FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A. Koenig provides a combination of quality, convenience, flexibility and cost which is not available at any institute anywhere in the world.

Quality
1. Koenig has some of the best trainers in the business. Our trainers excel not just in depth and width of knowledge, but also in the all important qualities of patience and ability to explain difficult concepts in simple terms. Verify by contacting former students and reading their experiences in Featured Students section.
2. Koenig is an Authorized training partner of Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Red Hat, Novell, CompTIA, EC-Council, CWNP, LPI and CIW.

Convenience
1. We provide an end-to-end solution - airport pickup, hotel, meals, transport, Hospitality Desk support so that you can focus on study.
2. All boot camps start every month and are conveniently scheduled. You can also start from Any Date™ (if you opt for 1-on-1 training).
3. Our boot camps are Guaranteed to Run and are never cancelled due to insufficient registrations.

Flexibility
1. We have 3 tracks (Regular Track, Fast Track and Super Fast Track) to suit the learning speed of each participant.
2. We offer Customised boot camps in which you can take a combo of all certifications required by you.
3. The deposit is fully refundable in case you are not able to attend for any reason.

Cost
1. The total cost of attending our boot camp is less than 50% of the cost in Europe and USA.

You become more creative
1. Read latest research (reported by The Economist) which shows that living abroad makes you more creative.

A. Cost is not the only reason why people travel to Koenig for training. Quality of training, small batch size, convenient start dates, holiday experience, flexibility are some of the other very important reasons.

A. You have to confirm availability of a seat with us. Once this has been confirmed, you can book your place by sending a deposit of US$500 (or GBP 350) by paypal, credit card, bank wire transfer or western union. For more details, read Step # 3 on How to Register.

A. For advice and process for visa visit Visa Guidance. The process can take upto a week. In some cases it can take even longer and it is best to apply asap. The cost of the visa is £ 30 in UK and thereabouts in other countries.

A. Following are the indicative costs for travel to India (round trip):

From UK - GBP 550
From USA - US$ 1500
From Europe - Euro 850
From Africa - US$ 700
From Australia - US$900

For advice visit Airfare page.

A. A Boot Camp is an intense residential training programme in a distraction free environment.

A. Ironically it will. Though employers prefer a combination of experience and certification, there is a shortage of candidates who possess both and thus certified candidates without experience are also considered.

A. Yes, the qualifications / certifications are valid throughout the world and carry the same recognition as a certification acquired in Europe / USA.

A. All trainers at Koenig speak very good English. 90% of our customers are from outside India and our trainers speak in a neutral accent.

A. They are different. Mentoring, by definition, is support and guidance provided for self-learning. 1-on-1™ training is actually instructor-led training where the instructor is present all the time (unlike mentoring) and it is classroom training (and not self learning). Koenig is the pioneer in 1-on-1™ training and "1-on-1" is a Koenig Trade Mark.

A. Yes, we accept Microsoft Software Assurance vouchers.

A. Yes, we accept Cisco Learning Credits.

A. 1-on-1™ training is available in all Tracks (including Fast Track and Regular Track).

A. Yes, our training programs run during the Christmas / New Year holidays.

A. Yes. In 1-on-1 training, you have the flexibility to spend more time on topics which are new to you and skip topics with which you are already conversant. Thus you learn more as compared to group training.

A. Yes, you can attend parts of the Boot Camp in all 4 locations. You will have to opt for 1-on-1™ training.

A. Yes, we do. Follow this link.

A. We presently do not offer online training.

A. Instructor-led training (ILT) is proven to be the most effective way to learn. Though, e-learning allows you to learn anytime, anywhere at a significantly less cost, with ILT you learn more in less time. Success rate is 90% in ILT compared to 20% for e-learning. Despite the fact that ILT is more expensive, it makes economic sense to invest in ILT (time is money).

As per studies, e-learning is only effective for advance users. For example, e-learning is suitable for an IT professional with several years of experience to learn advanced topics in his field. E-learning (which is self-learning) usually does not work for beginners. Consider the fact - schools & colleges are primarily Instructor-led training whereas PhD is mostly self learning.

