Caring faculty, good study environment and a scenic campus at Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Assam University, Silchar

I had also applied for B. Pharm at Dibrugarh University but didn't take admission there as it is a State University while Assam University is a Central University. Assam University has better students-teachers interaction compared to Dibrugarh University. No, I didn't opt for any quota for admission at Assam University as I am a general category student. Eligibility for admission is that the student needs to qualify 10+2 from any board with at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Biology. There is no age bar. Prior to COVID, an admission test of 100 marks was held with marks distribution as follows: 50 MCQs for 50 marks, followed by a Personal Interview carrying 25 marks, and the rest 25 marks were calculated on the basis of performance in class 12. However, due to COVID, in 2020 the students were given admission solely on the basis of Class 12 marks on a merit basis. A similar process may be followed for admission in 2021.

I was originally an MBBS aspirant. Unable to secure a seat, I chose B. Pharm as it has many similarities with the MBBS course and we get to learn a lot about medicines and the human body. There are a total of 13 faculty members in the department and each class has an average of 45 students (total intake capacity as of 2020 is 50 students). The faculty: student ratio is roughly 1:14 . The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Assam University has highly qualified faculty members, each having a Ph.D. degree. The senior faculties have decades of teaching and research experience. The teachers teach with great care and complete the entire syllabus in due time. The teachers are also available for doubt clearance. During COVID, classes are going on in full swing through Google Meet. 2 Internal Exams (30 marks) are held in each semester followed by a Semester Exam (75 marks). One can easily score over 80% marks if one follows the lectures sincerely.

Industrial Training of 4 weeks takes place in the third year. These are not paid ones. The students get to experience the work culture of industries like Sun Pharma, Ozone, Cipla, Jupiter Pharma etc, The students need to visit the industries and report about whatever they learnt.

Placements have taken place here in the past and the final year students are eligible. However, campus placement has not taken place for the years 2019, 2020. Nestle, Thyrocare Laboratories, Abbott Healthcare, Ajanta pharma, Apollo Hospitals have visited the campus in the past. Average packages range from 20,000/per month. Most students opt for higher studies. Some get placed. 40% of students secure placements through off campus means. I wish to opt for MPharm after the completion of my course.

The fees for the first year is Rs. 41,545. The fees keep on decreasing in the subsequent years. For example, you pay around Rs. 37,000 in the third year. All UGC Scholarships can be availed here such as Ishan Uday Scholarship for North East Students, UGC OBC Scholarship, UGC SC Scholarship, Minority Scholarships etc. A fees reimbursement scheme is also available for financially weak students.

Annual students fest is held in the month of February-March known as AUSKRITI which has sports, cultural and literary events. A science fest called SCIENTIA is also held every year in September. The department of Pharmaceutical Sciences also organizes its own fest known as GENERIX in the month of April every year. There is a departmental library and also a central library here. All the books required for the curriculum are available here and new books are being added from time to time. The department lacks in terms of infrastructure and the classrooms aren't well furnished. There are chalkboards, projectors, and a smart class. The campus has a cricket ground, gym, football ground, basketball court and also many indoor games like table tennis, carrom board, etc. There are social groups for literature, sports but these are not much active. There is a students' union as well. An online forum known as AUS Students' Forum exists where active discussion and query resolving takes place.

A personal interview is held as a part of the admission test. The questions are asked from Class 11-12 level Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics (if you didn't have Biology in class 12). The students need to apply for admission at www.ausadmission.in . The admission process usually starts in the month of July-August. After registration, the list of eligible candidates for admission will be published, followed by an admission test, and finally the merit list of selected candidates is published. I studied my class 11-12 books for preparation for the test. one can easily crack the admission test if one is prepared with the NEET syllabus.