Sri Lankan Students Increasingly Choosing Indian Universities for Higher Education

By Henry February 16, 2025
Alarm 2 Min Read
Copied
Featured

India is emerging as a preferred destination for Sri Lankan students seeking affordable and high-quality education, as highlighted at The PIE Live India 2025 event in New Delhi.

Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities, shared insights from a recent visit to Sri Lanka, where over 3,000 students expressed interest in studying at Indian universities. “Earlier, Sri Lankan students mainly looked at the US, UK, and Europe, but rising costs have made them turn to India,” Mittal stated.

According to the Study in India portal, over 72,000 international students enrolled in Indian institutions for the 2024/25 academic year. With this rise, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced specialised visas, including the ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x visa’, making it easier for international students to study in the country. Additionally, a ‘G-20 talent visa’ has been launched for global researchers and faculty members.

Expanding Collaborations and Growing International Interest

Reports suggest that IIT Madras is considering establishing a branch campus in Sri Lanka, reflecting India’s growing educational outreach. While international universities are making headlines for their expansion in India, Indian institutions are also eager to collaborate globally. However, Mittal emphasised the need for capacity-building support to help public universities navigate these partnerships effectively.

The Indian Network for Internationalisation of Higher Education (INIHE), with over 1,000 member institutions, is facilitating these collaborations. Private institutions like UPES are also actively forming global partnerships, with agreements in place with universities such as King’s College London, Edinburgh University, and the University of Queensland.

However, despite the appeal of joint and dual degrees, participation among Indian students remains low. UPES Vice-Chancellor Ram Sharma noted that new models, such as a “campus-on-campus” approach, are being explored to boost engagement.

With India’s education sector evolving rapidly, experts stress the need for stronger research funding and industry engagement to foster innovation and benefit both Indian and international students.

Source: THE PIE NEWS

More Articles