India
Rich in culture, with a rapidly growing economy, studying in India offers lots of opportunities
Higher education institutions in India are divided into:
In total, there are more than 300 universities in India. The main regulatory body in charge of supervising all institutions in the country is the Indian University Grants Commission .
India has a number of institutions in the QS World University Rankings , including the Indian Institute of Technology, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Information about Indian universities can be accessed - depending on their geographic region and state - at the National Network of Education .
Each institution has its own entry requirements and education standards.
However, requirements for postgraduate are mostly dependent on the subject you wish to study, like in the UK. For the most part, you will need a relevant undergraduate degree to get accepted onto a postgraduate course.
Find out if your qualifications are recognised in India at the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) .
The autonomy of Indian institutions means you will have to enquire directly and individually to find out about specific entry requirements. For admissions into Indian institutions, international students must apply for study through the 'single window agency', Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL) .
Here you can download the required documents for UK nationals applying to study in India, namely the visa and application forms.
The cost of study in India will vary considerably with each course and institution. Generally, universities offer education at a fraction of the cost of a UK university education.
While most undergraduate courses, including accommodation, costs anywhere from £800-£3,500 per year, the cost of postgraduate study differs across the board.
A postgraduate programme at North Eastern Hill University (a central university) for a student from a developed country costs £900 for an MA or PhD in social sciences and humanities. An MA or PhD in a science subject costs £1,300.
At the University of Lucknow (state university), an advance diploma in French costs £50 for a one year programme while the postgraduate diploma in democracy and governance costs £215 for the same period.
The University of Delhi (central university) charges internationals a foreign student registration fee of around £360 for postgraduate study leading to research work. They also have to pay £70 each year to the department on top of any necessary course fees. Medicine courses are the most expensive and can cost upwards of £9,000.
You may have to pay a registration fee when applying for courses. To register for a PhD at the University of Calcutta you must pay 100 Indian Rupee (Rs) or £1.
As accommodation is often included in the price of the course, living costs are cheap compared to the UK. International students can live comfortably on £70-£100 per month for food and expenses.
Indian universities do not offer grants and scholarships to students from the UK.
Students of other nationalities can find out more about scholarships and funding options at the National Portal of India - Schemes, Awards and Loans.
Undergraduate UK students have the opportunity to learn about India, its history, culture, industry and what it's like to study and work there, on a four-week placement through the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) .
Some UK universities may have exchange programmes with universities in India. Ask at your international office as to whether they have links with Indian universities.
IAESTE offers science, engineering and technology students the chance to embark on 12-week paid placements in the summer and for longer periods at other times of the year. Find out more at IAESTE UK .
To obtain a student visa you must have an unconditional offer from an Indian education institution. If your visa application is successful, you will then be issued a visa either for the length of your studies or for a maximum of five years.
More information on visas, including sample application forms, can be found at Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL) - Downloads .
With a strong job market and plenty of thriving sectors, working in India is accessible if you're coming from the UK
India has gone through a state of advanced economic development over the last decade, and this has boosted many existing industries and created new ones. However, there isn't enough work to go around for a country of 1.2 billion people meaning that unemployment is high for locals in some areas.
Jobs can currently be found in sectors such as IT, telecommunications, media and film, banking and finance, textiles, and engineering. Pay often won't compare favourably to salaries in the UK, but multinational companies that are outsourcing you to India are likely to pay a UK equivalent salary.
Some of the biggest employers in India are:
It can be easier to secure employment in India when you are already in the country. Indians tend to conduct business with people they are already acquainted with and so networking when you get there is well advised.
Tourist resorts such as Goa and other areas in the South will have seasonal work on offer if you are qualified in water and beach sports, leisure and hospitality.
There are several resources that have job listings for India, including:
Work and gap year placements in India are readily available, especially during the summer. You may have to fund some placements yourself, but there are opportunities for you to choose from. Internships will be competitive to secure as you will have to contend for positions with lots of other candidates.
A list of internships and more information can be found at Indian Internship .
Internships and summer work placements for students can also be arranged by:
Voluntary work is a great way to build your skill-set and learn a new language. It will help to have some money saved before you set off as the vast majority of voluntary positions are unpaid. Volunteering looks great on your CV and gives you the chance to network and build contacts.
To volunteer in India you will have to research what you would like to do and apply to organisations directly.
For volunteering opportunities solely in India, go to Volunteering India .
Hindi and English are the official languages of India. There are hundreds of dialects and various other languages that are spoken around the country as well.
English is spoken across India, it is used widely in business and higher education institutions also teach in English.
English speakers will have a better chance of finding work in New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai, the bigger cities in which English-speaking organisations and international businesses can usually be found.
If you wish to work in India you will need an employment visa and work permits.
You can obtain these independently if you are a qualified professional applying for a job, but it is normal for your employer to arrange them on your behalf.
To apply for a visa to work in India you will need a letter from your employer and/or sponsor. Visas and work permits are given out at the discretion of the Indian government.
Get in touch with the Indian Embassy in the UK to discuss visas and work permits at High Commission of India in the UK .