Overview

The Admission Committee for the Master of Management Studies in Heritage Management programme shall be responsible for conducting the admission procedure and making selections of right candidates for the 2023 intake.

Eligibility Criteria and Key Application Components:

Relevant bachelor’s degree as a minimum academic experience

• Candidates with a bachelor's degree with majors in art history, archaeology, architecture, anthropology, civil engineering, culture or cultural studies, design, environmental studies, geography, history, international relations, interdisciplinary major, and any other major or minor with sufficient exposure to heritage-related topics (with minimum grade/marks as specified in sub paragraph 2 below) may apply. Candidates with any other discipline, regardless of their studies related to heritage, can also apply if they have a demonstrated interest in Heritage, as specified in the next section named Application along with a Statement of Purpose (SOP), may apply. 
• The candidate must hold a recognised bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST candidates) or equivalent CGPA, from a valid university in India or abroad. In case of a degree obtained prior to 1990, the Admission Committee may relax the 50% cut off, in lieu of the personal experience of the applicant since graduation. 
• The bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification obtained by the candidate must entail a minimum of three years of education after completing higher secondary schooling (10+2) or equivalent. Again, this may be re-considered by the Admission Committee for applicants who received their bachelor’s degree prior to 1990.
• In case of the candidates being awarded grades/CGPA instead of marks, the equivalence would be based on the equivalence certified by the university/ institution from which they have obtained the bachelor's degree.
• In case a candidate is unable to provide the certificate (as mentioned in point number 4 above), the equivalence would be established by the Admission Committee by dividing earned CGPA with the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the quotient with 100.
• A candidate who has appeared or will have appeared for the final year examination of the bachelor's degree by June 2023 can also apply.
  • Such candidates must have obtained 50% marks or equivalent based on latest available grades/marks (i.e. all the years’ grade/marks except the final year grade/marks), and must have completed all the requirements except the final year/final term for obtaining the bachelor's degree/ equivalent qualification.
  • Such candidates, if selected, will be allowed to join the Programme provisionally only if they submit such a certificate latest on the registration date notified by the Admission office.
  • However, the admission will be confirmed provided that final mark sheet and degree certificate are submitted not later than September 30, 2023, and if the candidate has met the prescribed eligibility criteria.
  • Non-fulfilment of the above conditions/dates will automatically result in the cancellation of the provisional admission.
     

Passion for Heritage

Though it may not be quantified, one of the underlying requirements (for the candidate’s own self-assessment and a major part of assessment of application components, i.e. Statement of Purpose and Survey on Awareness) is a self-motivated interest in or existing passion for heritage (in its broader sense). It is very important for a prospective applicant to think whether this Programme is the right one for his/her own career goals, and take a conscious decision to apply for it. Candidates may want to seek counselling through the Admissions office to assure that they are choosing the right programme. 

If one has already been involved with the heritage sector either through earlier student projects and research or through practice and self-experience, it is easy to establish this eligibility. This eligibility will be assessed through the Statement of Purpose and interview as well as portfolio, if applicable. 

Application Along with a Statement of Purpose (SOP)

We have a dedicated online application portal that takes you through the admission process. After creating your account, you will need to fill up a standard application form and upload the required documents. Along with the application form, you will need to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) explaining why you would like to join the Programme. Such SOPs may be based on your prior study or work related to heritage, any exposure to heritage-related issues, or your passion for heritage, or any other reason. The statement should be approximately 500 to 1000 words written in English. 

SOP is an important part of Admissions and candidates are advised to pay serious attention to preparing the statement, keeping it well articulated to convey their reason or thoughts behind choosing this Programme.

Heritage Awareness Survey and Preparedness Test

All completed applications are reviewed after the required fees are paid, typically within a week but no later than a month after the submission. Candidates need to ensure that their submission is ‘locked’, only after which it goes to the Admission Committee. At this stage, the applications are checked for meeting the minimum eligibility requirements, and for having all required components duly filled with necessary documents. Eligible candidates are then notified to appear for a Heritage Awareness Survey and Preparedness Test to be conducted at Ahmedabad University within the specified window of time. The Admission Committee may revise the test process without prior intimation.

There are two components to this test:

• Answering awareness-related questions:
  In this section, candidates will answer the questions posed to their best ability. However, in the next section of the test, they may be asked to provide evidence of their answers.
• Evidence in support of SOP and the awareness test:
  Applicants who have pursued any studies or work related to heritage (in any of its manifestations) may submit samples of such work as evidence to support their answers in the awareness and preparedness test. 
• For works done, please upload a digital copy of the report/paper/drawings/ photographs or other related material
• For work/internship experience, please upload a letter stating the nature and duration of the work
• For thesis/reports/articles, please upload such documents
• For course/s taken, please provide the course outline/syllabus, or a summary of what the course/s covered

If, in case, the candidates do not have such evidence/documents to upload, they may check ‘No’ in the response and get in touch with the Admissions office for further advice on this step. The Admission Committee will use this information to assess the awareness and preparedness of the candidate, which will be taken into account while taking admission decisions. 

