NRI Students: A Comprehensive Guide To Admissions In Institutes In India

NRI students can appear for entrance level and competitive level exams as per the general criteria. Hence, Non-resident Indians can enter any institute other than government medical colleges in India. 

An NRI student living abroad can avail of all the NRI benefits only if one of the parents is of Indian origin. They are allowed to write JEE, SAT exams concerning DASA (Direct Admission of Students Abroad) and can even appear for exams like the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and other competitive exams if they match the eligibility criteria like age, marks secured in grade XII etc.  

There are various quotas given by various universities and courses across India for MBBS. Deemed Universities in India offer around 15 percent of their seats reserved by the medical council of India to NRI students. Also, NRIs can apply for admission using the NRI quota during the state counselling after getting their NEET results. However, NRI quotas are offered only at the state level. 

NRIs can also apply for Post Graduate Diploma in Management in India’s premier institutes like IIMs through the NRI quota. NRI participants are assessed using their GMAT score and graduation CGPA via personal interview. 

NRI students can even appear for the Joint Entrance Exam conducted by IITs. However, there are no separate quotas for NRIs in IITs. NRI students should clear the cut-off for the same. NITs have quotas for NRIs under the DASA scheme, which is limited to 15% of the total seats. The eligibility is based on the rank secured in JEE. The entrance examination fee and the tuition fee for NRI students vary across institutes. 

Can NRI students appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)? 

Yes, NRIs can appear for entrance level and competitive level exams on matching the general criteria. Non-residential Indians can enter any institute other than government medical colleges. 

Can NRI students appear for CAT for IIMs? 

No, NRIs cannot appear for CAT. Admission for PGP courses in premier institutes like IIM for overseas candidates is through GMAT. 

Is there a separate quota for NRI students in Indian educational institutions? 

There are no quotas for NRIs in government medical colleges or IITs. However, there are about 15% quotas available for NRIs in NITs and deemed universities across India. 

Can NRI students give exams outside India? 

Yes, NRI students can give JEE exams in selected cities like Sharjah, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Bahrain, Colombo, Muscat, Riyadh, Doha, Dubai, Kathmandu, Abuja/Lagos Nigeria. GMAT can be given across the world. However, NEET exams are conducted only in India. 

NRI students can write the IIT JEE entrance exam, provided they fulfil all the eligibility criteria like age limit, appearance and performance in Grade XII (or equivalent) examination, etc. for JEE Main and JEE Advanced. 

It is to be noted that there is no NRI quota in IITs. NRI students, just like Indian Nationals, have to clear the cut-off for JEE Advanced and admissions happen based on their ranks. Students need to first qualify for JEE Main and then clear JEE Advanced for admission to IITs. 

NRI students can write JEE Main exam, which is the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced. Students can give JEE Main exam 2 times a year (April and May). 

How can NRI students get into NITs? 

NRI students can get admission to NITs in two ways: 1) By giving JEE Main and clearing the exam, 2) By applying through the DASA scheme (admissions on the basis of JEE Main from 2021). 

Is there an NRI quota in NITs? 

Not exactly an NRI quota, NITs have some reserved seats for NRI students under the DASA scheme. The number of seats in the DASA quota is 15% of the total seats in the institute. Admissions in DASA/ CIWG seats will happen based on JEE Main rank. 

What is the Gulf quota in engineering colleges in India? 

Gulf quota in engineering colleges in India is a special quota provided by MHRD, Government of India, under the DASA scheme for the children of gulf workers in countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. 1/3rd seats from the DASA scheme in NITs, IIITs and other premier technical institutions are reserved for gulf quota. 

NRI students can get admission in NITs by directly applying for JEE Main and clearing the exam, and not just through the DASA scheme. From 2021-22 onwards, DASA admissions are on the basis of JEE Main ranks instead of SAT scores. 

However, there is no NRI quota in BITS. Admission to BTech/ BE engineering courses in BITS-Pilani is based on the BITSAT online test. See all details about the BITSAT exam. 

The fee for NRI students in NITs is the same as that for students in India, provided they secure admission through JEE Main. However, if selected under the DASA scheme, the fee would be higher than the normal fee. CIWG candidates will have to pay the same fee prescribed for Indian nationals. 

While applying for JEE, the documents required from NRI students are: scanned clear passport photograph and signature, Grade 10 and 12 or equivalent qualifying exam mark-sheet and one ID proof. At the time of JEE exam, students need to bring Admit Card and ID proof only. 

Can NRI Students Give JEE exam outside India? 

Yes, an NRI student can give the JEE exam abroad, outside India. NTA has provided JEE exam centres in these cities outside India – Manama (Bahrain), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Doha (Qatar), Dubai (UAE), Kathmandu (Nepal), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Muscat (Oman), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Sharjah (UAE), Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Abuja/Lagos (Nigeria), Canberra (Australia), Vienna (Austria), Brasilia (Brazil), Ottawa (Canada), Beijing (China), Hong Kong, Port Luis (Mauritius), Moscow (Russia), Cape Town (South Africa), Bangkok (Thailand), Washington D.C. (USA), Hanoi (Vietnam). 

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