With the world’s second largest population (after China), and a fast-growing and ever-more influential economy, it’s unsurprising that India’s higher education system has undergone rapid expansion over the past few decades. India now has one of the largest higher education systems in the world (after China and the US) – and to an outsider, perhaps one of the most complex. There are thousands of colleges and universities in India to choose from, of many different types, sizes, specializations and origins, some state-run, others private.
India’s higher education system was ranked 24th in the world in the QS Higher Education System Strength Rankings 2016, and is especially well-known for the quality of its education in engineering and technology subjects, spearheaded by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore and the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). There are currently 16 of these, located around the country, focusing mainly on engineering, technology and science disciplines.
A total of 23 top universities in India feature in the QS University Rankings: Asia 2016, including nine in the top 100. Aside from the science and technology specialists, India’s highest performing comprehensive universities are the University of Delhi (66th in the QS University Rankings: Asia 2016), the University of Calcutta (108th), the University of Mumbai (145th), and Banaras Hindu University (joint 155th).
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore is a public university ranked 33rd in the 2016 edition of the QS University Rankings: Asia and joint 152nd in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017, making it the top university in India. It also maintains a strong presence in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016, ranking among the world’s top universities in 12 subjects. Of these, it performs best (among the top 50 worldwide) for materials sciences, as well as placing in the global top 100 for chemical engineering, electrical engineering and chemistry.
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB)
Part of the famed IIT group, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) ranks 35th in the Asian rankings and 219th in the world, according to the latest results.
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB)
Despite its specialized focus, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay also offers courses in a selection of arts and humanities subjects. Located in the Powai neighborhood in the north-east of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay), IIT Bombay is one of India’s oldest universities, established in 1958, and caters to around 8,000 students. The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay is ranked internationally in a total of 14 subjects, with top 100 positions for computer science, several branches of engineering, materials sciences, and art and design.
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD)
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD)
Another of India’s leading specialized public institutions is the Institute of Technology Delhi, often shortened to IITD, which ranks 36th in the Asian rankings and joint 185th in the world rankings. Classified by the government as an ‘Institute of National Importance’, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has a current enrolment of about 8,000 students, at its 325-acre campus in the south of the city. The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is internationally ranked for 14 subjects, performing best (in the top 100 worldwide) for computer science, chemical engineering, civil and structural engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, materials sciences, and art and design.
Other top universities in India include:
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) (43rd in Asia, joint 249th in the world)
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) (48th in Asia, joint 302nd in the world)
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IITKGP) (joint 51st in Asia, 313th in the world)
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) (78th in Asia, 399th in the world).
Delhi
It’s fair to say that Delhi has a reputation for being a little overwhelming. The governmental capital, New Delhi, is just one part of this sprawling metropolis (the largest by area in India, and among the largest worldwide) in the north of the country. However, it’s also widely agreed that exploration more than pays off. Delhi is packed with Indian culture both old and new, from 17th century mosques to the more contemporary but equally impressive Lotus Temple, and magnificent Mughal-era monuments to bustling modern-day marketplaces.
Among the hundreds of colleges and universities in Delhi are the University of Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.
Mumbai
India’s most populous city, Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is located on the west coast at the site of a large natural harbor. It’s known as the country’s commercial center, and home of the Indian entertainment sector – including the world-famous Bollywood film industry.
Like many of India’s major cities, Mumbai consists largely of contrasts and extremes: glistening skyscrapers and ancient bazaars, stylish nightspots and grungy bars, glamorous restaurants and simple-but-delicious street food – and probably most striking for the majority of visitors, great wealth in close proximity to large slums.
Whatever you’re into – architecture, clubbing, food, art, live music – Mumbai has it all, including a good selection of higher education providers. Colleges and universities in Mumbai include the University of Mumbai, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, SNDT Women’s University, the National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies and S P Jain Institute of Management and Research.
Bangalore
Third most populous city Bangalore (also called Bengaluru) is the capital of the state of Karnataka, towards the south of India. It’s probably best known as the hub of India’s booming information technology sector, and its high concentration of tech companies has earned it comparisons to the US’s Silicon Valley. Culturally it may not be able to compete on the same scale as Delhi or Mumbai, but Bangalore does have its own film industry, a vibrant live music scene (from classical Indian to modern-day rock), and more than enough restaurants, bars and festivals to keep most people busy!
The city also has a strong higher education sector. Universities in Bangalore include Bangalore University, the Indian Institute of Science, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, and smaller research-based institutes such as the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore and the National Centre for Biological Sciences.
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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 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 Indian student visa
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.
