Manashi Sengupta's Review On Jadavpur University - [JU], Kolkata

Overall decent milieu but it would be nice if campus politics is kept in check. It has done the campus more harm than good, I think.

I appeared for an entrance test on English organised by Jadavpur university. Different departments had separate entrance tests. My name figured in the waiting list but I got through to study my BA in English.

The course curriculum was quite elaborate, though some of the sections, I thought, were unnecessary. There was great stress given on British English literature, while we were exposed to American literature and Indian writing in English only when we enrolled for masters. The course for both BA and MA are more suited for students who would eventually go to academia. It would have been helpful had creative writing or editing courses been made optional papers because most students don't stay in academics.

There was no internship in my university, nor was I offered any stipend. At the time I studied, there was no such mechanism in place. I would have been good if internships from the university were allowed.

The placement system was not there in the humanities departments of the university. It was available only to engineering students, which is said to be good. Most years top IT companies, banks and consultancies hire students from the engineering section.

The university has an annual fest for all departments. Other than this, there are cultural feats for the science, arts and engineering sections separately. The university has photography and trekking clubs.

The fee structure was affordable as ju is a state university. Most of the education facilities are state subsidised. Hostel stay too is subsidised. The tuition fee was nominal a few hundred rupees. Hostel fee was similarly low.

Subsidised education is available to students from poor households in every central and state university. Ju is no exception. However, I never took any scholarship.

General campus life was good. There were basketball courts and playing fields. There were opportunities to learn photography, join a trek club etc. But it was not the most active campus in the city.

The hostel facilities and food were average. The seats are limited, compared to the number of girls who apply to stay there. The rooms are clean, the food lunch and dinner generally edible. There are no hi tech digital facilities.

The JU English department has an alumni network. It is on Facebook. Almost every department has such a network. Reunions are held every year. Several alumni I know attend the reunions.

The university now has a semester system for exams. When I studied in ju, there were annual written exams and a viva-voice by an external examiner.

The faculty was quite good. Most of the teachers were capable and focused on their subjects. A few teachers were a bit irregular to classes but they were exceptions, not the rule.