A Vibrant College Experience in the Mesmerizing City of Dehradun.

Eligibility for the course was to either take the UPESAT with a valid score or attend a PI at the nearest centres. Application for all courses provided by UPES is available and is downloadable from their website. The fees, the detailed split up, and relevant application deadlines are available as a downloadable brochure. Hailing from a General Category, I was not entitled to any sort of benefits. However, fellow batchmates have availed reservation benefits details which are also available on their college brochure. The admission process can be overall rated as good with an educational counsellor available during the PI. He was very patient in sorting out relevant queries.

The overall course curriculum was very broad even though the course clearly stated it as a specialization in Process Design. Most of the subjects were advanced versions of the majority of subjects one would learn in the undergraduate curriculum. Before joining I aimed at specializing in the Process design area of Chemical Engineering, however, the course was very robust with advanced versions of main topics like Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer, and Reaction Engineering. The biggest highlight was the faculty who taught the courses. Subjects were taken by Distinguished Faculties from IITs and the mode of instruction was way different from conventional techniques. This made the overall learning experience great. Also, summer courses on special Chemical Engineering software were provided at the end of the first semester. This provided a great foundation for making students industry-ready. Exams were conducted in a perfect and timely manner.

Reliance, Aditya Birla, and Thyssen Kurrup were some major firms that turned up during the year 2015-2016 for placements. These are based on the student's performance during the course. Industry-based projects are allotted to students and they are required to submit their thesis based on the work they have done in this field.

The fee structure and hike policy were competitive with respect to other colleges. Internships with some top firms were provided like Reliance, Aditya Birla, etc. No financial assistance was provided by the college, however, one could approach loans or self-fund the degree. A teaching assistantship was provided during the first year with a monthly stipend of INR 3000.

The annual tech and cultural fest at UPES is a one to a two-day event. It comprises various competitions and symposiums. Students actively look forward to these events inside the campus and also take part in groups or on an individual basis. The campus is surrounded by lush greenery in a remote village. The natives living around are very helpful. There is a two-story cafeteria available where students can spend time leisurely after college hours or celebrate birthdays or even discuss together projects. The cafeteria is dynamic and allows students to use it as a leisure or working space. Club house is available with a variety of facilities ranging from indoor sports to studios to practice dance or music. Different clubs and events are held monthly wherein prior involvement is needed from the student's end.

Hostels provide basic facilities - A bed, with a cupboard and a study facility, are provided. Bathrooms are neat and helpers are available.MEss facility is available. PGS and homestays are present outside the college as weel.

Personal details and reasons for opting for the course were asked in the general introduction round. A technical expert chaired the technical round. Quality of questions were of good standards and the interview process was not hectic.