Delhi University Looks At Increasing Foreign Students Admission By 20% This Academic Year

Delhi University is aiming to increase the intake of international students by 20 per cent in the upcoming academic cycle as compared to last year. He said that in 2022-23 a total of 637 foreign students were admitted to undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD courses in the university.

So far, the university has received around 2,000 applications, including those from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Foreign nationals are admitted to various programs of study at Delhi University under two categories – self-financed students and Indian Council for Cultural Relations students – under its various scholarship schemes.

ICCR conducts various scholarship programs annually and awards around 3,000 scholarships under 21 different schemes to foreign students from around 180 countries. University of Delhi (DU) has taken several steps to increase the recruitment of ICCR applicants. The admission cycle for foreign students for the academic year 2023-24 has begun. “The application window is open. We have started clearing these applications. We are getting hundreds of queries every day through phone calls and e-mails.”

“In the last academic session, the admission process was extended till February. And a total of 637 students are enrolled, including around 271 under ICCR scholarship,” said Lochan. This was a slight drop from the previous year (2021) when 650 students were admitted. However, this year the authorities expect the number of foreign students to increase by at least 20 per cent. “We are sure that we will be able to touch the 700 mark this year. DU is the best university in India and we want to make it the first choice for international students.

To ensure this, Lochan said that DU’s team handling the admission of foreign students is leaving no stone unturned to ensure maximum foreign admissions this year. The officials of the Foreign Students Registry Office at North Campus are working fast. “We have taken several steps in the past to ensure that more and more students can come. We have maintained a channel with ICCR and asked if any foreign student shows interest in DU, the application is sent directly to us,” said Lochan.

He has also expedited the approval of applications sent to him by ICCR. “This has helped us a lot. Officials are also liaising with diplomatic missions to inform foreign nationals about Delhi University and the facilities offered by it. To ensure a smooth and hassle-free process for the students , officials ensure that they stay in touch with students from applying till admission. “Every day, we receive hundreds of e-mails with enquiries. Everyone who wants to study in India has shown interest in Delhi University. We make sure that we stay in touch with them and guide them properly so that they do not face any kind of trouble.

Apart from this, the university authorities also ensure proper accommodation facilities for the students. “We make sure to provide them hostel accommodation. If seats are not available in international hostels, we ask the colleges to facilitate them. Last year, I myself arranged PG for students at hostel prices.” Foreign nationals seeking admission to any course – certificate, diploma, graduate, post graduate, MPhil and PhD – are exempted from the entrance test. The admission process is done on the basis of a merit list.

The process of ‘Application to Admission’ consists of four broad steps, namely Application, Assessment by the University, Online Admission Formalities and Post Arrival Formalities in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,