Start with the work you want to be able to do and the time you can commit to learning. Then compare institutes using evidence you can inspect. A course title, a list of tools or a placement headline cannot answer all the questions that matter before enrolment.
1. Compare the actual syllabus
Ask for the current programme outline and the scope of each learning area. Check how website work, search, advertising, content and measurement relate to your goal. Module counts help describe course structure, but they do not establish the depth of teaching.
2. Understand what practical work means
Ask whether the example is a trainer demonstration, a student practice task, a personal project or live client work. Request an example showing the task and student contribution. If feedback is available, look at what changed after review. Respect client and student privacy when inspecting evidence.
Use these questions to ask about live projects when comparing practical work.
3. Meet the teaching approach
Attend an available demo and ask how beginners receive help. Review the trainer's relevant experience without assuming that a logo establishes employment or a formal partnership. Confirm which trainers teach your chosen batch.
4. Compare total commitments
Discuss fees, instalments, software, equipment, travel and the time you need for practice. Ask for relevant terms in writing. A higher fee alone does not establish better teaching, and a lower price does not prove the absence of support.
5. Clarify career and internship support
Separate preparation and opportunities from guaranteed selection. Ask how portfolio guidance and interviews work, and confirm internship conditions. Individual placements and business outcomes should be understood in their own context.
6. Test whether the campus and timetable fit
Check the journey, class schedule and actual learning environment. Ask about attendance and support if you miss a session. Avoid assuming weekend classes, recordings or replacement sessions without confirmation.
7. Check certificates and tools
Ask who issues each certificate and what completion or examination requirements apply. Clarify access arrangements and any separate fees. Platforms change, so assess the skills being taught as well as the tool names.
Before deciding, record each institute's answers under four headings: confirmed details, evidence seen, unanswered questions and total commitment. Use that record to choose a programme that fits your goals.
At ASDM Ahmedabad, compare the five-month Advanced programme and one-year Professional programme, read the current syllabus and fees guide, and arrange counselling to clarify your questions.
Compare your shortlist with this course-evaluation scorecard
Use this ASDM-produced worksheet during a demo or counselling visit. Record the answer and its evidence before deciding. A written claim still needs appropriate supporting evidence; this worksheet does not independently verify any institute.
Score each criterion: 0 = not provided; 1 = clear verbal answer only; 2 = current written detail you can retain; N/A = genuinely irrelevant to your goal. Do not use N/A for an unanswered important question.
Use the questions below on screen or print the page and write in the blank columns. Compare the evidence and your non-negotiables; do not treat a total as an objective institute ranking or a guarantee of quality, employment or earnings.
Programme facts
| Criterion | 0 / 1 / 2 / N/A | Source, date or question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Exact programme name and current duration | ________ | ________________ |
| Class schedule, start date and expected weekly workload | ________ | ________________ |
| Delivery format and campus/location | ________ | ________________ |
| Entry requirements and who the programme is designed for | ________ | ________________ |
| Current module list, with duplicate topics explained | ________ | ________________ |
| Policy for syllabus/tool changes during the programme | ________ | ________________ |
Practice and projects
| Criterion | 0 / 1 / 2 / N/A | Source, date or question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| At least one sample assignment or project brief is shown | ________ | ________________ |
| “Live project” is defined: simulation, institute property or real client | ________ | ________________ |
| Learner responsibilities and platform access are explained | ________ | ________________ |
| Review stages and trainer feedback format are explained | ________ | ________________ |
| Ownership, confidentiality and portfolio-display rights are clear | ________ | ________________ |
| A completed sample shows the learner’s contribution, not just a result | ________ | ________________ |
Trainer and feedback process
| Criterion | 0 / 1 / 2 / N/A | Source, date or question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Trainer names and relevant current experience are provided | ________ | ________________ |
| Who teaches each major topic is clear | ________ | ________________ |
| Learners receive specific feedback, not only completion marks | ________ | ________________ |
| Doubt-resolution route and normal response time are explained | ________ | ________________ |
| Missed-class, recording or make-up policy is written | ________ | ________________ |
Placement or career support
| Criterion | 0 / 1 / 2 / N/A | Source, date or question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| “Placement assistance” is defined stage by stage | ________ | ________________ |
| Eligibility conditions for support are written | ________ | ________________ |
| Resume, portfolio, interview and application support are distinguished | ________ | ________________ |
| Recent examples state person, role, employer and publication/source date | ________ | ________________ |
| Salary, job, employer or timeline is not presented as guaranteed | ________ | ________________ |
| The institute explains what depends on the learner and employer | ________ | ________________ |
Fees and terms
| Criterion | 0 / 1 / 2 / N/A | Source, date or question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Total fee and included taxes are written | ________ | ________________ |
| Payment schedule and every optional charge are listed | ________ | ________________ |
| Refund, cancellation and batch-transfer terms are available before payment | ________ | ________________ |
| Software, ad spend, exam and certification costs are separated | ________ | ________________ |
| Any discount has an expiry date and written conditions | ________ | ________________ |
Campus and learning format
| Criterion | 0 / 1 / 2 / N/A | Source, date or question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| You can observe or preview the actual learning environment | ________ | ________________ |
| Computer, internet and account requirements are clear | ________ | ________________ |
| Online/offline attendance and interaction expectations are clear | ________ | ________________ |
| Batch timing works with commute, job or study commitments | ________ | ________________ |
| The contact and support route belongs to the institute | ________ | ________________ |
Red-flag review
Write down any concern and ask for clarification before deciding.
- Guaranteed job, salary, revenue, ranking or client result
- Pressure to pay before written terms are shared
- Old screenshots or outcomes presented without dates
- Tool logos used as proof of certification or mastery
- “Live project” offered without role, access or feedback details
- Reviews or placements cannot be traced to a current source
- Important claims change between counsellor, brochure and website
Your decision record
Record your primary goal, programme and campus compared, non-negotiables, unanswered questions, evidence saved, decision date and reason for your choice.
Worked example: can I actually attend this batch?
Imagine you work shifts and can attend only on Saturdays. You want someone to review the work you produce. Here is how you might record three answers after comparing two fictional programmes. Neither column describes ASDM or another named institute.
| Question | Programme A: evidence retained | Programme B: evidence retained |
|---|---|---|
| Can I attend this batch? | 2 — dated timetable lists Saturdays for this batch. | 1 — counsellor mentioned weekends; timetable not supplied. |
| What would I submit? | 1 — a campaign brief was described verbally. | 2 — current written assignment shows the required brief and submission format. |
| Who reviews my submission? | 0 — no answer yet. | 2 — written review process identifies the reviewer and revision step. |
Programme B has more written evidence in these rows, but you still cannot tell whether you can attend. Your decision note might read: “Keep both on the shortlist. Ask B for the timetable for my batch and A for its feedback process. Decide when I can compare both against my two non-negotiables.”
A zero records a missing answer; it does not prove that a service is absent. Use N/A only when the question genuinely does not apply. Keep dates beside documents so a timetable from an older batch does not settle a current decision.
For a specific project claim, use the live-project evidence checklist. For career support, use the placement-assistance questions.
Comparing ASDM programmes? Review the 5-month and 1-year programme guide and the current Ahmedabad programme details. Confirm fees, batch timings and terms before admission. Evaluate Surat separately using its own current information.