VISA Episode # 18 | A Report

VISA Report

Episode # 18

Report by: Ms. Lekhaa, M. S

Intern, Office of International Programmes

Speaker: Ms. Jeslyn from Melbourne, Australia

On the 30th of July 2025, at 7 p.m., the office of the Dean of International Programs hosted episode 18 of the Virtual Interaction with Scholars Abroad (VISA) program.

The speaker for the day was Ms. Jeslyn Jayaseelan, a student at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, pursuing her masters in Marketing. She is an alumnus of the Department of Commerce, Madras Christian College. 

The EmCee for the day was Ms. Lekhaa, an intern with the office of International Programs. The program began with an opening prayer by Prof. Arun Kumar, Associate Dean of International Programs (Aided). Then, Dr. Samuel Rufus, Dean of International Programs, delivered a welcome address. 

Ms. Lekhaa introduced the chief guest, Ms. Jeslyn, and handed the floor over to her. 

Ms. Jeslyn started by introducing herself and quickly mentioned what she would be talking about. 

Her journey to Australia started with her talking to her parents about finances. She considered three countries for her higher studies - US, Australia, and Ireland.

She knew she wanted to study Marketing and chose her country accordingly. She checked various factors before choosing her university - climate, Indian community, finance, and safety. 

Ms. Jeslyn applied to five colleges, but ended up selecting RMIT, because it had a good curriculum and it was situated in a good place.

She then ran through her application process, highlighting the documents she needed to submit. She also talked about an ‘autogrant VISA,’ which is a type of VISA approval in Australia where the VISA is immediately approved if all the documents are in order. 

Further, she spoke about her first days in the country, the troubles she faced, and provided strategies for new students to avoid those problems. She focused specifically on housing troubles, adapting to the city, and rewiring academically. 

Then, Ms. Jeslyn spoke about part-time jobs, highlighting that Australia has one of the highest minimum wages in the world, which makes it easy for students to meet their expenses. She concluded her talk by mentioning her five-year plan and outlining her expenditures and the basic financial requirements. 

The session concluded with a list of announcements about the office of International Programs and a Vote of Thanks by Ms. Lekhaa. 

“Workshop on Shortlisting U.S. Universities and Writing Your SOP" | A Report

“Workshop on Shortlisting U.S. Universities and Writing Your SOP: Key Strategies and Common Mistakes to Avoid”

Wednesday, 23rd July 2025

Event Report

By Ms. Keerthana

[Intern, Office of International Programmes]

The Office of International Programmes organized a workshop titled “Shortlisting U.S. Universities and Writing Your SOP: Key Strategies and Common Mistakes to Avoid” on 24 July 2025 at the Chemistry Seminar Hall.

The event was conducted in collaboration with EducationUSA, a U.S. Department of State-supported advising network, and the American Center, Chennai.

The programme began with a welcome note and the introduction of the guest speakers by the master of ceremonies, Ms. Shrestha.

The speakers were Mr. Rishi Kumar, Programme Associate at the American Center, and EducationUSA advisers Ms. Elizabeth and Mr. Arvind Sivamani. This was followed by the presentation of mementos and a group photograph session.

The session continued with a college prayer led by Ms. Stephanie, an intern, setting a formal tone for the academic engagement ahead.

Dr. Samuel Rufus, Dean of International Programmes, delivered the inaugural address, emphasizing the value of well-crafted Statements of Purpose and the importance of informed university selection. He also acknowledged the support of the institution’s leadership, the efforts of the student intern team, and the contribution of Ms. Rishitha in initiating the collaboration.

Mr. Rishi Kumar opened the technical session by sharing an overview of the American Center and its educational resources. He introduced the audience to the wide range of academic tools and cultural programmes offered at the center, including eLibraryUSA, which provides access to research databases, online English learning platforms, and global newspapers. 

He encouraged students to make use of these free facilities and explained the process of membership registration. He also touched on various U.S. exchange and fellowship programmes available to Indian students.