A. In a recession, job cuts and reduced hiring is inevitable. In this scenario, experienced and certified candidates will retain their jobs. Thus it makes even more sense to invest in education and certification during a recession.

A. If your boot camp is in Delhi or Goa, your Hotel will be reserved for you from Oct. 5th afternoon till Oct. 25th morning. You should plan to arrive on Oct. 5th and fly back on 25th (checkout from the hotel in the morning before 12). You are most welcome to arrive earlier or leave late. Extra nights will be charged according to the accommodation chosen by you.

If your boot camp is in Shimla, Hotel will be reserved for you from Oct. 5th (afternoon) till Oct. 25th (morning) in Shimla and for 4th Oct (night) and 25th Oct (night) in Delhi. You should plan to arrive on Oct. 4th and fly back on Oct. 25th night or 26th morning. We will arrange your stay in Delhi on 4th Oct and your travel to Shimla on 5th Oct. We will arrange your travel back on 25th Oct. and over night stay in Delhi for 25th. You can fly on 26th (checkout from the hotel in the morning before 12). You are most welcome to arrive earlier or leave late. Extra nights will be charged according to the accommodation chosen by you.

If your boot camp is in Dehradun, Hotel will be reserved for you from Oct. 5th (afternoon) till Oct. 25th (morning) in Dehradun and for 4th Oct (night) and 25th Oct (night) in Delhi. You should plan to arrive on Oct. 4th and fly back on Oct. 25th night or 26th morning. We will arrange your stay in Delhi on 4th Oct and your travel to Dehradun on 5th Oct. We will arrange your travel back on 25th Oct. and over night stay in Delhi for 25th. You can fly on 26th (checkout from the hotel in the morning before 12). You are most welcome to arrive earlier or leave late. Extra nights will be charged according to the accommodation chosen by you.

A. This is because cost of living is much less in India. Rents are less, salary levels are less, books and exams are less expensive. Thus the total cost of training is less in India as compared to Europe and USA.

A. Yes, if you send 4 participants, we can offer an exclusive Boot Camp for them which can be started from Any Date™ suitable for you.

A. Yes, we can arrange training in short notice though booking in advance is always recommended. At times training can be arranged in 2-3 days. We have 120+ full time trainers and are currently able to meet 98% of Requests for Training. Please write us to check the availability.

A. Yes, the duration of the Boot Camp is from start-to-finish including Saturdays and Sundays.

A. We guarantee that all Boot Camps will run as scheduled once a registration has been accepted. We never cancel a Boot Camp on account of insufficient registrations.

A. Yes. You have to get a Visa from the Indian embassy in your country. If there is no Indian Embassy in your country, you should contact the Indian Embassy in the country closest to you. You should apply for the Tourist Visa. Use this link to find an Indian embassy in your country. http://india.gov.in/overseas/indian_missions.php

A. Yes. Mobile phone service is available in Delhi. If you have a GSM mobile phone, we advise that you carry it with you to India. We can assist in getting a SIM Card issued for your stay in India (please carry 2 passport sized photographs). Call charges are $ 0.05 per minute for calls within India and $ 0.40 per minute for international calls (including USA and UK). We can also provide you a GSM mobile phone for your entire stay in India. Rent for this is US $20.

A. India is pretty safe from health point of view. Most of our students come without vaccinations and have never faced a problem. However, it is advisable to consult your physician before coming to India.

A. Yes, you can bring your partner with you. However, there will be an additional cost in terms of Hotel accommodation and meals.

A. Medical services in India are at par with the world and are a fraction of costs in Europe and USA. A number of our students have scheduled cosmetic, dental and ocular procedures during their stay in India. We can provide advice about this, on request.

