Why is study in India for foreign students more expensive? Many colleges and universities quote higher fees for NRI (Non-resident of India) and international students. Application forms of such colleges have three categories under the fee structure heading, i.e. fees for locals, NRIs and foreign students, sometimes even the students from other states also have to pay extra. The Question here is why some colleges in India make it mandatory for NRI students to pay extra for the same course and coaching. Moreover, some colleges have an entirely different understanding when it comes to Donations. Donation is something given voluntarily, and here we have schools and universities binding donations as if it were a part of the fees.
An NRI is a citizen of India, but a resident of another country. When the host country doesn’t provide suitable courses, many NRI’s come back to India to acquire education. Having a mindset, that education in India falls cheaper compared to other countries, is one of the crucial factors for this horrifying journey of an NRI student. Indian Colleges and Universities take advantage of the NRI students by creating an edge between them and the local students. School’s that are set up to teach moral lessons are tricking parents into paying donations like it was compulsory, which itself is morally wrong. Apart from fees and donations, colleges also charge exceptionally high fees, for an admission form. Being an NRI myself, I had to pay 100 USD just for an admission form.
Section 13(2) of the Right to Education Act says that no school or person while admitting a child, can collect any capitation fee and subject the child or parents or guardian to any screening. Any school contravening the provision “shall be punishable with fine which may extend up to ten times of the capitation fee charged.
School fees for nri students in india
So why should study in India for foreign students be more expensive?
Any foreign or NRI student who has studied under an international syllabus, for example, students previously enrolled in A levels in the host country are not admitted in the same class in India. They are either demoted a class or not given admissions. Along with this, the martyr has to go through a cultural shock, has to learn to adjust to the Indian lifestyle, learn new languages, change his /her food habits, and more.
The government of India has reserved seats for NRI students under the NRI quota in many engineering and science colleges. On the other hand, it hasn’t taken much action against the inequality suffered by the NRI students, though we pledged to call each other brothers and sisters. This trend has become so common in India that it is not criticized; moreover, parents and colleges are open about it. The Indian education industry has to focus on ‘education’ instead of on the ‘industry’ part of it.