Ms. Elizabeth followed with an in-depth session on SOP writing. Drawing from her own experience as a recent U.S. graduate, she provided a clear explanation of what universities look for in an SOP. 

Her talk covered the elements of structure, personalization, tone, and common writing errors. She distributed handouts with guided templates and urged students to begin early, revise multiple drafts, and reflect authentically on their academic and career goals. Her session received active engagement from the participants and was appreciated for its clarity and relevance.

The final speaker, Mr. Arvind Sivamani, presented a detailed framework for shortlisting universities. He advised students to evaluate institutions based on five factors: academic alignment, financial affordability, location suitability, campus culture, and career outcomes. Emphasizing the need for a balanced approach, he recommended creating a shortlist that includes reach, match, and safety options. 

He also cautioned against choosing universities solely based on rankings or peer preferences and encouraged a research-driven strategy grounded in EducationUSA’s "5 Steps to U.S. Study" methodology.

Following his session, a question-and-answer segment was conducted, where he addressed individual queries from students and provided detailed clarifications.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Arvind Sivamani thanked the audience for their patience and active participation. He also announced the upcoming EducationUSA Fair and encouraged all attendees to make use of the opportunity to meet representatives from U.S. universities.

The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Prof. Arun Kumar Joseph, Associate Dean of International Programmes, who acknowledged the speakers, organizers, and participants.

VISA Meet Episode # 17 | A Report

VISA Meet – Episode No. #17

23rd July 2025

Event Report: by Ms. Aleena Johnson

[Intern, Office of International Programmes]

The seventeenth episode of the VISA Meet was successfully conducted on 23rd July 2025 via the Zoom platform.

The event featured two distinguished alumni: Mr. David Rhenius D from the Department of Physics and Mr. George John Elias from the Department of Economics.

The Master of Ceremony for the session was Ms. Rishitha, Intern at the Office of International Programmes. The session commenced with a heartfelt college prayer led by Ms. Rishitha herself, setting a warm and reflective tone for the gathering.

Dr. Samuel Rufus, Dean of International Programmes, delivered an inspiring welcome address, followed by an introduction of the guest speakers and coordination of the event by Dr. Nirmal Thyagu from the Department of Physics.

Mr. David Rhenius is currently working as a Physics teacher at Merryland International School, Abu Dhabi, while Mr. George John Elias serves as a Junior Analyst at Stratlinx Advisory, Abu Dhabi.

They spoke about the various opportunities and scopes for studying and working abroad, especially in the UAE, and shared insights on how to identify the right kind of placements. They emphasized that the UAE is emerging as one of the top destinations for both education and employment abroad, citing its demand for high-quality talent and government support for students and professionals.

They highlighted that the cost of education in the UAE is relatively lower than in many other countries and that scholarships are widely available. Moreover, they explained that the UAE's job market is highly diversified, not limited to the petroleum or oil industry.

A particular focus was given to the teaching profession in the UAE, noting that it offers excellent exposure to different cultures, attractive salaries, and good career prospects. They advised students to pursue regular degrees or a B.Ed. rather than correspondence courses, as the latter may reduce chances of securing good positions abroad.

They concluded their talk with a powerful reminder –

“Dreams are closer than we imagine — we just need to open our eyes and seek them out.”

The session ended with a lively and informative Q&A segment, moderated by Dr. Nirmal Thyagu, where participants had the opportunity to engage with the speakers and clarify their doubts. The Meet ended with the Vote of thanks by Ms. Shrestha, Intern, Office of International  Programmes. 

VISA Meet | Episode # 16 | A Report

VISA Episode # 16

A Report

By Ms. Lekhaa M. S

[Intern with the Office of International Programmes, MCC]

Speaker: Ms. Elkah Mariam Thomas, Hoseo University, South Korea

On the evening of 16th July, 2025, the Office of International Programmes, Madras Christian College hosted episode 16 of Virtual Interaction with Scholars Abroad (VISA), with Ms. Elka Mariam Thomas.

