India

About India

        India is a democratic and one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a kaleidoscopic variety and rich cultural heritage. It has achieved all-round socio-economic progress during the last 67 years of its Independence. India has become self-sufficient in agricultural production and is now one of the top industrialized countries in the world and one of the few nations to have gone into outer space to conquer nature for the benefit of the people. 

India covers an area of 3,287,590 sq. km (1,269,346 sq mi), extending from the snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. As the 7th largest country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off as it is by mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity. Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west.

India today has the proud distinction of being the world's largest democracy. A remarkable Constitution, well-developed democratic institutions and true participation by the people in social governance are the hallmarks of this democracy. Faith in the democratic process is nurtured as well as protected by an independent judiciary, an alert and free media and active non-governmental organisations. The symbols of a vibrant democracy are all around us.

Lying entirely in the northern hemisphere, the mainland extends between latitudes 8° 4' and 37° 6' north, longitudes 68° 7' and 97° 25' east and measures about 3,214 km from north to south between the extreme latitudes and about 2,933 km from east to west between the extreme longitudes. It has a land frontier of about 15,200 km. The total length of the coastline of the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands and Andaman & Nicobar Islands is 7,516.6 km.

India has traditionally been seen as a country that sends rather than receives international students, but a growing number of students from elsewhere are now choosing to study in India. Indeed, the 2012 Open Doors report from the Institute of International Education found that India had become the 11th most popular country for US students abroad.

Life at India

                                                                                                          

                   India has traditionally been seen as a country that sends rather than receives international students, but a growing number of students from elsewhere are now choosing to study in India.

Know about Geographical details of India.

Location:

 The Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The Country is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south.

Climate:

The climate of India can broadly be classified as a tropical monsoon one. But, in spite of much of the northern part of India lying beyond the tropical zone, the entire country has a tropical climate marked by relatively high temperatures and dry winters. There are four seasons:

• winter (December-February)
  
• summer (March-June)
  
• south-west monsoon season (June-September)
  
• post monsoon season (October-November)

Terrain:   

The mainland comprises of four regions, namely the great mountain zone, plains of the Ganga and the Indus, the desert region, and the southern peninsula.

Students Hostel:

Many of the colleges have a hostel or dormitory facility for their students. Most of these hostels are intended for Indian students who are on a budget and looking for economical housing. While they offer safe and comfortable living quarters, they may impose several restrictions on the lifestyles that some international students may be accustomed to. This option is recommended for those international students on a budget, very accommodative and patient in nature, who are willing to sacrifice a bit on their lifestyle.

Renting on your own:

Students have the option of renting housing on their own. The general norms include a monthly rental fee and a 10 month deposit to be paid in advance. Students can rent an apartment on their own or share an apartment with other students. If this option is suitable for you then LEE Consultants can assist you in finding a house.

Other Details

Most international students and visitors to India praise the warm, welcoming environment and the hospitality of the Indians they are associated with and form life-long friendships with them.

Living in India is safe. Per capita crime rates in India are very low. From an International student's perspective, most Indians are peace-loving, middle-path oriented, happy and warm hearted individuals. Aggression and cruelty does not come naturally to them.

Living in India is very inexpensive. Most International students have a very comfortable and safe living experience for as low as US$150 per month. Like in any society, India offers many cost options. There are 7-star, deluxe, newly built condominium complexes that cost a bundle and then there are safe, decent apartments in better neighborhoods that rent for a reasonable amount. You can choose your option depending on your budget and your desired lifestyle.

How to get Student visas for India

The procedure to get student visa for India is given here.

Student visas for India are issued either for the duration of your course of study or for a maximum period of five years. Student visas issued for less than five years can be extended with permission from the local FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) and similarly, the course of study and/or the educational institution may be changed if circumstances are deemed sufficient.

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 application, the details of the course and the 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 who will be 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.

Fees for student visas for India are as follows:

• US citizens - 1 year (12 months) - Multiple Entry Visa - US$102.70
  
• UK citizens - 1 year (12 months) - Multiple Entry Visa - US$236.70 (£154.78)
  
• Other nationals - 1 year (12 months) - Multiple Entry Visa - US$82.70
  

Indian 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 given if found to be positive. You will also be required to pay US$50, to cover medical fees which include insurance cover for the first year.

Why you want choose India?

India has undergone a paradigm shift owing to its competitive stand in the world. The Indian economy is on a robust growth trajectory and boasts of a stable 8 plus annual growth rate, rising foreign exchange reserves and booming capital markets among others.

India has emerged as a premier global manufacturing hub with the foray of a number of Multi National corporations such as General Motors, Ford, Suzuki, Hyundai, Coco Cola, etc.

India is especially well known for the quality of its education in engineering and technology subjects, spearheaded by the prestigious and internationally recognized Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). There are currently 16 of these, around the country, focusing mainly on engineering, technology and science disciplines.

Other highly acclaimed specialist universities in India include the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), of which there are 13 spread across the country.

Among India’s more general universities, the highest performing in the QS World University Rankings are the Universities of Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Pune.