A.	Delhi Centre Koenig Solutions Pvt. Ltd. 20-A, IInd Floor, Shivaji Marg, Moti Nagar New Delhi, Postal Code - 110015, (India) Goa Centre Koenig Solutions Pvt. Ltd. 3rd Floor, B/T1, Campal Trade Centre, Opp. Kala Akademy, Panjim, Goa - 403001, (India)	Shimla (Himalaya Mountains) Centre Koenig Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Sunbreeze Inn building, Main Bus Stand, Sanjauli, Shimla-171006. Himachal Pradesh (India) Dehradun Centre Koenig Solutions Pvt Ltd, Plot # 22, IT Park, Sahastrahdhara Road, Dehradun, (India)
	» Telephone (24 hours): +91 98102 64199 » Call us TOLL FREE from these countries: UK 0800 849 7006 USA and Canada 1-888-6-KOENIG (563644)

A. You can verify by looking up the partner list on Microsoft, Oracle and Red Hat websites. You can also read about us in the Guardian newspaper. You can also visit blogs of our students.

A. You can opt for a Customised Boot Camp and choose your own set of certifications / exams, duration, start date and accommodation.

A. As per current records, 95% of our students clear their Microsoft exams in the first attempt. The pass percentage for Cisco exams is 90%.

A. All training rooms are equipped with P4 machines with 2/4 GB RAM and 17" Color Monitors. There is 1000 MBPS network and WiFi internet access. We use real equipment for Cisco training program and Sun machines for Solaris training.

A. We provide official courseware for Microsoft, Oracle, Red Hat, Novell, EC-Council, Security Certified, CIW, LPI. For other training programs suitable publicly available books are used.

A. Class timings are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in Delhi, Dehradun and Goa and from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm in Shimla (Himalaya Mountains). Classes will be conducted from Monday to Saturday. You will have Sundays to relax, self study, and prepare for exams.

A. Following is the list of holidays for 2009: Delhi/Dehradun/Shimla New Year - 01 Jan Republic Day - 26 Jan Holi - 11 Mar Independence Day - 15 Aug Dushera - 28 Sep Gandhi Jayanti - 02 Oct Diwali - 17 Oct

Goa New Year - 01 Jan Republic Day - 26 Jan Good Friday - 10 Apr Independence Day - 15 Aug Ganesh Chaturthi - 23 Aug Diwali - 17 Oct Christmas - 25 Dec

Classes scheduled to be held on a holiday are held either on the prior Sunday or the next.

A. Maximum batch size is 5 students.

A. Yes. You can avail extra lab time in the evening.

A. It is recommended but not mandatory. If you register well in advance, we can courier the courseware to you.

A. Yes, you will get a participation certificate from Microsoft, Red Hat, Oracle, Novell and EC-Council. You will receive a participation certificate from Koenig for all other Boot Camps.

A. You can extend your stay in India. Accommodation will cost extra depending upon the Hotel you choose to stay in. There is a provision to extend the tourist visa (for a maximum of one month) while in India but the discretion is of the Indian Government.

A. Yes, you can extend the boot camp for other courses. In fact, many of our students do that.

A. We do not accept monetary contribution to our SR program. By attending a Boot Camp at Koenig you are contributing in making Koenig's SR efforts possible.

A. Following services included in the package:

1. Hands-on training.
2. Exam Fee.
3. Inhouse testing in all 4 locations.
4. Courseware.
5. Single occupancy accommodation and all meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner).
6. Free Wifi Internet in the training centre.
7. Three months after-course technical support.
8. Airport pick and drop.
9. Daily transport to training centre.
10. Hospitality Desk support - arranging SIM, mobile phone, laptop, tours (at extra cost).

A. Airfare is not included in the price. Koenig can arrange flights from most countries including Europe (€ 800) , UK ( £ 550) and USA ($ 1,500). For advice about booking flights, visit Airfare page.

A. Yes, it can be included.

A. Koenig does not have a discount policy since we already offer rockbottom prices. It is our policy to provide the same price to all students attending a Boot Camp. And this price is never different from the prices displayed on our website. This policy of fixed prices has been much appreciated by our customers.

