Delhi University Plans To Increase Foreign Student Intake By 20% In Current Academic Year

In the 2022-23 academic year, a total of 637 foreign students were enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD courses at the university.

DU plans to increase foreign student intake by 20%

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New Delhi: The Delhi University plans to enhance the number of international students in the upcoming academic cycle by 20% compared to the previous year. To accomplish this goal, university officials have been actively engaging with diplomatic missions to encourage more applications, as reported by PTI. According to a varsity official, in the 2022-23 academic year, a total of 637 foreign students were enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD courses at the university.

Up until now, the university has received approximately 2,000 applications, which include submissions from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The admission of foreign nationals to various study programs at the University of Delhi takes place through two categories: self-financing students and students supported by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, under various scholarship schemes.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) operates several scholarship programs on a yearly basis, granting approximately 3,000 scholarships across 21 different schemes to foreign students from around 180 countries. The Delhi University (DU) has implemented several measures to enhance the enrollment of ICCR applicants. The admission process for foreign students for the 2023-24 academic year has already commenced.

"The application window is open. We have started working on clearing these applications. We are receiving hundreds of queries every day via phone and e-mail," Professor Amarjiva Lochan, Jt Dean, International Relations told PTI.

"Last academic session, the admission process was extended till February. And the total number of students admitted was 637, including around 271 under the ICCR scholarship," Lochan said. 

This was a slight dip from the previous year (2021) when 650 students were admitted.  However, this year, the officials are hopeful that there will be at least a 20 percent surge in foreign student intake. 

"We are sure we will be able to touch the mark of 700 this year. DU is India's best university and we want to make it the first choice for international students," Lochan said. 

To ensure that, Lochan said the DU team handling admissions for foreign students is leaving no stone unturned to ensure more and more foreign admissions this year.  The officials at the Foreign Students' Registry office in North Campus are working expeditiously. 

In order to facilitate the enrollment of more international students, Delhi University (DU) has implemented several initiatives. They have established a direct channel of communication with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), through which any foreign student expressing interest in DU is directly referred to the university.

DU has expedited the processing of applications forwarded by ICCR, which has proven to be beneficial. Additionally, university officials are actively engaging with diplomatic missions to inform foreign nationals about the opportunities and facilities available at Delhi University.

To ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience for students, officials maintain regular contact with applicants from the submission of applications until the final admission. They respond to numerous inquiries received daily and guide prospective students appropriately to address any concerns they may have.

Moreover, the university ensures suitable accommodation for international students. Efforts are made to provide hostel accommodation, and if international hostels are fully occupied, colleges are approached to arrange suitable facilities. Last year, the official in charge even organized paying guest accommodations at hostel rates for the students.

Foreign nationals seeking admission to any course, including certificate, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil, and PhD programs, are exempted from entrance tests. Admissions are based on a merit list.

The overall process from application to admission consists of four main steps: application submission, evaluation by the university, completion of online admission formalities, and additional formalities upon arrival in Delhi.