Low Cost:

The cost of education in India is quite low as compared to many other countries of the world.

Quality Education:

 Indian educational institutions such as the IITs, IISc, IIMs, NITs,AIIMS, ISI, BITS and ISB are well known worldwide to provide quality education.

Unique Courses:

Apart from above mentioned advantages, one can also study some unique courses that were discovered and developed by the traditional knowledge system of India. Ayurveda, Sankrit, Yoga and Hindi are some such courses that enthuse many international students.

Financial Assistance:

Various scholarships, education loans and other financial aids are available for studying in India today.

Strong University Network:

With over 343 universities and 17,000 colleges offering the widest spectrum of courses. India has the second largest education system in the world.                                                                                                                                           

• 52 - Deemed Universities                                                                                           
  
• 162 - Traditional Universities
  
• 40 - Agricultural / Forestry / Fisheries / Veterinary Universities                                              
  
• 36 - Engineering and Technology Institutes
• 18 - Medical Universities
  
• 11 - Open Universities
  
• 18 - National Institutes of Technology

Global Recognition:

Indian universities and institutes of higher education and research have made significant contribution in research and development in the areas ranging from biotechnology to ocean engineering. In traditional subjects like arts and humanities, pure sciences, applied physics, chemistry, and mathematics, Indian universities and institutes of higher studies have been playing a leading role.

The country has also been active in the development of space technology, production and launching of indigenous satellites and development of peaceful nuclear energy. Besides, India is also recognized the world over for its information technology talent.

All these developments and initiatives have brought the country to the forefront as a technologically advanced nation. In fact, a large number of developing countries today look at India for training and guidance to further their development initiatives.

The courses as well as professionals trained in Indian educational institutions are recognized the world over - 200 of the Fortune 500 companies regularly participate in campus placements in Indian institutions.

Quality:

Quality is the benchmark for development of infrastructure, curriculum, human resources and research and the establishment of centers of excellence, interdisciplinary and inter-institutional centers.

The National Policy on Education was framed by the Government of India in the early 1980s to ensure the formation of standardized guidelines for the enforcement of quality in higher education.

It is mandatory for all the Indian Institutions to be recognized by the appropriate National Level statutory bodies established by the Government of India for compliance to quality standards.

Some of the Statutory bodies which are constituted for recognition are:

• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
  
• University Grants Commission (UGC)
  
• Medical Council of India (MCI)
  
• Dental Council of India (DCI)
  
• Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR)
  

In addition, quality of education is assured through National Board of Accreditation (NBA) for technical education and National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) for higher education.

Admission Procedure for  India

Step 1:Queries, Clarifications over Email/ Phone/ Letter/ Personal Contact

Step 2:Select the course and college

Step 3:Submit application form for admission

Forward the following to us:

• Application form duly filled in with all enclosures
  
• Demand Draft payable in USD 1100*(Including Application Fee 100 USD and Service Charge)

Step 4:Get the provisional admission letter from the LEE Consultants, in order to obtain the visa.

Step 5:Show this letter to the Indian Embassy in the respective country and get a student visa endorsed to institution. NRI students do not require a visa.

Step 6:Report to the institution for admission. Fill the permanent admission form and submit it with the following documents (in original along with a Photostat copy):

• Degree/ Pass Certificate of the qualifying examination
  
• Mark list of qualifying examination.
  
• Student visa in original.
  
• A Photostat copy of their passport - duly attested by a notary.
  

Note:The original certificates will be returned to the students immediately after making an endorsement to this effect.

Step 7:Undergo the medical examination and get the medical fitness certificate. As per government rules all international students entering India on student visa have to be tested for HIV and will not be given admission if found to be positive. All international students will be required to pay medical fees of US $ 50, which includes the medical insurance cover for the first year. For subsequent years the medical insurance fees will be same as for other Indian students and is included in other fees.

Step 8:Appear for the proficiency test in English, if any as per admission requirement of the Institution.This is only applicable, if the qualifying examination is not in the English medium.

Step 9:Admission of international students will be confirmed only after verification of original certificates, medical fitness test and payment of required fees.

Step 10:Within a week of arrival in India register their names with the police in the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) of the local Police.

Student Visa Information

What is a student visa?

India offers various kinds of visas, depending on the purpose of visit. Student visa is a visa specifically 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 a period of five years whichever is less, on the basis of letters of admission from Universities/recognized colleges or educational institutions in India.

What are the pre-requisites for procuring a  student visa?

To apply/ be eligible for a student visa, you need to conform to the following conditions.

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 coming as 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 are no objection certificate from the concerned Ministries in India should be submitted for necessary visa.

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

Eligibility:

 Multiple-entry students visas are given to bonafide students to pursue regular studies at recognized in India.

Spouse and dependent family members accompanying the applicant must apply for an Entry visa(Not tourist visa).Its termination date will coincide with the period of the principal visa holder.

Duration and Validity:

A student visa is a multiple entry visa.A student visa is valid for the period of study as approved by the educational institution  in India.

Please refer to this website http://www.india.gov.in