“Ambition,” Shakespeare made Mark Antony proclaim to humanity, “should be made of sterner stuff.” This year, as the University of Kerala is poised to admit students to its Masters programmes in the teaching departments, the Bard of Avon’s words need a bit of tweaking.
In demand
Going by the number of applicants who want to study English language and literature it surely must be said, “Admissions would be made of sterner stuff.” At close of applications this week, as many as 879 candidates have marked English language and literature as their first choice of courses. Another 168 have marked it as their second or third preference, in all 1,047 applicants. The Institute of English, which offers the English programme, has all of 26 seats. At the other end of the spectrum, not a single student has submitted application for the MA programme in Russian. There are 10 seats up for grabs for this course. Only one student has submitted a first choice for the MA programme in Tamil; there are 20 seats for this programme. Similarly, only two applicants have indicated a first preference for studying the MA Islamic History programme. The course in Arabic language and literature — which has 30 seats — has caught the fancy of 20 applicants. The MA in German programme — with 10 seats — has found only three takers. There are only three takers for the M.Sc. programme in Demography that also has 10 seats. The second most popular programme, according to data sourced from the university, is M.Sc. Chemistry. Grappling for 15 seats would be 859 students who have indicated this course to be their first choice. M.Sc. Physics with specialisation in Applied Electronics (15 seats) is the first choice for 684 students. While 226 students have applied for the 25-seat MA Malayalam Literature programme, 612 students would vie for the 30 seats of the M.Com. programme.
M.Sc. in Zoology (10 seats) has attracted 493 applicants; M.Sc. Mathematics (25 seats), 409 students; and the Master of Communication and Journalism course, with 20 seats, is the first choice for 226 applicants.
859 applicants for 15 seats in M.Sc. Chemistry
One first-choice application for MA in Tamil