A. Yes, it includes all the meals.

A. Halal food is available in Delhi, Goa and Dehradun.

A. Yes, it is available but only in Delhi in the Chabad House. Jews can go and have food there. They just need to inform two days in advance. It is free of cost.

A. Yes, you can drink alcohol in licensed bars and pubs (which are plenty in all cities). You can buy alcohol from licensed shops (which are also easily accessible).

A. All training centers have a prayer room where you can perform namaz.

A. No, there are no hidden costs. However, costs of laundry, phone calls are not included and you can budget a suitable amount for such expenses.

A. Overseas credit card payments involve a mark-up of upto 3% due to currency exchange. This is mentioned in Terms and Conditions of every card issuing bank. Click here to read the terms of a typical card. Koenig charged $500 in Indian Rupees (at the prevailing exchange rate). When converted into $, you can expect to pay upto 3% more due to the mark-up.

A. The registration amount of US$ 500 can be paid by Bank Wire Transfer, Paypal, Western Union or Credit Card (using online secure payment gateway). The balance amount has to be paid by travellers checks or cash after arrival in India. You can also pay the balance by credit card, but there is a 3.5% surcharge on this. You can also pay the balance by paypal. There is a surcharge of 4% in this case.

A. Yes, you can. Please write to us for more information.

A. Foreigners can take exams in India.

Here is the clarification :

1. Bonafide foreign students can take Microsoft exams in India (even if they are foreign nationals).
2. Foreign candidates have to email a copy of their passport and visa to Microsoft (proving their presence in India).
3. The above measure has been taken to check fraudulent exams being conducted by unscrupulous testing sites.

All students at Koenig are following the above process and taking their exams without any problem.

In effect, foreign nationals can take exams in India. They just have to send certain details to Microsoft.

A. You can retake the exam by paying the cost of the exam. Presently the 2nd attempt is free for Microsoft (upto 30th June, 2009).

A. It includes hotel tariff and meals only. Other services such as telephone calls, laundry, etc. are payable to the hotel.

A. Apartment is an abridged version of a Budget Hotel. Apartment has 3 bed rooms, Budget Hotel is usually more than 10 rooms. Room service is not as elaborate in an Apartment. However, an open kitchen is available in an Apartment which is not available in a Budget Hotel. Some other amenities such as washing machine, living room are available in an apartment which are not available in a Budget Hotel. Apartments are also quieter than a Hotel.

A. Dehradun has a gym within the training facilities. There are good gyms near the Hotels and training centre in Delhi, Goa and Shimla. Cost of joining a gym is around US $ 30 for a month. If you opt for 5-star accommodation, you get access to their health club free-of-cost.

A. You are most welcome to attend. We suggest that you opt for 1-on-1™ training and inform us in case any special audio equipment is required in the class.

A. You need not be proficient in English to attend our training programme. If you are able to understand the contents of our website, you will be OK . We regularly receive students for whom English is not the mother tongue. If you think that your English is not so good, you can consider opting for 1-on-1 training where the trainer will be able to give you full attention and speak slowly for you to understand. We can provide you references of recent students who have successfully attended our training programme though their mother tongue was not English.

A. India is a relatively inexpensive place for living. Here are some typical costs:
Can of Coke : $ 0.45
Can of Beer : $ 0.65
Cab for a day (8 hours) : $ 20
Dinner at a specialty restaurant : $ 25
Hair-cut : $ 3.00
Laundry (Budget Hotel) : $ 0.60 for a shirt/trouser
Pack of 10 cigarettes : $ 0.80

A. We can offer you a Customized. MCSE boot camp of 2 weeks. You will have to work very hard but if you possess sufficient prior knowledge of the subject (which we will check using our Knowledge Level Test) you have a decent chance of passing all the exams.

A. The short answer is Oracle 10g.

Though the number of installations of Oracle 9i are more than Oracle 10g (and corresponding there are more jobs for Oracle 9i than 10g), people trained on the latter are also fewer so you are more likely to get job in Oracle 10g.

