Study in India: Tips for Students, Job Seekers, & Professionals

For most people, India is associated with exotics, recreation, and downshifting, and not with a country where students can get a high-quality education. They quote Indian education all over the world. Proof of this is the Indian graduate students who later work in Western universities.

Indian educational institutions work according to a three-tier system. In many ways, curricula are similar to European universities. Students who are studying Indian culture and history are especially respected. But these are not the simplest disciplines as it may seem, and often students have problems, especially while dealing with their homework. Usually, they think, “I can’t write my essay, deal with my coursework, or do my presentation.” In such cases, s reliable writing services can help students with their assignments quickly. 

General Information about Training

The development of the Indian economy has created a shortage of qualified personnel and led to long-awaited changes in the education system. And although it is too early to talk about high quality at all levels, progress is already noticeable: preschool education is beginning to emerge in India, and the popularity of Indian universities among foreigners is growing.

The education system in India is built according to the British type and consists of three stages:

• Secondary education (from 4 to 14 – the main stage, from 14 to 16 – the second stage)
• professional education,
• higher education.

Preschool education for children has historically been at home, but in recent years more women prefer work to housework, and in the absence of public kindergartens, private kindergartens are actively developing. At schools, special groups are created, where children from 3 years old enter.

Study in India for International Students

In 2018, 20 universities in India were included in the list of the best in the world (according to the QS World University rankings). In total, there are 959 educational institutions in it, which were evaluated by a number of objective criteria: the quality of knowledge, teaching staff, business reputation, and accessibility of education for foreign students.

Top 5 best universities in India for foreign students: Indian Institutes of Technology in the cities of New Delhi, Bombay, Madras, and Kharagpur and the fifth – Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.

Chemical, electronic and mechanical engineering are the most popular areas in Indian universities: the technical education received here guarantees graduate employment in the largest companies in the world. Graduates of courses in information technology are also valued.

Admission Conditions

The selection to higher education institutions takes place on a competitive basis. For admission, you must provide a certificate of graduation from a school (translated and notarized) and confirm fluency in English; sometimes, the institution asks for a motivation letter and recommendations.

The competition for training is significant: some universities accept less than 10% of all applications submitted. Education is paid + for an additional fee, the institute provides students with a room in a hostel.

Despite the growing popularity of Indian universities, the state regularly allocates grants and scholarships for foreign students every year. The grant gives the opportunity to study at one of the state institutions. To participate, just submit an application and wait for its consideration. For the areas of “Management,” “Small Business,” and “Banking,” there is an ITEC program: ITEC students not only enter a state-funded place but also receive a scholarship throughout their studies. Information and conditions of participation can be clarified on the website of the Embassy of India in your country; applications are also accepted there.

Tips for Applicants

Life in India is very different from European life, so you need to carefully prepare for the trip and take into account the advice of those who have already been there:

• Prepare in advance dozens of copies of key documents and as many photographs as possible. India is a very bureaucratic country: at the stage of receipt and registration, you will need to submit dozens of documents to various authorities, where, alas, they are often lost;
• Hindus live in a leisurely rhythm – this is the peculiarity of their mentality. It is better to immediately tune in to the fact that few organizations work on schedule, and registration takes place on time;
• The warm, humid climate and unsanitary conditions in cities contribute to the development of infections. Eat carefully processed foods and drink only bottled water;
• Women should remember that India is a conservative country: revealing outfits and public displays of personal relationships are unacceptable. In many institutions, women and men have different times for visiting;
• India has a dry law. You can not appear on the street in a state of intoxication – this may be the basis for exclusion from the university;
• Students cannot be formally employed.

Higher Education in India: Admission

Not all programs in Indian universities are available to foreigners; some higher education institutions accept students from other countries only for master’s and above, or only for certain specialties, or only for research work, and so on. Information about this can be found on the website of a particular university.

To enter an Indian university for undergraduate programs, you must pass exams. The list of entrance examinations for each direction is different. Such exams are taken directly at the host university on a full-time basis. For example, to enter the Institute of Technology, future bachelors pass the Joint Entrance Examination, which tests the knowledge gained by applicants over 12 years of schooling. Some graduates may need additional training to pass it.

Living conditions and expenses

The cost of studying in India varies from $300 to $15,000 per year. The amount of payment is directly proportional to the prestige of the educational institution. Foreigners, as a rule, enter institutes of technology, where the annual tuition fee is $4,000. Engineering specialties are the most in demand.

But other expenses are quite small. For accommodation in a university hostel, a purely symbolic fee is charged. But the living conditions there are harsh: the student receives a tiny room and is forced to use a common shower room, kitchen, and toilet. Unlike European student dormitories, where men’s and women’s rooms can be on the same floor, there are purely male and purely female dormitories there.

Renting an apartment in a big city like Mumbai or Delhi costs about $300 a month. In small towns, a one-room apartment will cost about $90 per month. Food, public transport, and entertainment in India are cheap. On average, a student’s monthly expenses are $300 if they live in a hostel.

It is not easy for a foreigner to study and live there. Still, for people who love India’s culture and spirituality, this will be an invaluable experience!