Personal Interviews

Candidates who have completed the above two steps will be called in for personal interviews. Candidates from outside Gujarat or India may be provided with an online interview option, however, all the candidates are highly encouraged to visit the Campus in-person for better interaction and familiarisation with the University and the Programme.

Through the personal interview and the SOP, the Admission Committee examines the candidates’ understanding of the field of heritage management and their aptitude for pursuing the Programme. The interview simultaneously offers an opportunity to the candidates to ask any questions about the Programme.

Selection Process

The key purpose of the selection process is to ensure the alignment of the applicants’ interest and the Programme objectives. High scores in prior academic work may not always guarantee selection but an awareness of the broader field of the heritage sector and the applicants’ personal inclination towards the sector may make a convincing case. The selection process is based on Ahmedabad University’s holistic review process:

Application Guidelines

• All the candidates are required to submit the application and the necessary documents as well as tests and payment online through the Admissions portal. 
• The last date of application is April 15, 2023. However, candidates are advised to apply earlier to move through the process before the deadline.  
• The online Admissions portal will open on November 1, 2022, and will run on a rolling basis until April 2023. The review of applications will begin from mid-February 2023, and interviews will begin from the end of February until the end of April 2023. However, with an advance request, interviews may be scheduled on a preferred date, if the candidate has a valid reason like impending final examinations, etc. 
• Candidates selected for the personal interview will be notified of their interview date/time by email beginning mid-February 2023 on a first-come-first-served basis. The interview slots will be allotted on convenient dates beginning mid-February but no later than April 2023, until the Admissions review process is complete. Candidates from outside Ahmedabad may be permitted to have online interviews, but it is highly recommended that the candidates visit the University in-person for the interview. Candidates have to arrange their travel, or tele-conference facility (in case of an online personal interview) to appear for the interview at the assigned date/time.
• Candidates are advised to report at least 30 minutes before their scheduled time/slot of the interview.

Successful candidates will be informed of the admission decision by email around May 1, 2023, after which they must complete the admission formalities, including the payment of their 1st semester fees by May 31, 2023. 

Candidates must bring the following documents for verification at the time of admission registration:

• Original marksheets of all educational documents including that of higher secondary years. 
• Identity proof
• Experience statement or certificate, if any 
• Caste certificate (from a competent authority as notified by the Government, if applied under the reservation quota).
   

Fee Structure and Payment Schedule

Fee

• The tuition fee for the last admitted group was INR 75,000 per semester. There are four regular semesters in the study period of two years. For the 2023 intake, the fee may be increased slightly, the exact figure will be announced before the semester starts.
• A library deposit of INR 3500 will be taken at the time of admission. This is refundable at the time of graduation, subject to clearance from the library that there are no dues on the student.

Payment for Securing Admission:

The candidates as per the final selected list are required to pay full fee of the first semester and the library deposit to confirm the admission.

Payment for the Remaining Charges:

The balance fees will be paid semester-wise. Candidates are required to pay the fees of every semester a week before the commencement of the respective semester. In case of delay, a penalty will be charged as per the prescribed rules of the Centre.

Information About Expenses for Mandatory Field Immersions and Field Visit as well as Optional Exchange Programmes

The above-mentioned fees do not include the expenses of out-of-station travel and logistics pertaining to compulsory field immersion and study trips as well as the practicum programme. On an average students should be prepared to spend around INR 20,000 for field studies.

Financial Aid and Fellowship

At Ahmedabad University, we admit students on a need-blind basis and firmly believe that lack of financial resources should not be a barrier to higher education. We attest to this by providing financial support to students on a merit and need basis. Fellowship will be available every year to deserving students.

Withdrawal from the Programme and Refund of fees

The refund of fees will be processed in accordance with circular No. D.O. No. 1-3/2007 (CPP-II) issued by the Universities Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi dated December 6, 2016.

Interpretations and Change of Admission Rules

In the matter of interpretation of Admission Policy and Procedure, the decision of the Admission Committee shall be final and binding on the candidates. In the matter of such issues as are not covered in the Admission Policy and Procedure mentioned above, the Admission Committee is authorised to resolve these special issues on the merit of the case and implement the same.

Important Dates

• The above rules and dates are subject to modification(s) if required. Such changes will be published on the website.
• The Admission Policy and Procedures are subject to the jurisdictions of the Hon’ble Court of Ahmedabad.