How to Study in India for International Students

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India is an excellent destination for aspiring international students due to many reasons. Among these are the low cost of living and the availability of student discounts. Living far away from home can also be less challenging if you're surrounded by welcoming people, which is what India is popular for. Finally, the country is known for its rich culture and long history, as well as stunning vistas and sumptuous regional cuisines.

When it comes to the choices that are available, India currently has 388 universities, from which 278 universities are a part of the public sector and 110 universities are private institutions.

Suppose you’re not just looking for any school but a well-performing school. In that case, the top universities in India you should definitely check out are Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and Indian Institute of Science.

Being able to study in India as an international student starts with planning ahead of time, as the process of researching your institution, filling out forms, and completing your paperwork can take a vast amount of time. In this article, you will find out the application process to study in India, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!

1. Cost of Studying in India

The cost of your studies is a big factor to consider when you're planning to study abroad. It can financially burden you, but here's the good thing: the public universities in India don't charge tuition fees to international students like you! National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology are some of the tuition-free schools. You will just be required to pay some registration and other study fees, but these won't be as high.

On the other hand, if you choose to study in a private institution, expect that you'll pay higher fees. Here are some of the private universities in India with their tuition fees:

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
GD Goenka University 75,000 INR - 750,000 INR 60,000 INR - 400,000 INR
JK Lakshmipat University 97,000 INR - 199,000 INR 150,000 INR
SRM University Haryana 164,900 INR - 412,100 INR 247,300 INR - 370,900 INR
Apeejay Stya University 100,000 INR - 260,000 INR 260,000 INR
Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University 571,200 INR - 669,100 INR 244,800 INR - 1,077,000 INR
Centurion University of Technology and Management 123,700 INR - 329,700 INR 197,900 INR - 412,100 INR
Swami Vivekanand Subharti University 16,000 INR - 327,000 INR 10,000 INR - 127,000 INR
Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences 352,100 INR - 807,700 INR 165,700 INR - 9,592,000 INR
Mody University of Science and Technology 100,000 INR - 202,000 INR 65,000 INR - 172,000 INR
B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology 82,900 INR - 207,100 INR 82,900 INR - 331,400 INR
Integral University 30,000 INR - 140,000 INR 30,000 INR - 125,000 INR
Teerthanker Mahaveer University 36,000 INR - 144,000 INR 9,000 INR - 189,000 INR
Yenepoya University 35,000 INR - 150,000 INR 25,000 INR - 130,000 INR
Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences 60,000 INR - 300,000 INR 50,000 INR - 300,000 INR
Noida International University 50,000 INR - 188,000 INR 50,000 INR - 144,000 INR
Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research 124,300 INR - 414,200 INR 82,900 INR - 331,400 INR
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences 30,000 INR - 130,000 INR 30,000 INR - 350,000 INR
Assam Don Bosco University 58,000 INR - 145,700 INR 59,600 INR - 82,800 INR
Jaypee University of Information Technology 110,000 INR - 241,500 INR 55,000 INR - 110,000 INR
Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science 82,900 INR - 621,300 INR 82,900 INR - 496,100 INR
Galgotias University 65,000 INR - 312,400 INR 65,000 INR - 369,900 INR
Vels University 7,000 INR - 200,000 INR 10,000 INR - 210,000 INR
MIT Art Design and Technology University 61,800 INR - 633,300 INR 37,800 INR - 600,000 INR
Rama University 15,000 INR - 100,000 INR 15,000 INR - 100,000 INR
Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan 90,000 INR - 255,000 INR 90,000 INR - 300,000 INR
Madhav University 18,000 INR - 80,000 INR 15,000 INR - 80,000 INR
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education 98,800 INR - 370,200 INR 57,600 INR - 164,600 INR
Brainware University 132,000 INR - 849,000 INR 79,800 INR - 454,000 INR
LNM Institute of Information Technology 792,800 INR 47,200 INR - 193,400 INR
Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University 72,500 INR - 192,500 INR 72,500 INR - 212,500 INR
NITTE Deemed to be University 58,000 INR - 372,800 INR 165,700 INR - 7,180,000 INR
Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth 50,000 INR - 250,000 INR 130,000 INR - 450,000 INR
Sikkim Manipal University 60,000 INR - 320,000 INR 103,000 INR - 275,000 INR
Invertis University 100,000 INR - 150,000 INR 30,000 INR - 80,000 INR
Banasthali Vidyapith 143,100 INR - 314,800 INR 143,100 INR - 314,800 INR
