is unaware of the entire application process, look up information about professors and their research work for opportunities?

If you do not have any information then you can talk to seniors who have done FTs before. They can tell you about the professors and can guide you well. Another way is to simply search on Google about the area of your interest and you will be able to find the colleges and professors that are doing some work in that field.

How should a first-year student prepare beforehand for his FT application in their subsequent year?

A first-year student should start exploring various fields and then if they find the area of their interest they can learn more about that. One has to put the effort into the field they are interested in and try to gain knowledge and experience.

Does belonging to IITKGP provide any added benefits for getting your FT?

Yes, I applied through the IRC portal so it definitely helped me. Though, I cannot really say that in case of the application through direct mailing whether belonging to IITKGP would have helped or not.