Where to study in India?

India is quite a massive, diverse country, with a lot of regional differences, traditions, and customs. There are some big cities and some smaller villages. But, major cities that come to mind are:

• Bombay
• Kolkata
• Delhi
• Hyderabad

Which universities to attend in India?

Universities in India have quite a long history, and many of them follow the old British models. There are several dozen options to pick from. But here is a list of some universities we like:

• India Institute of Management
• Amrita University
• Tata Institute of Social Sciences

How to apply

When you’ve selected the programme that you want to study, you merely have to use the official website from the university of your choice, and submit your materials there.

Be sure to prepare the following materials ready for your application:

• A scan of your degree(s)/diploma(s)
• Your CV
• The transcripts or records the courses you have taken
• A scanned copy of your diploma (high school or Bachelor’s)
• A scan of your passport
• Testing scores
• A motivation letter and/or personal statement
• An indication of your financial situation and ability to support your studies

Helpful ways to make sure you qualify for an Indian university

1. Studying and living in India is cheap

In India, there are over 800 universities, so it’s not surprising that tuition fees vary significantly. Still, as a general rule, they are much more affordable when compared to fees at Western universities.

International students usually pay anywhere between 150 and 5,000 EUR per academic year. Living costs are also very low, usually between 150 and 300 EUR based on your lifestyle and habits.

2. Follow in the footsteps of Indian CEOs

Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google), Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft), Shantanu Narayen (CEO of Adobe) — these are only some of the successful Indians who, at the time of writing this, are in charge of some of the biggest tech companies in the world.

What else do they have in common? They first graduated with a degree from an Indian university. Now, we’re not trying to say that by studying in India you’ll one day be like them.

But maybe there’s something in the Indian education system and culture, something that helps or motivates people to achieve success, especially in the field of Engineering and Technology — and maybe you can also benefit from that by studying at an Indian university.

3. India has one of the fastest growing economies

India is among the top 10 largest economies in the world based on the GDP (gross domestic product). Its economy has actually been growing at a rate of 7–8% in the last years.

Now, this doesn’t mean all is fine and dandy. A large part of the population is still struggling with poverty and lack of education or proper healthcare, especially in rural areas.

What we’re trying to say is that India has a lot of potential, both economically and socially. You can be one of the people who bring positive change by staying and working in India, at least for a while after graduation.

4. Explore the profoundly unique Indian culture

The Indian history and especially culture are very rich and colourful. India is often referred to as “The Land of a Thousand Gods”, because in addition to big deity names like Brahma, Vishnu, or Shiva, there are literally hundreds of other gods and goddesses with different roles and importance in their culture.

It is often said that in every village they worship (or at least used to) a different god. That’s because in the traditional Indian culture, gods were only seen as a stepping stone, a way to achieve something much more important: enlightenment or ultimate liberation.

Fun fact: there are over 2 million Hindu temples still standing nowadays!

5. Discover yoga where it all began

The Western world largely views yoga as a form of physical exercise.

However, in India, this ancient practice in considered a powerful system for general wellbeing and health on all levels: body, mind, emotions, and energy. Even modern-day science is slowly discovering more and more benefits to practising yoga regularly.

Unfortunately, there are many yoga variations out there that have been altered too much (e.g. we now have ‘beer yoga’) and have moved too far away from the initial purpose of the practice.

So if you want to learn real traditional yoga, the way it has been taught and preserved for thousands of years, finding an ashram (e.g. Isha Yoga Centre) or an Indian yoga master is your best bet.