The university has a variety of research tools available, which interested me. It also has really good global support that gives you the opportunity to network around the world.
Course Curriculum :
Michigan State University is pretty relaxed with courses. The good thing is that you are free to take courses from any department or college at MSU to meet the minimum credit requirement. The courses are also very well planned and include more practical aspects than just theory. The academic requirements throughout the degree program are also very well planned and not too hectic so that you can really enjoy the learning process.
Exams :
The university requires TOEFL and GRE scores, although they are waiving the GRE requirements for spring 2021 admission. I was not asked to submit any test score as I had taken admitted under Joint Degree Program with IIT Madras, so it was waived off for me. As a part of the admission process and selection, they form an academic statement, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation.
Placement :
There are several career fairs taking place throughout the academic year. Various types of organizations like national laboratories, industries, etc participate in this fair. Due to the strong collaboration of the university, there are also a lot of research proposals for further research opportunities.
Internship :
No, I didn't get an internship.
Events :
Campus life was great! If you love getting involved in a variety of activities such as sports, dance or leadership, there are plenty of opportunities. They have the largest football (American) stadium which hosts a lot of games. During these events, you can see and mingle with thousands of people around you. The university has lots of groups and organizations for international students, which make us feel right at home.
Fees :
For Ph.D. students, you pay $175 per semester and $1800 for each credit of courses, if not funded.
Scholarship :
I was offered a research assistantship from the department of $53,000 per year which included health insurance and tuition fee for 9 credits each semester.
Faculty :
I can't pinpoint the ratio for the entire university, but department wise the ratio for students and faculty was about 5:1. The professors there are good and easily accessible. They are ready to help you with any problem not only in class but in your life. I like almost all the faculty there. I would like to mention my advisor (Dr. Karl Bohlert) that who was a wonderful faculty and supervisor. He was always available for any kind of technical help whether it was doing experiments or correcting a paper.
Hostel :
There are many options for living on-campus or off campus. There are dining facilities for on-campus living (the cost comes to around $700 per month excluding food). A cheaper option is to live off campus, where you can find 2-4 sharing bedrooms, depending on your needs. This will cost you around $400-$700 per month.
