Hi Pratik,

You can secure a seat in both of the course depending on your chice. Both the branches i.e. microbiology and geology are interesting and unique subjects which are in demand these days.

I will list you the scopes in microbiology and geology and then you can decide whichever you feel would be a better field to opt for.

• Microbiology: It is mostly lab-based research which deals with microorganisms responsible for various effects on living organisms especially man and the diseases caused by the same.

Geology: It is mostly field-based research which deals with the study of the structure of the earth also focussing on the origin and development by examination of rocks and its strata.

• Degrees and their duration:

Microbiology: There are various undergraduate degrees like BSc in Microbiology or BSc in Applied Microbiology or in Industrial Microbiology, Clinical Microbiology, etc. These usually have a course duration of three years.

For masters, there's MSc in Medical Microbiology, Microbiology, Clinical Microbiology, Genetics and Bioinformatics. The duration is about two years.

Sometimes along with the subject in Bachelors you also have to read Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biostatistics, Molecular Biology so even later on in MSc, you can specialize in those fields.

Geology: There are various undergraduate degrees under geology starting from BSc in Geology, Earth Science, Environmental Science; BSc in Geology, etc. (The duration can be between three to four years depending on your choice. Usually it is around 3 years) MSc is available in Geology, Applied Geology, etc.

• These days a lot of colleges have come up with these two branches of studies. I'll list a few colleges here:

Microbiology: Delhi University, Christian Medical College, Scottish Church College, St.Xavier's College (Autonomous), Bharath University etc.

Geology: IIT (Kharagpur, Bombay, Roorkee, Kanpur, Dhanbad, Bhubaneshwar, etc.), Jadavpur University, University of Delhi, Aligarh Muslim University, etc.

• Salary: This varies depending on the work experience, whether one holds a Ph.D. degree or not, organization, etc. I'll provide an estimated figure here.

Microbiology: The starting salary that a microbiologist gets in India varies but in an average would be somewhat between 3-4 lakhs per year.

Geology: The starting salary of a geologist in India would be somewhat around 3- 5 lakhs per year. This would also differ basis the position one holds, organization, qualification, and experience, etc.

• Job profiles available:

Microbiology: People with a degree in microbiology can work as food, Industrial or Environmental Microbiologist, quality assurance microbiologist, clinical microbiologist, biomedical scientist, pharmacologist, Food scientist, research scientist, project control officer, etc.

Geology: People with a degree in geology can work as a paleontologist, environmental geologist, volcanologists, research scientists, project assistants, surface data logging geologist, etc.

The main criteria would be what is more interesting to you. Honestly, both the fields have their own specialties. I hope the above comparison has made it easier for you to make a choice.

If you need to know anything else, feel free to ask.

Good luck!