Completed M-Tech (erstwhile M.S.) in Software Systems (Specialization in Embedded Systems) from BITS Pilani (WILP)

Hello friends,

I am extremely happy that I achieved one of my long-cherished dreams - getting a masters degree from BITS Pilani. On 26-Dec-2015, the final dissertation result was published. :) Completed my two years journey successfully.

I should say that it was a very interesting course and could learn new concepts. The course is very well tailored and crafted for working professionals. Online sessions are all scheduled for evenings after 5:30PM on weekdays and for the day time on weekends. Faculties are all very good at their subjects and have good practical knowledge too (except a few). Those who cannot attend the live online sessions can download recorded sessions from Taxila, a BITS student portal. Recorded video sessions are highly useful while preparing for exams. Evaluation assignments are really useful to evaluate how well you have understood the concepts. Majority of the assignments are objective in nature and some assignments are programming oriented. BITS has an online lab which students can access through Taxila.

The mode of exams is also highly appreciable. Questions will be based on practical case studies where you will have to apply the techniques that you have learnt in the course. Both mid-semester and comprehensive exams are subjective. Mid semester exams will be closed-book sessions where you can expect some direct questions from your study material, though it is not mandatory. Comprehensive exams at the end of each semester will be open-book, where you can bring in any type of books or your preparation notes, anything but not loose papers. The interesting part is that when we see the questions, we will really think where the hell in the book the answer lies. :). Most of the questions will be purely practical questions based on certain case studies. Usually, you will not get enough time to open the relevant book, get to the topic in question, understand the concept and answer the question. But the presence of books will surely improve your confidence.

From experience, I can share you some tips for exam preparations.

1. Always prepare in the following order:
   a) Go through the recorded video session of a subject.
   b) Go through the corresponding PPTs/lecture notes uploaded in Taxila.
   c) Read the prescribed text books.
   d) Go through previous year question papers to understand the nature of questions.
2. Though assignments carry only 15 marks, never skip them.
3. Never skip any exams; you will have to re-register the semester, paying the whole fees once again.
4. Once the dates for exams and assignments are declared, it is very very rare for BITS to change those dates.
5. By-heart the important concepts and definitions for mid-semester exams. Understand the important concepts for comprehensive exams; no by-hearting is required.
6. Failing in even one subject will need you to re-register for the semester paying the whole semester fees. But you may have to write only the failed subject; no need to write all the papers once again.

Once the exams are over results will be announced usually within one month. A hard copy of the mark list will be sent to your permanent address within a couple of months.

After 3 semesters of theory, final semester will be a dissertation project. You can choose a project topic from a broad range of domains. After choosing a topic, you will have to submit an abstract about the topic. Within a couple of weeks, a faculty will be assigned and BITS will let you know whether the topic is accepted or not. Plagiarism is not at all tolerated by BITS. After that, you will have to submit a mid-term evaluation report within a month. After another one month, you will have to submit the final report along with presentation (PPT). For all these reports, you will have to submit an evaluation sheet signed by your mentor and a supervisor who could be anyone in your company capable of guiding you. Mentor and supervisor should be different persons. Finally, you can choose the mode of final presentation - online or in-person. You will be allocated a set of timings to choose from. I chose online mode. At the time of presentation, faculty can ask to see the demo of your project. So be prepared.

Be cool. Everything will go swiftly. Have self confidence, you will achieve it. :D. All the best.

God Bless!