Study in India — universities, campus life and student cities

India flag Sukhada's Study Destination Guide

Study In India

Everything you need to know about tuition, cost of living, post-study work rights and top universities in India — backed by Sukhada's counselling team.

India at a Glance

Partner Universities 8+
Region Asia
Cost Tier Budget
Post-Study Work N/A
› Study Destinations › India

Why Study in India?

India has a huge higher-education system, from IITs and IIMs to private universities with international partnerships. For Indian students, it is the most affordable path to a quality degree without moving abroad.

  • IITs, IIMs and globally ranked institutes
  • Most affordable option for Indian students
  • Twinning programmes with foreign universities

Quick Facts

Asia Budget cost tier Moderate PSW N/A
Talk to a Counsellor

Key Numbers

8+ Partner Universities
Budget Cost Tier
Asia Region
N/A Post-Study Work
40 Programmes
6 Universities with Scholarships

What Are the Most Popular Courses in India?

Our partner universities in India offer 40 programmes. The largest subject areas are Business & Management, Natural Sciences, Computer Science & IT.

A programme can appear in more than one subject area.

India at a Glance

Official Name Republic of India
Capital New Delhi
Population 1.45B
Currency Indian Rupee (INR)
Official Language(s) Hindi, English
Also Spoken English, 20+ official languages
Calling Code +91
Region Asia
Economy Emerging
English Proficiency Moderate

How Does the Education System Work in India?

A bachelor's degree in India usually takes 3–4 years and a master's takes 2 years. The main intakes are July/August (main), January (some).

Bachelor's 3–4 years
Master's 2 years
MBA 2 years
PhD 3–5 years
Academic Year Starts July/August
Intakes July/August (main), January (some)

Grading system

10-point CGPA or percentage

Accepted tests

Entrance exams such as JEE, NEET, CUET, CAT and GATE

What Is the Application Timeline for India?

Most students start 10–12 months before their intake. Exact deadlines vary by university and programme.

  1. ResearchShortlist universities in India that match your budget, course and career goals.
  2. ShortlistNarrow down to 4–6 programmes and note each deadline for your intake.
  3. TestsBook the tests your universities ask for: Entrance exams such as JEE, NEET, CUET, CAT and GATE.
  4. ApplySubmit applications with transcripts, SOP, LORs and test scores.
  5. OfferAccept your offer and receive the Admission letter.
  6. VisaComplete admission formalities and fee payment.
  7. AccommodationBook on-campus or private housing before you travel.
  8. TravelArrange flights, forex and insurance, and carry original documents.
  9. EnrolComplete orientation, local registration and course enrolment.

How Much Does It Cost to Study in India?

Typical bachelor's tuition in India: INR 50,000–15,00,000/yr. Master's tuition: INR 1,00,000–25,00,000/yr. Living costs, covering rent, food and transport: INR 10,000–30,000/month.

Bachelor's Tuition INR 50,000–15,00,000/yr
Master's Tuition INR 1,00,000–25,00,000/yr
Living Cost INR 10,000–30,000/month

Monthly budget breakdown (New Delhi)

Rent (shared) INR 8,000/month
Food & groceries INR 5,000/month
Local transport INR 1,500/month
Utilities & phone INR 1,500/month
Personal & leisure INR 2,000/month
Estimated Total INR 18,000/month (approx.)

Accommodation options

On-campus housing INR 8,000/month
Shared apartment INR 6,000/month
Private studio INR 15,000/month
Homestay INR 10,000/month

Figures are indicative ranges for international students and change every year. Your counsellor will confirm exact fees for your shortlisted courses.

Can You Work in India During and After Studies?

Part-time Work No restrictions for Indian citizens
Work During Breaks No restrictions
Post-Study Work Not applicable
After a Bachelor's Not applicable
After a Master's Not applicable
PR Pathway Not applicable
Typical PR Timeline Not applicable

Immigration rules change often — always confirm on the official government website before you apply.

Documents You'll Typically Need

Exact document requirements vary by university and visa category. This is a general checklist — we'll confirm the precise list for your course.

Checklist

Academic transcripts & certificates
Valid passport
English proficiency score (IELTS / TOEFL / PTE / DET)
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
Proof of funds / financial statements
Resume / CV (for PG programs)
Offer letter (once admitted)
Entrance exam scorecard
Category or domicile certificate (if applicable)

What Is the Weather Like in India?

Varies widely, from Himalayan cold to tropical south. Summers: Very hot, 35–45°C in the north. Winters: Cool in the north, mild in the south.

Average temperatures in New Delhi

January 7°C to 20°C
April 21°C to 35°C
July 27°C to 35°C
October 18°C to 32°C

How Do Students Open a Bank Account in India?

Students can open zero-balance accounts with Aadhaar and PAN.

Popular banks for students

SBI HDFC Bank ICICI Bank Axis Bank

Documents usually needed

Aadhaar
PAN card
Admission letter
Address proof

Is India Safe for International Students?

Safety: Moderate. Healthcare: Good in cities.

