India

Study In India

The Indian education system has always gained respect worldwide. It has been steadily making progress and holds a strong position in the global arena. Many foreign students every year come to India to pursue variety of courses that are offered by top universities in India like IIT. Delhi University, Panjab university, etc.

Students from every corner of the globe are seen opting to study in India. Foreign students studying in India normally wish to learn more about India's culture and traditions. India is also part of the largest higher education network in the world, thus, higher education in India is an enriching experience.

Indian education system and the overall environment in the country is conducive for learning with a distinctive welcoming and non-dicriminating atmosphere which assures international students of not just their safety but also a great lifetime experience. India has good colleges and universities that offer world-class education and excellent infrastructure. These colleges are spread all over the country in cities like Delhi, Punjab, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, etc. Therefore, the plethora of choices is another factor that pulls international students towards taking admission in Indian colleges. There are more than 300 universities and around 17000 colleges in India.

The courses offered by the renowned universities in India are globally recognized. There are undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses. Furthermore, there are various training and diploma courses offered by institutes and polytechnics which are in tune with the skill-based needs of different industries. The biggest plus point of studying in India is that it is within the reach of every person because of the reasonable fee structure in all the top colleges.

Online education and distance learning universities in India are also in demand nowadays. More than 60 distance education institutions under 60 universities along with 11 open universities form the strong base of distance education in India. Living and studying in India will help a student to know about values, traditions and different kinds of people. Also, while studying in India one can do training or internship to learn more about the chosen field. The government policies in India are continuously focused on the development of education system and in maintaining high standards.

Studying in India will help you to not only learn about your chosen field but also see various facets of life.

A Wide High Quality Network of Universities

More than 300 universities and around 17,000 colleges offer a wide variety of courses making Indian education system the second largest in the world. Some figures are as following which emphasize on the strength of the Indian education system:

• 52 - Deemed Universities
• 162 - Traditional Universities
• 40 - Agricultural / Forestry / Fisheries / Veterinary Universities
• 36 - Engineering and Technology Institutes such as Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institute of Science etc.
• 18 - Medical Universities
• 11 - Open Universities
• 18 - National Institutes of Technology

Quality

Quality is a major concern in all government policies and guidelines. Therefore, Government of India has made it mandatory for National statutory bodies to maintain the quality in educational instituitions and every institution has to be recognized by appropriate statutory bodies. Some of these bodies are as following:

• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
• National Board of Accreditation (NBA)
• National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)
• Medical Council of India (MCI)
• University Grants Commission (UGC)
• Dental Council of India (DCI)
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

Curriculum Structure

Indian Education System has a 10+2+3 structure which is at par with international standards and it has a well researched globally recognized curriculum.

Additional Benefits of Indian Education System

English is one of the compulsary mediums of instruction, thus, international students have no problem in understanding or in studying in India. The universities and colleges in India have close association with the working of different industries, therefore, skill building and overall development are added advantages.

Eligibility and Procedure

Before applying for admission in any higher education instituition in India, a student needs to have his/her Higher Secondary/GCE 'A' level/any other examination certificate (equivalent to 10+2 stage in Indian qualification with subjects related to their chosen area of study). Eligibility criteria for different courses differ from college to college in India.

For international students, following documents are very important:

• Valid passport (minimum for six months)
• Confirmed letter of acceptance or a provisional admission certificate from a university or a college or institution.
• Proof of availability of sufficient funds for the duration of studies in India for self-financing for NRI students.
• Health certificate and AIDS-free certificate
• Student Visa (not required for the children of Indian Diaspora)
• Proof of long term (at least three years)/permanent residence in the country (not for the children of Indian Diaspora)

Procedure

Selecting the Course and Institute

• International students can choose from a plethora of courses offered by universities, institutes and colleges in India. A good global education corporate can help a student choose better and advice on suitable colleges and programmes along with helping in the overall admission process.
• UGC (University Grants Commission) website is also a good source of useful information on Indian universities and colleges that are recognized by appropriate statutory bodies.

