Study in India: Admission, Cost, Visa and Scholarships (2027)

India admits international students to its public institutes and approved private universities, and the Government of India runs the Study in India programme to bring them in. Fees for foreign nationals are set by each institution and are often higher than for Indian students, with lower rates for students from the South Asian SAARC countries. At IIT Bombay, the 2026-27 fee circular sets undergraduate tuition for foreign nationals at Rs 3,00,000 a semester. Master's tuition is Rs 1,70,000 a semester for students from outside SAARC and Rs 85,000 for SAARC students from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives, and PhD tuition is Rs 1,50,000 or Rs 75,000. Foreign undergraduates enter IITs through the JEE Advanced examination; the separate DASA scheme covers NITs and other centrally funded technical institutions but not the IITs.

The Bureau of Immigration states that foreigners must obtain a student visa if they intend to pursue on-campus, full-time structured courses or research; off-campus franchise centres and distance-learning study centres do not qualify. The S1 sub-category covers higher education, and S4 covers research scholars. According to Study in India, a student visa is granted for five years or for the duration of the course, whichever is less, and it can be extended in India. An e-Student Visa is also available online to eligible nationalities, including Bangladesh; it is valid for one year from the date of grant with multiple entries, and it cannot be extended or converted.

The High Commission of India in Dhaka asks Bangladeshi student applicants for a letter of admission from a government or government-approved private university, commonly known as a bonafide letter, a passport valid for at least six months, proof of financial soundness, the guarantor's bank solvency papers and, for medical colleges, a no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Health. Financial proof can be a bank statement for the last six months showing sufficient funds or an endorsement of foreign currency worth US$200. Study in India says student visa fees generally range from US$14 to US$118 depending on nationality.

After arrival, students on a visa valid for more than 180 days must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days, using the e-FRRO system, and must report any change of course within 14 days. They are also required to open a Non-Resident Ordinary bank account. The Bureau of Immigration states that foreigners on a student visa must not take up employment or business in India, and Study in India confirms that graduates do not get a work visa after their studies.