Health Insurance No (recommended)
Typical Insurance Cost INR 3,000–10,000/yr

Common insurance options

Star Health HDFC ERGO Niva Bupa

Safety tips

  • Check hostel availability early
  • Keep entrance exam documents safe
  • Save local emergency numbers on your phone
  • Keep digital copies of your passport, visa and admission letter

What Is the Job Market Like in India?

Graduate job demand in India is high. Entry-level salaries are roughly INR 3–8 lakh/yr, rising to about INR 10–25 lakh/yr with experience.

Top hiring sectors

IT services Very High demand
Finance High demand
Healthcare High demand

Skills in demand

Software development Data analytics Finance

Salary figures are indicative gross annual ranges and vary by city, role and employer.

What Is Student Life Like in India?

Diverse, with many languages, festivals and regional food cultures.

Student life

  • College fests
  • Sports and clubs
  • Internships

Major religions

Hinduism Islam Christianity Sikhism

Which Scholarships Can Indian Students Get for India?

Well-known options for India include Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships, INSPIRE Scholarship, State and NSP scholarships. Eligibility and deadlines change every year, so check the official page before applying.

Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships Amounts vary; check the official page for current details
INSPIRE Scholarship Amounts vary; check the official page for current details
State and NSP scholarships Amounts vary; check the official page for current details

Scholarships for India

Our team tracks live scholarship listings across 150+ university and government portals. Here are the common categories students in India typically qualify for — talk to a counsellor for current deadlines and amounts.

All Levels Merit-Based

Merit Scholarships

Awarded by universities based on academic performance
India
UG / PG Need-Based

Need-Based Financial Aid

Partial tuition waivers based on demonstrated financial need
India
PG / PhD Government

Government & Institutional Grants

Country and institution-run funding programs for international students
India
All Levels Sukhada

Sukhada Partner Discounts

Fee-waivers and priority processing through our university partnerships
India

Partner Universities in India

We work directly with 8 verified universities across India — browse the full list and filter by course, budget and intake.

View All 8+

Top-ranked universities in India

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi New Delhi · Est. 1961
QS #123
QS #129
QS #180
QS #215
University of Delhi New Delhi · Est. 1922
QS #328

Frequently Asked Questions

Typical tuition for international students in India: INR 50,000–15,00,000/yr for a bachelor's degree and INR 1,00,000–25,00,000/yr for a master's. Living costs: INR 10,000–30,000/month, depending on the city.

Student work rules in India: No restrictions for Indian citizens.

Safety in India: Moderate. Healthcare: Good in cities.

No (recommended). Typical cost: INR 3,000–10,000/yr.

Graduate job demand in India is high, led by IT services, Finance, Healthcare. Entry-level salaries are roughly INR 3–8 lakh/yr.

The main intakes in India are July/August (main), January (some). A bachelor's degree usually takes 3–4 years and a master's takes 2 years.

Entrance exams such as JEE, NEET, CUET, CAT and GATE. Minimum scores differ by university and course, so check each programme page.

We currently work directly with 8 verified universities in India, spanning a range of budgets and course levels.

Ready to start your journey to India?

Book a free session with a Sukhada counsellor — no obligation, no pressure, just a clear plan for India.

Free Counselling Zero Hidden Charges 94% Visa Success 12,000+ Students Guided
Handpicked For You

Top Universities Worldwide

A closer look at some of the institutions our students are applying to right now.

United States flag United States Cambridge
  • IntakesFall and Spring
  • Visa SuccessNA
  • Post-Study Work12 months OPT (STEM +24 months)
  • Cost of LivingHigh
  • Work While Study20 hrs/week
  • LanguageEnglish

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, United States Est. 1861
QS WORLD#1
Annual Tuition US$66,720 avg
Acceptance NA
Placement Ratio 93%
Pillar Scores out of 100 · QS World University Rankings 2026
Academic Reputation
100/100 #4
Employer Reputation
100/100 #2
Faculty / Student
100/100 #16
Citations / Faculty
100/100 #7
Intl. Faculty
100/100 #63
Intl. Students
91.6/100 #153
Intl. Student Diversity
92.3/100 #130
Intl. Research Network
94.1/100 #98
Employment Outcomes
100/100 #7
Sustainability
93.8/100 #33
SG
Sukhada Expert Response: < 2 mins
Premium Support Free
Verified Mentor REF SGE-C4CA
United Kingdom flag United Kingdom London
  • IntakesSeptember
  • Visa SuccessNA
  • Post-Study WorkUp to 2 years (Graduate visa)
  • Cost of LivingHigh
  • Work While Study20hrs/week
  • LanguageEnglish

Imperial College London

London, United Kingdom Est. 1907
QS WORLD#2
Annual Tuition £42,700 – £58,600 avg
Acceptance NA
Placement Ratio 94%
Pillar Scores out of 100 · QS World University Rankings 2026
Academic Reputation
99.6/100 #22
Employer Reputation
100/100 #9
Faculty / Student
99.3/100 #42
Citations / Faculty
95/100 #69
Intl. Faculty
100/100 #74
Intl. Students
100/100 #35
Intl. Student Diversity
100/100 #22
Intl. Research Network
97.5/100 #28
Employment Outcomes
95.9/100 #68
Sustainability
98.3/100 #7
SG
Sukhada Expert Response: < 2 mins
Premium Support Free
Verified Mentor REF SGE-C81E
United States flag United States Stanford
  • IntakesFall and Spring
  • Visa Success82
  • Post-Study Work12 months OPT (STEM +24 months)
  • Cost of LivingHigh
  • Work While Study20hrs/week
  • LanguageEnglish