KLE Technological University 15,000 INR - 202,000 INR 75,000 INR - 100,000 INR
Alliance University 215,400 INR - 600,600 INR 290,000 INR - 1,863,800 INR
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research 186,400 INR - 662,700 INR 186,400 INR - 2,485,000 INR
JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research 111,700 INR - 868,800 INR 109,300 INR - 750,000 INR
NIIT University 227,000 INR - 305,000 INR
K.R. Mangalam University 75,000 INR - 210,000 INR 100,000 INR - 260,000 INR
Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University 43,200 INR - 86,300 INR 43,200 INR - 86,300 INR
People’s Education Society University 120,000 INR - 450,000 INR 100,000 INR - 700,000 INR
Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University 19,800 INR - 83,600 INR 25,000 INR - 75,000 INR
CMR University 75,000 INR - 410,000 INR 50,000 INR - 225,000 INR
Parul University 163,300 INR - 367,400 INR 163,300 INR - 253,100 INR
Jaypee Institute of Information Technology 488,600 INR - 944,500 INR 244,300 INR - 977,100 INR
K L Deemed To Be University 260,100 INR - 657,700 INR 248,500 INR - 729,000 INR
XIM University 100,000 INR - 168,000 INR 600,000 INR - 140,000 INR
Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences 89,300 INR - 203,500 INR 70,000 INR - 234,000 INR
Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology 60,000 INR - 160,000 INR 50,000 INR - 190,000 INR
Bennett University 269,200 INR - 652,600 INR 269,200 INR
Shiv Nadar University 225,000 INR - 487,500 INR 150,000 INR - 362,500 INR
BML Munjal University 488,100 INR - 569,400 INR 976,100 INR
Sai Tirupati University 50,000 INR - 80,000 INR 60,000 INR - 6,500,000 INR
IFHE Hyderabad 50,000 INR - 250,000 INR 150,000 INR - 801,000 INR
VIT Bhopal University 69,000 INR - 285,000 INR 137,000 INR - 348,500 INR
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies 102,000 INR - 525,000 INR 277,000 INR - 452,000 INR
Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology 60,000 INR - 300,000 INR 10,000 INR - 150,000 INR
Nirma University 105,000 INR - 575,700 INR 130,000 INR - 411,300 INR
NorthCap University 154,500 INR - 382,000 INR 515,000 INR
Christ (Deemed to be University) 164,000 INR - 450,400 INR 164,000 INR - 655,700 INR
Symbiosis International University 190,000 INR - 1,585,000 INR 160,000 INR - 630,000 INR
Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation 16,000 INR - 130,000 INR 20,000 INR - 60,000 INR
IIS University 164,100 INR - 237,900 INR 82,100 INR - 180,500 INR
Ganpat University 30,000 INR - 125,000 INR 60,000 INR - 100,000 INR
Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University 50,000 INR - 310,000 INR 35,000 INR - 300,000 INR
TERI School of Advanced Studies 260,900 INR - 1,630,500 INR
Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy 40,000 INR - 150,000 INR 40,000 INR - 140,000 INR
Chennai Mathematical Institute 200,000 INR 200,000 INR - 400,000 INR
Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology 258,600 INR - 301,800 INR 63,200 INR - 141,400 INR
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies 93,000 INR - 375,000 INR 116,000 INR - 552,000 INR
Azim Premji University 225,000 INR 100,000 INR
Flame University 705,000 INR 410,000 INR - 630,000 INR
DIT University 42,400 INR - 151,000 INR 37,000 INR - 57,800 INR
Graphic Era University 63,000 INR - 316,000 INR 93,000 INR - 147,500 INR
Ras Bihari Bose Subharti University 15,000 INR - 95,000 INR 12,000 INR - 20,000 INR
Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur 10,000 INR - 90,000 INR 10,000 INR - 50,000 INR
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology 652,700 INR - 815,900 INR 652,700 INR - 815,900 INR
Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management 65,000 INR - 329,500 INR 60,000 INR - 668,000 INR
Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology 816,400 INR 129,000 INR - 250,000 INR
International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore 815,900 INR
Ashoka University 867,000 INR 502,000 INR
Chandigarh University 81,000 INR - 227,000 INR 51,000 INR - 298,000 INR
Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies 70,000 INR - 140,000 INR 50,000 INR - 1,300,000 INR
Manav Rachna University 65,000 INR - 142,000 INR 46,000 INR - 190,000 INR
CEPT University 480,000 INR - 504,000 INR 297,000 INR - 567,000 INR
Sandip University, Sijoul 204,500 INR - 245,400 INR 204,500 INR
O.P. Jindal Global University 300,000 INR - 600,000 INR 250,000 INR - 550,000 INR
Birla Institute of Technology and Science 490,000 INR
Amity University 150,000 INR - 489,000 INR 153,000 INR - 450,000 INR
Lovely Professional University 120,000 INR - 398,200 INR 120,000 INR - 447,000 INR
Manipal Academy of Higher Education 896,800 INR - 2,789,700 INR 199,300 INR - 2,406,900 INR
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham 65,000 INR - 80,500 INR 50,000 INR - 118,400 INR
Ahmedabad University 173,000 INR - 300,000 INR 173,000 INR - 250,000 INR
Vellore Institute of Technology 274,000 INR - 714,500 INR 274,000 INR - 512,200 INR

2. Requirements to Study in India for International Students

Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in India, it’s time to consider preparing the paperwork to apply to those universities. Academic institutions have varying admission requirements, but the ones you should always prepare in advance are your academic records, such as a transcript of records or diploma from a previous academic level, and travel documents, such as your passport and visa.

Some institutions that offer master’s programs might also ask for a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and letters of recommendation. There are also degree programs where you need to take an admissions test before you can apply. Besides these, universities might also require you to submit proof of language proficiency.

In India, English is the main language of instruction. An academic institution in India may require non-native English speakers to prove language proficiency by taking standardized English tests, such as the International English Language Testing System also known as IELTS, and the Test Of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL. You can also check out if your target university is accepting a Duolingo English Test score because some universities in India are accepting Duolingo scores. When you take any of these tests, note that you’ll need to get at least the required minimum score to qualify for your preferred university.

To give you an idea, here are some universities in India and their required minimum scores for each program level.

SRM University Haryana

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Maharshi Dayanand University

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Typically, you can find information about language requirements on the admissions requirements page of the university. You can also check out if the university has a dedicated language requirements page for international students.

Application Procedure to Study in India

The specific admission process may vary depending on the university. The good news is that most institutions in India have online applications available on their websites, like Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Indian Institute of Technology Madras. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in India.

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Indian Institute of Science

Make sure to gather all the information you need for the admission process. As you apply to these institutions, expect that they may ask for additional requirements depending on your nationality, degree, or program. So, it’s best to keep your lines active.

After completing your academic and language requirements, it’s time to apply!

The admission process in India differs from one university to another, so it’s best to contact your chosen school beforehand. Please note that the admission process for international students may take some time, so be sure to know the application dates and apply early.

The application process may take weeks or months, depending on your timing, nationality, degree, and other factors. To make the most of your application, make sure to completely follow the admission steps and submit the necessary requirements to ensure that you’ll be accepted to your chosen university in India.

The key to being admitted to your chosen school will depend on your punctuality and the quality of your application. So make sure to complete the requirements beforehand and follow the steps in applying. After this, you’ll wait for a week or a month for the results.

4. Visa Application for International Students in India

Now that you’re accepted into your chosen institution, it’s time to apply for a student visa in India. A student visa is an essential document for studying abroad. It’s an important government document that you need to present before going to India as an international student.

In this section, let’s briefly discuss the requirements needed and how you can apply for a student visa in India. If you’re going to stay here for your studies, you will need to obtain a Student Visa (S).

To start your student visa application in India, you will need to present the following:

  1. Passport valid for at least 6 months
  2. Passport-size photos
  3. Photocopy of passport
  4. Proof of residential address
  5. Printed copy of online form
  6. Formal admission letter from host university
  7. University details
  8. Bank statement

Kindly take note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality. So, please expect that may ask for additional requirements. Moreover, you will be required to pay a student visa application fee. The visa application fee in India is 6610 INR.

After preparing your requirements and application fees, it’s time to apply for a student visa! The first steps in getting your student visa are:

  1. Passport valid for at least 6 months
  2. Passport-size photos
  3. Photocopy of passport
  4. Proof of residential address
  5. Printed copy of online form
  6. Formal admission letter from host university
  7. University details
  8. Bank statement

For more information regarding the specific steps in applying for a student visa, visit or contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. They are the ones responsible for processing your student visa application.

That’s it! After getting your student visa, you can now officially study in India. Make sure to book a flight early, before your classes start, so that you’ll have ample time to explore and familiarize yourself in your new place!