Career counselling: questions and answers

Q1: Dear Mr Abidi, I am currently in my second year of FSc (Pre-Engineering) and hope to score around 85% marks. I’m really interested in pursuing a career in Aerospace Engineering. Could you please guide me if there are any good universities in Pakistan that offer this programme, and what should be my roadmap to enter this field? (Umer Farooq, Rawalpindi)

Ans: Dear Umer, it's very encouraging to see your interest in a specialised and promising field like Aerospace Engineering. In Pakistan, one of the most reputed institutions offering this programme is the Institute of Space Technology (IST), Islamabad. You may also consider PIEAS or NUST, as they have related engineering programmes with a strong foundation in applied sciences and research. Since you are in FSc Part-II, focus on scoring well in your final exams and also prepare for the entrance tests (like ECAT or university-specific tests). It would also help to stay updated on IST and NUST admission announcements. Wishing you the best in your academic journey!

Q2: Dear Sir, I have done my BA in Humanities with Political Science and Sociology as my majors. I want to apply for a master’s programme abroad, preferably in a fully-funded scholarship. However, my CGPA is only 2.8. Can you advise if I’m eligible for scholarships or what alternative routes I can consider?

(Sana Anwar, Multan)

Ans: Dear Sana, thank you for your query. With a CGPA of 2.8, it might be slightly challenging to secure a fully-funded scholarship directly, especially from highly competitive programmes like Chevening or Fulbright. However, some European countries like Italy, Hungary, and Germany offer partial or need-based scholarships where CGPA is not the only criterion. You may also consider foundation or pathway programmes that lead to master’s degrees. I suggest you contact our scholarships division with your academic documents, and we’ll help evaluate your profile and guide you accordingly.

Q3: Dear Sir, I’m in Matric right now and preparing for my board exams. I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in arts and design, but my family wants me to go into science. Could you please guide me on whether a career in arts can be successful and what kind of institutions offer design-related degrees? (Marium Tariq, Faisalabad)

Ans: Dear Marium, I appreciate your honesty and clarity in expressing your interests. Arts and design is a very creative field and can lead to successful careers in fashion design, interior design, animation, game design, and visual communication. Institutes like NCA (Lahore), Indus Valley (Karachi), and Beaconhouse National University (BNU) are highly respected in these areas. If you have talent and passion, then a career in design can be just as successful as any science-based profession. Have a detailed discussion with your family and consider showing them your portfolio or interests to help them to understand your passion.

Q4: Dear Mr Abidi, I have completed my DAE (Diploma of Associate Engineering) in Civil Technology with 78% marks. I want to pursue higher education in engineering now. Should I go for a BTech or a BSc Engineering? Which one has better career prospects? (Hamza Sheikh, Hyderabad)

Ans: Dear Hamza, with a strong score in DAE, you have a good foundation. Both BTech and BSc Engineering are valid pathways, but their career prospects differ.

If you want to work in a practical, on-site engineering role, BTech is a good choice. However, if you're aiming for higher designations, project management roles, or further academic studies (like MS or MPhil), then BSc Engineering will offer more recognition and flexibility. Many universities offer lateral entry to DAE students in BSc Engineering programmes through special entrance exams. Please explore your local institutions and their admission criteria before deciding.

(Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi is a renowned educationist in Pakistan, with more than 20 years of experience as provider of education counselling services. He has represented Pakistan in over 100 national and international seminars, conferences and fora. He is a recipient of the most coveted civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz).