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In an online chat with readers overseas education consultant NNS Chandra addressed queries related to international admissions.

For those who missed the chat, here's the transcrip

Ankur Vaishnav: I am A student of B-Tech Mechanical in final year. My CGPA is 6.5 (with Few Backlogs Cleared). But I have received few prestigious awards at national and international levels. Have also carried out many internships, have attended trainings organised by national level institutes. What are my chances of getting admission at reputed US, German or UK universities?

NNS Chandra: Hello Ankur, It seems like, from what you wrote, you have a strong profile. No doubt. This increases your chances. Your academic outputs (grade, GRE scores, references etc.) plays the most important role in securing MS admission. Your ECs, your profile helps, but that alone cannot carry you to reputed universities.

yasmin: What are the exams to be taken for eligibity to apply in UK universities for post graduation in Medicine Course?

NNS Chandra: Hi Yasmin, you already have an MBBS degree?

bhanu: I am doing ph.D in international law i complete my two years now i want to continue my reserach in England , can you help me with the the procedure, how should i go forward with the application process and secondly can you help me with some good universities....thank you

NNS Chandra: Hello Bhanu, Did you submit the thesis? Defended the thesis? Transferring the credits half way through the research can be a big challenge. Both Universities should agree and departments reach an understanding on the credits accumulated. Please send me additional details I can try (your back ground, current university, work so far guide etc.) to run it through our contacts in UK and get back.

rahul: I am a student of 12th class and i want to study BA from UK please tell me about scholarships and courses and list of some good universities.

NNS Chandra: Hi Rahul,Decided on which subject you want to pursue your bachelors? What did you study for your secondary education? The choice of Universities depend mostly on that. Scholarship and funding in UK is quite hard.

pankaj kumar: Is there any Cut-off in GRE?

NNS Chandra: Kishore, Some schools might not need high scores in GRE for MBA for mature candidates like you. But you must have some sort of standardised score.

pankaj kumar: I am doing some research work in algorithm. Will it be beneficial for me for MS?

NNS Chandra: Ofcourse. it will be.

pankaj kumar: No Sir Does it matter if i am not having any kind of work experience?

NNS Chandra: For MS it doesn't matter. Internships would be nice to have. For pursuing MBA you must be looking at some work experience.

girish inamdar: Hi, my son is doing his final year of Computer Engineering. He would like to M S in USA. What should be his minimum score for a good Govt funded University in USA and what is approx expenditure required for M S?

NNS Chandra: Girish, I would ask him to aim for very good GPA. Plus GRE. There is no cut off scores. It all would depend on where, which school etc. The expenses would vary depending on university, city and location, I always encourage students to keep a budget of 35,000 USD per year of study, including everything (tuition, board, lodge, books, travel) on avg.

NNS Chandra: No

Kamal Chaturvedi: No sir, it was a 3 year program .Please advice accordingly with low cost options

NNS Chandra: You must do a bridge program to get a good masters.

PURUSHOTTAM: Hi pl. suggest some institute for preparation of SAT for my son. Rakesh

NNS Chandra: I have limited knowledge of local trainers. Here in USA, my students go for Kaplan and Princeton review for their training. Check them out. Talk to previous students?

Kamal Chaturvedi: Hello Sir, I am having 6 years of work experiences in IT sector as functional consultant with a Bsc in IT.Am I eligible for MS from US.

NNS Chandra: Is your Bachelors a four year program, Kamal?

pankaj kumar: Is GRE is compulsory for MS?

NNS Chandra: I would encourage you to have a GRE score. There are some schools which might over look this requirement for exceptional candidates. Generally it is required.

pankaj kumar: [SKB] Did B.tech in IT from NIT and having good acedemic record as well. I want to go for higher studies in top universities. What are my chances?

NNS Chandra: Very high my friend. Which NIT? Specialization? Did you do your GRE, Pankaj?

Gaurav Pathi: I am having 10 Years of experience in HR and want to do a professional course in US,please suggest

NNS Chandra: Hi Gaurav, Start by exploring online courses available from Universities. Get back to academics. And then do a professional HR certification. With, may be HR institute. If you like HR. Then step towards a masters.

sharad garg: my daughter is opting for BARCH next year. But i learned that it is not prospective to get really good university in USA to pursue PG after doing graduation in architecture from Indian Institute. So in that case will she need to pursue BARCH also from abroad only?

NNS Chandra: Hi Sharad,My collegue Priya helped me with this answer "Barch - you can get into good schools for M- Arch in US provided your gpa in undergrad and portfolio is excellent"

In my opinion, choosing where to do ones bachelors is not depending on prospect of getting Masters admission. It should depend on ones resources and ability. The experiences and learning would be different in different locations. And of course it will increase chance to get to Masters also.

Shaila Malhotra: She has taken Arts with Fashion Studies. She has not yet applied for SAT/ACT. She passed 11th with 86% percent marks.

NNS Chandra: Very good. Please do ask her to get a SAT/ACT score. She got a good chance to get some admit scholarships, with the 86%. Now things would depend on standardised scores and ECs.

suhas kunte: My son just completed BE(Mech) from Pune Univ. Has 4 year avg. of 73% (except 8th sem result is pending). Has GRE score of 317. Wants to go to Michigan Tech Univ for MS in Industrial Engg. after 1 year work experience. What are realistic job prospects (i.e. willingness of employer to go thru’ INS requirements)?

NNS Chandra: Hi Suhas - Here is an answer from my collegue Ms Priya "Barch - you can get into good schools for MARch in US provided your gpa in undergrad and portfolio is excellent"

mahesh hankare: I have completed by M.E. Civil with specification in Structure from Mumbai University with 66% marks. I have 9 Years of experience in structural design field. I want to do PHD abroad but at the same time I want to have some income source as I have a very big family. Is it possible to achieve both the things?

NNS Chandra: Mahesh, It is possible, yes. If you secure an admission for PhD you should be eligible for funding, depending on your topic and lab/center you are going to be attached with.

To secure a PhD candidacy in US University you need to show your academic inclination, prove your research aptitude, your fluency in research methods, statistics. And have a good GRE. Then you must have a good research topic and have using that you can start conversations with different university departments,

Anjhana: Hi, I am going to do b tech (biotechnology) in SRM university. I would like to know whether i would be accepted in foreign universities from US, UK, AUSTRALIA etc. for my M.S. in the research oriented field since i am doing my UG in a deemed university.

NNS Chandra: Hi Anjhana – I can assure you, from my recent experience, you are not going to face challenges as far as your University is concerned (while applying in US).

UK and Australia should be the same, What you do in University matters more. Your score, your GRE, your research during your UG years, yiour internship etc. All matters. Gain research experience. Take an advance course in statistics. All these would help you to get into a MS by research program. Email me with special note on more details on research program.

Shaila Malhotra: Hi, My daughter is in 12th and she wants a carer in Technical Direction and want to do this course from any USA college if she gets a scholarship. What are her chances to get into any college in USA

NNS Chandra: Hello Shaila Malhotra,There are several sources of scholarships in US universities. The most significant one being the scholarship which Universities offer along with admission. That is purely dependent on the strength of application. Several universities offer funding for deserving candidates based on their financial capabilities. Securing an admission is the key.

What are the subjects your daughter studying now? Which program/stream? Which school? What is the SAT/ACT score? Grades so far?