MYSORE, July 7: The cultural capital Mysore is among the five cities which were attracting international students wanting to pursue higher education in the country.
The city is also favourite destination for global students who came from at least 52 countries to take up their undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) courses here.
As usual the UG admissions are almost over and PG course admissions are yet to commence at the University of Mysore. Already, the number of foreign students approaching the International Centre at the University for admissions has gone up this year.
According to R India, Chairperson, International Centre, Mysore, the number of students coming to centre seeking eligibility assessment for admissions has increased in the last few days. “We have an academic committee, comprising deans from all disciplines, that makes the assessment of students’ eligibility based on the equivalence of degrees or certificates awarded in their respective countries,” she explained.
She said the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has sent nearly 300 students for admissions this year. “We are getting ICCR students for over a decade,” she informed.
Ms Indira said Pune hosts the highest number of foreign students followed by Osmania University in Hyderabad. Nearly 10,000 students pursue higher education in Pune and over 4,000 in Hyderabad. Even Chennai is attracting foreign students.
“Based on the available information, Mysore is ranked fifth in drawing foreign students,” she disclosed.
Reckoned to be a ‘Centre for Academic Excellence’ and a major ‘Knowledge Hub’ with a prestigious university and many acclaimed centres for higher learning, students from abroad make a beeline for the city, considered less expensive than Bangalore, for higher education. The university upgraded the international centre with the objective of promoting global perspective in teaching, research and outreach programmes.
“Last year, we had 1,120 foreign students. We expect more this year. A majority of foreign students opt for commerce courses at the UG level, and many students want to pursue Masters in Business Administration at the PG level,” she said, adding the exact number of students would be known after the admissions.
“It is a must to pass the eligibility norm. Only after this, students were allowed to take admissions,” Ms Indira said. She said “students come here on student or research visa (based on a provisional admission letter) once they qualify for pursuing education here. We issue bona fide certificates to students for availing residential permit from the city police.”
Ms Indira, a professor of Sociology, said many students prefer the Manasagangotri campus to pursue PG courses though many colleges had started offering such courses.
Students from Iran, Tanzania and China constitute a majority of foreign students.
There was a sizable number of Maldivian students till last year. A university had been established in Maldives and therefore admissions of students from that country may slightly decline here. Nevertheless, many students still prefer to study here thanks to the university’s reputation, she added. (UNI)
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