Engineering & science
Work a year or two before an M.Tech only if your job builds toward it — a GATE score is valid for three years.
- M.Tech / M.E.A two-year master's in one branch of engineering, taken after a B.Tech/B.E.2 years
- M.ScA master's in one science subject — physics, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, biotechnology, microbiology, zoology, botany, environmental science…2 years
- MCAA two-year professional master's in computing — programming, data structures, databases, networks, software engineering and newer areas like cloud…2 years
- M.DesA two-year master's in design — interaction and UX design, product/industrial design, communication and visual design, animation, textile, fashion,…2 years
Medicine & health
NEET-PG rank decides almost everything after MBBS. Public health (MPH) is open to non-doctors too.
- MD / MS (and DNB)The specialist degree for doctors.3 years for MD/MS
- MDSThe specialist degree for dentists, taken after a BDS and internship.3 years
- MPHA master's in the health of populations rather than individual patients — epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, health systems, nutrition,…2 years
- M.PharmA two-year master's for B.Pharm graduates, specialising in one area of pharmacy — pharmaceutics (formulation), pharmacology, pharmaceutical…2 years
Business, finance & commerce
Work experience of two to three years usually improves both MBA admission and what you get out of it.
- MBA / PGDMAn MBA (or PGDM, its diploma equivalent at autonomous institutes) is a two-year postgraduate programme in general management: finance, marketing,…2 years full-time
- M.ComM.Com is a postgraduate degree that goes deeper into accounting, finance, taxation, business economics and research methods.2 years
- CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)The CFA charter is a global professional credential in investment analysis and portfolio management, awarded by CFA Institute, a US-based non-profit.2½–4 years
- Actuarial Science (IAI)Actuaries use probability, statistics and finance to price and manage long-term financial risk — life and health insurance, general insurance,…5–8 years
Humanities, law, media & teaching
A three-year LLB after any degree is a full route to becoming a lawyer — you did not miss the boat by not doing a five-year law course.
- M.A.A master's in a humanities or social-science subject — English, history, political science, economics, sociology, psychology, geography, philosophy,…2 years
- LL.B. (3-year)The three-year law degree for people who already have a bachelor's in any subject.3 years
- LL.M.A master's in law taken after an LL.B.1–2 years
- MSWA professional master's that trains you to work with people and communities — children, women, workers, patients, people with disabilities, the…2 years
- MJMC / M.A. Mass CommunicationA postgraduate course in reporting, editing, broadcasting, digital media, advertising and public relations.1–2 years
- MFA / MVAA two-year studio master's for practising artists — painting, sculpture, printmaking, applied art, art history, photography and new media.2 years
- B.EdThe professional teaching qualification for classes 6 to 12 in India, taken after a bachelor's or master's degree.2 years full-time
Government careers
Treat a government exam as a time-boxed project with a fallback plan. Most successful candidates took more than one attempt.
- UPSC Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS and more)The Civil Services Examination is how India recruits for the IAS, IPS, Indian Foreign Service and about twenty other central services such as the…Exam route
- SSC CGL (central government Group B and C posts)SSC CGL is the single biggest recruitment exam for graduates who want a permanent central government job below the UPSC level: Inspector in Income…Exam route
- Bank PO / RBI Grade BA Probationary Officer (PO) is the entry-level officer post in India's public sector banks — Scale I of junior management — recruited through a…Exam route
- State Civil Services (State PSC exams)Every state has its own Public Service Commission that recruits officers for the state government: Deputy Collector or SDM, Deputy Superintendent of…Exam route
- CDS and AFCAT (officer entry after graduation)CDS and AFCAT are the two main written exams for graduates who want to become commissioned officers in the Army, Navy or Air Force.Exam + training
Master's abroad
MS, MBA and PhD abroad — see the LLOS study-abroad directory.
The year, month by month
- Final year (Jul–Oct)GATE, CAT, XAT, CUET-PG and NIMCET registrations open.
- Final year (Nov–Feb)CAT (Nov), GATE (Feb), campus placements run alongside.
- Final year (Mar–Jun)CUET-PG, IIT JAM results, MBA interviews, M.Tech/M.Sc counselling (COAP, CCMT, CCMN).
- Any timeUPSC, SSC and banking exams run on their own yearly calendars — many aspirants take one or two years for them.