No direct admission to foreigners

Foreign students will no longer find their entry into state universities, a smooth sailing. There will be no direct admissions for them from the next academic year. They will need to appear for entrance tests for admission to post-graduate and Ph.D courses. However, the admissions at graduation-level will be given directly, as per existing procedures.

With more and more foreign students vying for seats in state varsities and colleges affiliated to these universities, officials have decided to conduct entrance tests for selection.

The lower fee structure in state varsities is said to be the reason for the heavy demand.

Osmania University will be the first in the state to conduct entrance tests for foreign students next year, followed by other universities.

During the last five years, there has been a heavy influx of foreign students to state universities, especially from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brazil, Botswana, Cambodia, Burundi, Canada, Columbia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria and China.

“With more foreign students vying for limited seats, it has become necessary to conduct entrance tests to shortlist students. The entrance test will be only for PG courses and above,” said Prof Venugopal, director, University Foreign Relations Office, OU.