The MC for the event was Ms. Shrestha, intern of the Office of International Programs. The event started out with the college prayer by Ms. Shrestha, followed by a welcome address by Dr. Samuel Rufus, Dean of the Office of International Programs.

Professor Joshua went on to introduce the resource person of the day, Ms Elka Mariam Thomas. She is a teaching assistant and is part of the Office of International Studies, Hoseo University, South Korea. She is pursuing her PhD in Hoseo University.

Ms. Elka started by suggesting that interested students learn Korean before coming to the university, as it opens a lot of opportunities for part time jobs. She also informed that the Undergraduate program in Hoseo University is for 4 years. She stressed the need for a Korean Proficency Certificate, to ensure admission.

Then, she went on to talk about the English and Korean track classes. The English track courses would be taught in English and Korean track in Korean. 

She also said that Undergraduate students would not have classes on all days of the week, further freeing their schedules for part-time work opportunities. Masters and PhD students would only have 3 or 4 subjects per day.    

Ms. Elka spoke of her struggles learning Korean, stressing upon the fact that her PhD classes was in Korean. She said her guide and mentors were very helpful, correcting her when she made mistakes. She said that PhD scholars do not have regular exams, but rather have to present reports.

Then, she went on to talk about the admission process. It starts with application submission, then document screening, including marks, extra curriculars, and other achievements. After this, there is an interview before admission is confirmed.

She talked about the eligibility criteria for the tracks, then informed the gathering that TOPIK level 3 is compulsory for HoSeo Korean track classes, while IELTS or TOEFL is mandatory for the English track.

Ms. Elka further went on to surprise the group with scholarship opportunities, based on TOPIK, IELTS, or TOEFL scores. She also said that for Undergraduate courses, maintaining a higher GPA means earning a higher scholarship, while there is a consistent 40% reduction in fees from the second semester on in Masters courses. 

Then, Ms. Elka talked about the documents required to gain admission in HoSeo University. These documents need to be submitted through post. 

She then shared the list of courses for the English and Korean track for the Masters program.

Following her talk, Ms. Elka accepted questions. Dr. Millicent Serena, Associate Dean of the Office of International Programs started by asking about the cost of studying in HoSeo University. Ms. Elka replied saying that without a scholarship, the fees per semester would be around 3.5 INR, not including accommodation. Ms. Keerthana and Ms. Madeeha also asked a few questions.

Joshua asked how to learn Korean from India. Ms. Elka said that the Korean classes offered in MCC would help. Further, students can use Duolingo or Youtube videos to learn. She also added that she learned Korean in Korea, by speaking to Koreans.

Dr. Millicent Serena concluded the segment asking about the job opportunities in Korea. Ms. Elka said the opportunities depend on your Korean proficiency.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Millicent Serena.

VISA Meet | Episode # 15 | A Report

VISA Programme – 9th July 2025

“Miles Away, Dreams Closer”

Mr. Adems Jimmy George | NUS Singapore

Episode No. #15

Report by Ms. Aleena Johnson

[Intern, Office of International Programmes]

The fifteenth episode of the VISA Meet was successfully conducted on Wednesday, 9th July 2025 through the Zoom platform. The event featured our distinguished alumnus, Mr. Adems Jimmy George from the Department of Economics.

The session commenced with a heartfelt college prayer led by Ms. Shrestha, setting a warm and reflective tone for the gathering.

Dr. Samuel Rufus, Dean of International Programmes, welcomed the participants with an inspiring welcome address, after which Dr. D. Merlin Juliet Arul Thangam, Head of the Department of Economics, introduced the chief guest.

Mr. Adems Jimmy George is currently pursuing his MSc in Finance at the NUS Business School, Singapore. He has also been selected for the prestigious two-week Tsinghua PBCSF Summer Programme, hosted by the PBC School of Finance, Tsinghua University, China.

An alumnus of the Economics Department at MCC (Batch 2019–2022), Mr. Adems brought a wealth of experience and inspiration to the session.

In his address, he emphasized the importance of mental health, staying grounded, and engaging in regular self-evaluation. He encouraged students to observe the world around them, build meaningful connections, and focus on skill development—two factors he identified as key to success.

