Study in India

STUDY IN INDIA

India has traditionally been seen as a country that sends rather than receives international students, but a growing number of students from elsewhere are now choosing to study in India. Indeed, the 2015 Open Doors report from the Institute of International Education found that India is the 12th most popular country for US students abroad.

Applying to universities in India 

To apply for either an undergraduate or postgraduate program in India, you could apply directly to your chosen university via the official website, well in advance of the start date for your course.

Alternatively, undergraduate and postgraduate engineering, architecture or planning students can apply to selected National Institutes of Technology and other centrally funded universities using the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) scheme, a centralized admissions service for foreign students to apply to more than one Indian university at the same time. Under this scheme, only students who will be 25 or under at the start of their course are eligible to apply for undergraduate admission; there is no age limit for postgraduate studies.

For undergraduate studies, you’ll need to pay an application fee (currently US$4,300) which goes towards your university’s non-refundable registration fee ($300) and the tuition fees of the first semester ($4,000). For postgraduate studies, the DASA’s application fee is currently US$2,300, of which $300 is for your registration fee and US$2,000 is for tuition fees for the first semester.

Foreign nationals from other South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries such as Pakistan or Sri Lanka are eligible for a 50% tuition waiver in the DASA scheme, provided they’ve passed the admission test in their home country – meaning they will also pay half of the application fee.

Tuition fees and living costs 

Tuition fees vary, as Indian universities set their own fees, but you could study a degree for as little as US$3,000-6,000 a year at an Indian Institute of Technology. Living costs in India are extremely cheap compared to most other countries, with a three-course meal unlikely to cost more than the equivalent of US$10, while a rickshaw ride home can cost as little as 40 US cents.

Many universities provide low-cost student accommodation, but you can also rent off-campus fairly cheaply if you’d prefer, with a one-bedroom flat in a large city such as Mumbai likely to cost about US$200 a month. It’s possible to live as a student on as little as US$1,800 a year, but you may wish to budget more depending on your lifestyle and spending habits.

Student visas for India 

If you hold an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card, you are able to study, work or conduct research in India without a student visa. Residents of Nepal and Bhutan can also study in India without a visa.

However, most people planning to study in India will need to apply for a student visa and pay the appropriate fee, which varies by country. Student visas for India are issued either for the duration of your course of study or for a maximum period of five years. Visas issued for less than five years can be extended with permission from the local FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office). You may also alter your course of study and/or the educational institution if circumstances are deemed sufficient. You should apply for your student visa through your nearest Indian embassy (find yours here) or online.

The essential requirements to get a student visa for India are as follows:

• You first need an offer of admission to a recognized Indian educational institute. This may mean you first have to take an entrance exam.
• Student visas only permit students to change either their course or institution with specific permission from the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office).
• As part of the visa application, the details of your course and place of study must be included. In cases where a letter of admission is not available, a provisional student visa will be issued. However, admission must be confirmed within a period of three months, otherwise the candidate will not be allowed to remain in India.
• Applicants must also submit supporting documentation, including a current and valid passport, with a minimum of six months validity and at least two blank pages.
• Applicants enrolling on a medical course of study must obtain a letter of approval, or a no objection certificate, from the Ministry of Health in India.
• Applicants for courses in engineering or at technical institutions in India must obtain similar authorization from the Department of Education.
• Student visas cannot be obtained by those already in the country on a tourist visa or any other visa type.
• Student visas issued for a period of 180 days or more will require the applicant to register with the local FRRO within 14 days of arrival.

Government rules state that all international students entering India on student visas must undergo a medical examination and obtain a medical fitness certificate. Students will also need to be tested for HIV, and admission will not be granted if results are positive. You will also be required to pay US$50 to cover medical fees, which includes insurance cover for the first year.

If you’re residing in India on a student visa, you will not be allowed to work during your studies. If you want to find work in India after graduating, you’ll need to apply for an employment visa. 

         Top 5 Universities in India 2018

1. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB)

Leading the way for India at ninth in this year’s BRICS, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) overtakes the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore as the highest-ranked university in India in BRICS this year. Also ranked joint 179th in the world rankings, IIT Bombay is the second Indian Institute of Technology to be founded (in 1958) and is recognized internationally as a leader in the field of engineering education and research. It’s also noted for its innovative short-term courses and its links with peer universities and institutes both inside and outside India, to enhance its programs.

2. Indian Institute of Science (IISC) Bangalore

The Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (IISc Bangalore) is ranked 10th in the BRICS ranking, receiving the highest score in the ranking for the papers per faculty indicator, and the second-highest score for its proportion of staff with a PhD. Established in 1909 and known locally as the Tata Institute, the university currently enrolls around 3,750 students, most of whom are postgraduates. The campus is located in the north of the city and spread over more than 400 acres, and is close to other research institutes.

3. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD)

Ranked 17th in this year’s BRICS and 172nd in the world, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) was founded in 1961 with a vision to contribute to India and the world through excellence in scientific and technical education and research. Today it has 11 interdisciplinary centers in which science and engineering overlap, and has a 325-acre campus in the affluent Hauz Khas area of New Delhi, located close to other educational institutions.

4. Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM)

Next in our list of the top universities in India this year is the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), which is placed 18th in BRICS and joint 264th in the world this year. Recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India, IIT Madras was established in 1959 and today has almost 9,000 students. Much of IIT Madras’ large campus is a protected forest, located next to the Guindy National Park in Chennai (formerly known as Madras).

5. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK)

Also founded in 1959 by the Indian government, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) is ranked 21st in this year’s BRICS ranking and joint 293rd in the world. Most of IIT Kanpur’s 6,500 students live on its large 1,055-acre campus just outside the city of Kanpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh. IIT Kanpur has a strong research orientation, and achieves very high scores for the papers per faculty and staff with PhD indicators in the BRICS ranking.