Stanford University

Stanford, United States Est. 1885
QS WORLD#2
Annual Tuition USD67,731 avg
Acceptance NA
Placement Ratio 90%
Pillar Scores out of 100 · QS World University Rankings 2026
Academic Reputation
100/100 #5
Employer Reputation
100/100 #3
Faculty / Student
100/100 #17
Citations / Faculty
99.7/100 #24
Intl. Faculty
94.2/100 #188
Intl. Students
73.5/100 #261
Intl. Student Diversity
76.1/100 #230
Intl. Research Network
96.5/100 #49
Employment Outcomes
100/100 #2
Sustainability
95.4/100 #19
SG
Sukhada Expert Response: < 2 mins
Premium Support Free
Verified Mentor REF SGE-ECCB
United Kingdom flag United Kingdom Oxford
  • IntakesOctober (Michaelmas term)
  • Visa SuccessNA
  • Post-Study Work2 yrs; 18 months from Jan 2027
  • Cost of LivingGBP 1,405-2,105 / month
  • Work While Study20hrs/week
  • LanguageEnglish

University of Oxford

Oxford, United Kingdom Est. 1096
QS WORLD#4
Annual Tuition GBP 39,620-66,580 avg
Acceptance NA
Placement Ratio 90%
Pillar Scores out of 100 · QS World University Rankings 2026
Academic Reputation
100/100 #
Employer Reputation
100/100 #
Faculty / Student
100/100 #
Citations / Faculty
91/100 #
Intl. Faculty
98.8/100 #
Intl. Students
98.6/100 #
Intl. Research Network
100/100 #
Employment Outcomes
100/100 #
Sustainability
77.9/100 #
SG
Sukhada Expert Response: < 2 mins
Premium Support Free
Verified Mentor REF SGE-A87F
United States flag United States Cambridge
  • IntakesFall
  • Visa SuccessNA
  • Post-Study Work12 months OPT (STEM +24 months)
  • Cost of LivingHigh
  • Work While Study20hrs/week
  • LanguageEnglish

Harvard University

Cambridge, United States Est. 1636
QS WORLD#5
Annual Tuition USD 62,226 avg
Acceptance NA
Placement Ratio 87%
Pillar Scores out of 100 · QS World University Rankings 2026
Academic Reputation
100/100 #1
Employer Reputation
100/100 #1
Faculty / Student
98.3/100 #50
Citations / Faculty
100/100 #1
Intl. Faculty
79.1/100 #300
Intl. Students
81.4/100 #217
Intl. Student Diversity
60.6/100 #335
Intl. Research Network
99.4/100 #8
Employment Outcomes
100/100 #1
Sustainability
77.8/100 #201
SG
Sukhada Expert Response: < 2 mins
Premium Support Free
Verified Mentor REF SGE-E4DA
United Kingdom flag United Kingdom Cambridge
  • IntakesSeptember
  • Visa Success95
  • Post-Study WorkUp to 2 years (Graduate visa)
  • Cost of LivingHigh
  • Work While Study20hrs/week
  • LanguageEnglish

University of Cambridge

Cambridge, United Kingdom Est. 1209
QS WORLD#6
Annual Tuition £29,052 – £70,554 avg
Acceptance NA
Placement Ratio 95%
Pillar Scores out of 100 · QS World University Rankings 2026
Academic Reputation
100/100 #3
Employer Reputation
100/100 #5
Faculty / Student
100/100 #23
Citations / Faculty
88.6/100 #107
Intl. Faculty
100/100 #80
Intl. Students
93.1/100 #144
Intl. Student Diversity
93.6/100 #120
Intl. Research Network
99.2/100 #12
Employment Outcomes
100/100 #5
Sustainability
78.4/100 #194
SG
Sukhada Expert Response: < 2 mins
Premium Support Free
Verified Mentor REF SGE-8F14
This Week's Picks

Scholarships worth applying to right now.

A rotating shortlist our counsellors flag as genuinely worth the paperwork.

United Kingdom flag
University of Glasgow International College United Kingdom
All Levels Partial tuition

Glasgow International College tuition scholarship

Deadline: Contact counsellor for deadline
Enquire about this scholarship
Apply Now
Germany flag
Schiller International UniversitySpain, France, Germany, USA Germany
All Levels Percentage Up to 50%

Global Citizen Scholarship

Deadline: Apr 1, 2026
Enquire about this scholarship
Apply Now
Denmark flag
University of Copenhagen Denmark
Master's Full degree funding

Fulbright Scholarship (US citizens)

Deadline: Contact counsellor for deadline
Enquire about this scholarship
Apply Now
China flag
Tianjin University China
Bachelor's Funding + benefits

TJU International Student Scholarship

Deadline: Contact counsellor for deadline
Enquire about this scholarship
Apply Now
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