If you have time, the best option is to do OCP in Oracle 9i and take the upgrade to 10g.

A. Forms 10g is version 9.0.4 which is the same as Oracle Forms 9i. In fact, OCA / OCP Developer exams are same for 9i and 10g.

A. Yes you can, though you are advised to plan to stay a few days extra to complete the website.

A. There are several options for learning CCNA. If classes are conducted only for few hours per week, the training can extend over several months.

We offer compressed training programs where the participants study for the full day and also spend time in the evening to revise the subjects of the day. The training programs known as "boot camp" are intense and "total immersion". Since, the participants remain away from work / family and are focused on learning for the duration of the "boot camp" they learn a lot more than they would in a part-time school. In fact, we arrange other services (including cab pick-and-drop from the hotel) to enable the student to spend maximum time on studies.

Boot camps are popular all over the world, especially in USA and Europe.

A. We presently do not offer separate training for CCENT. You have an option to join CCNA since CCENT is a subset of CCNA. After training you will have an option to take the exam only for CCENT or for CCNA.

A. There is no refund of second exam fees if you pass the exam in the first attempt. The costing of RHCE (2 takes) takes into account that a certain percentage of students will pass in the first attempt and fewer number of students will require the 2nd take.

A. Yes, you can retake the exam at an additional cost of US $ 250 even if you do not take RHCE (2 takes). Price of RHCE (2 takes) includes not just the cost of the retake but also retraining after analyzing the reason for failure in the first attempt. It also includes the accommodation and meals for the extra stay.

A. There will be mock exams for multiple choice and our trainer will train you for completing the Assignments and Essay.

The assignments and essay are received a few days after you pass Exam# CX-310-052. During this waiting period our trainer will guide you how to complete the Assignment and Essay. In case the Assignment and Essay are not received within 19 days, they will remain in contact with you even after you have traveled back till the time you achieve your SCEA certification.

A. Yes, it covers fees for all three exams.

A. RHCE exam is not available in Goa. RHCE exam is only available in the larger cities.

You have an option to fly back to London from Delhi (rather than going back to Goa and then flying to London. You will get a rebate of US$ 100 if you do not require the Delhi-Goa flight to be booked by Koenig. Your routing will be London-Goa, Goa-Delhi-London.

A. Some certifications require candidates to only pass the exam to attain certification. For example, for Microsoft, Cisco, Red Hat, Novell certifications you need not attend training at an authorized training centre. So long as you pass the exam, you become certified by the vendor. For VMware (and also Oracle), you have to attend an authorized course at their Authorized Training Partner apart from passing the exam.

A. Yes, this is possible if you are taking 1-on-1 training. It is also subject to availability of resources and after paying difference of cost.

A. Yes, you can change to 1-on-1 subject to availability of resources and after paying difference of cost.

A. First class is not available in the train travel to Shimla. You can opt for flight at an extra cost of $200 - 300 (round trip).

A. The situation is same across all certifications (not just Cisco). All candidates who get certified do not get a job. This is due to various factors - certifications acquired (CCNA will not get a job as quickly as CCNP would), depth of knowledge acquired (apart from passing the exams), how well the interviews are delivered, aptitude of the candidate, how many jobs are applied for, etc.

Nevertheless, most (if not all) Cisco certified candidates who work hard do get a job. Koenig provides training on real Cisco equipment and focuses on in-depth knowledge. We also provide Experience™ after the training : http://www.koenig-solutions.com/training/experience.htm

94% of our students report that they have got a job after receiving training at Koenig.

A. Both. Though you have your own workstation in the class, the laptop is useful to review power point slides in the evening. It will also help you to connect to the internet. We can provide a laptop for US$ 7 per day. You can decide about this once you start with your Boot camp.

A. A+ (or any other certification) does not guarantee a job. However, there are chances of getting entry level hardware maintenance jobs after doing A+. If you have time we suggest that you take A+, Network+ and MCSE which will enable you to obtain a higher level job.