Reshma Ravishanker 

Higher educational institutes across the country will now be allowed to create supernumerary seats for admission of foreign students into undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

HEIs may create up to 25% supernumerary seats for international students, over and above of their total sanctioned enrolment for Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes. The decision regarding 25% supernumerary seats must be carried out by the concerned higher educational institutions as per specific guidelines/regulations issued by the regulatory bodies considering the infrastructure, faculty, and other requirements according to the UGC.

However, the UGC has also imposed that should these seats, meant for foreign students remain vacant, HEIs will not be allowed to admit students from India in their place.

Thus, sanctioned posts must be divided among all departments, schools, centres or any other academic unit of the higher educational institution.

“Internationalization of higher education is an essential part of the National Education Policy 2020. In order to facilitate the internationalization of Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIS) the University Grants Commission has framed the guidelines for admission and creation of supernumerary seats for international students. 

“These guidelines have been framed to facilitate a smooth and simple admission process for international students, to create a favourable environment for attracting international students to the Indian higher education system and to make India a preferred destination for international students,” said Rajnish Jain, Secretary, UGC.

Among the other guidelines, the UGC has said that seats for PhD programmes will be governed by the Regulations notified by the University Grants Commission from time to time in this regard.

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