Acknowledging the common uncertainties students often face about their future, he reminded them that it's perfectly normal to question one's path. However, he stressed that it is never too late to reflect, recalibrate, and move forward with determination.

Mr. Adems posed a vital question to the participants: “Why International Studies?” He urged students to reflect deeply on their motivations for pursuing education abroad, emphasizing the need for clear goals and informed decisions.

He also warned against fraudulent schemes that exploit the aspirations of students under the guise of study-abroad opportunities. He advocated for a strong academic record, urging students to focus on maximizing their GPA, engaging in research projects, internships, and other academic activities.

He further encouraged participation in paper presentations and the use of professional networking platforms like LinkedIn to enhance exposure and build global connections.

He concluded his talk with the powerful reminder that while dreams may seem miles away, with the right efforts and mindset, they are always within reach.

The Q&A session, moderated by Dr. Merlin Juliet Arul Thangam, was lively and informative, allowing participants to interact directly with the speaker.

The event was formally concluded with a sincere vote of thanks by Prof. Arun Kumar Joseph, Associate Dean of International Programmes (Aided).

The session was deeply motivating and left a lasting impact on all attendees, serving as a reminder that dedication, clarity, and action can bring even the most distant dreams closer to reality.

VISA Meet | Episode # 14 | A Report

VISA Programme – Episode # 14

Speaker: Mr. Renjith Mathew Roy | Germany

Report by Ms. Keerthana

Wednesday, 2nd July 2025 | 7 pm

[Intern, Office of International Programmes, MCC]

VISA - Virtual Interactions with Scholars Abroad

The 14th edition of the VISA Programme was successfully conducted on Wednesday, 2nd July 2025, by the Office of International Programmes in collaboration with the Department of Physics (Aided).

The session aimed to bridge the gap between aspiring students and experienced alumni studying abroad by offering guidance on academic pathways, admission procedures, opportunities, and their personal experiences.

The session commenced with a welcome note from the MC, Ms. Rishitha, followed by the college prayer by Ms. Prisella.

Dr. Samuel Rufus, Dean of the Office of International Programmes, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the value of alumni-led mentorship in preparing students for global education.

Following this, Dr. Arun Kumar Joseph, Associate Dean of the Office of International Programmes, made a formal announcements on the upcoming events and encouraged student involvement. Dr. Nirmal Thyagu N from the Department of Physics (Aided) then introduced the speaker Mr. Renjith Mathew Roy, an alumnus of the department.

Mr. Renjith Mathew Roy completed his B.Sc. in Physics at Madras Christian College and pursued his M.Sc. at Universität Stuttgart, Germany. He is currently engaged in doctoral research at the Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart.

In his session, Mr. Renjith introduced four core elements that contribute to a successful journey: VISA (Purpose of your visit), Vision (building a vision during your Bachelors), “Love Two Subjects”, and Master’s Career Abroad. He also presented a planning timeline, recommending that students start preparing by the second year of their undergraduate programme.

Expanding on the core theme of study abroad opportunities, the speaker covered pathways for undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and postdoctoral education, in addition to industrial roles and internships. He also outlined how various state governments in Germany offer scholarships and financial aid to international students. Detailed information was shared regarding expenses including tuition, cost of living, and the blocked account requirement.

In the latter part of the session, the speaker discussed how to write an effective SOP, maintain motivation throughout the UG years, and prepare mentally and academically for studying abroad. He also gave a brief overview of his current university and the focus of his doctoral research.

Following his presentation, Dr. Nirmal Thyagu N expressed appreciation for Mr. Renjith’s insightful and comprehensive talk and initiated an interactive Q&A session. Students actively participated by posing questions related to career opportunities, admissions, and future planning, all of which were addressed clearly and patiently by the speaker.

The session concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Millicent Serena A, Associate Dean of the Office of International Programmes. She extended her heartfelt thanks to the speaker, organizing team, faculty, and participants for making the event informative and meaningful.