Application

The academic year starts in July/August in India. Admissions start a few months before this so students have to be well prepared and apply in advance. Students can get help from expert counselors at a good global education corporate to know more about the registration process, how to complete applications, online education, distance learning universities, etc. In fact, these counselors help from the pre-admission stage till the completion of your course.

Student Visa

India offers different kinds of visas, depending on the purpose of visit. Student visa is a special visa for the students wanting to come to India for education purpose. Student Visas are issued for the duration of the academic course of study or for five years whichever is less. It is issued on the basis of letters of admission from universities/recognized colleges or educational institutions in India.

Pre-requisites and Conditions for a Student Visa

If you are on Government of India scholarships, the respective Indian missions would be advised by ICCR to issue a regular student visa after your admission in an Indian university is confirmed. On the other hand, if you are a self-financing student, you need to produce letters of admission from universities or recognized colleges and institutions in India for obtaining the regular student visa.
If you are coming as a research student, synopsis of the research project countersigned by the sponsoring institution in India along with letter of approval and a no objection certificate from the concerned Ministries in India should be submitted for getting the visa.

Note: Processing of applications for research may take about three months.

Don't worry if your admission is still not confirmed. Students not having definite letters of admission from universities or institutions or if the admission is still not confirmed will be issued Provisional Student Visa by the Indian missions abroad, on the basis of provisional letters of admissions. However Provisional Student Visa is valid for 3 months. Within these 3 months, your admission needs to be confirmed otherwise the student will have to leave India. Provisional Student Visa cannot be extended.

A student needs to mention the name of the Institute while applying for the visa. This is also mentioned on the visa. A request for change of university or institution after coming to India cannot be considered. In this case you would be required to go back to your home country and apply for a new visa.

"Change of purpose" of visit of international students to India is not permitted once they arrive in India. Therefore, if a student comes to India on tourist or any other type of visa, he/she cannot get this visa changed to student visa. According to government regulations, if an international student comes to India on a tourist or any other type of visa (except a student visa) and then gets admission in a university or any institution in India, the student will have to go back to his/her country and obtain a new visa (i.e. a student visa) from the Indian mission there. To avoid this situation, all self- financing international students should procure regular or provisional student visa from Indian missions abroad by showing confirmed or provisional letters of admission from a university or an institution. The visa can be applied for from any of the Indian Embassies/High Commission.

Following rules and regulations need to be kept in mind:

• Passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of intended departure from India should be produced along with the visa application.
• Students holding other nationalities (other than the country where applying for visa) are required to submit proof of long-term (at least three years)/ permanent residence in the country (where applying). For citizen of other countries, a reference has to be made to their country of residence for which an additional fee is applicable and will involve extra processing time. Please refrain from making inquiries about the status of application during this time.

The fee structure for student visa depends on the nationality of the passport holder and type/duration of visa applied. These fees are payable in the local currency as well. One can check with the Indian Embassy in home country for exact visa fees.

Government of India Scholarships for Foreign Students

The Government of India offers various scholarships to international students every year. Offer of scholarships are sent to the respective Governments through Indian diplomatic missions abroad. Nominations are received from the respective Governments in the Indian diplomatic missions concerned. The information on scholarships and schemes can be procured from the Indian missions abroad.

Some of the Scholarships are:

• General Cultural Scholarship Scheme (GCSS)
• Cultural Exchange Programme
• Commonwealth Fellowship Plan
• Reciprocal Scholarships Scheme
• Technical Cooperation Scheme of the Colombo Plan
• SAARC Fellowship Scheme
• ICCR Scholarship Scheme etc.

Cost of Living and Studying in India

Study in India is relatively more affordable than other education destinations. In fact, it comes out to be one-fourth of the total expenditure while studying in universities in western world. Living expenses along with food and other needs is about USD 100-150 per month in India.