Opportunities in India

The most visible national route for international students is the ICCR scholarship scheme run by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. It covers diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral study in many fields, and applications go through the ICCR scholarship portal. Calls normally run once a year in the first months of the calendar year for a July start, and Indian embassies publish notices with their own dates. Applicants can also apply directly to Indian institutions through the Study in India portal, which issues an ID later needed for the student e-visa.

A student visa requires an admission or sponsorship letter from a recognised Indian institution, proof of finances and the Study in India ID. Registration with the foreigners' registration office is expected within 14 days of arrival. Visiting researchers are handled within the student category, and internships are also a student-visa sub-category: the Indian host must supply a letter, company internships carry a minimum pay condition, and self-arranged internships need a business visa instead. Employment visas are meant for skilled professionals with a contract from an Indian employer and a salary threshold.

Outside universities, development employment is shaped by international organisations and NGOs with offices in India. Common mistakes include using the wrong visa category for an internship, missing the embassy's ICCR deadline, and skipping the Study in India registration.