India has been a major seat of learning for thousands of years. The country was home to both Takshashila - the first university in the world, and to the inventor of the digit 0 - Aryabhata. Albert Einstein once said, "we owe a lot to the Indians who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made". India's diversity and history offer a wide array of options for any International student. India's educational system is as vast and diverse as the country itself. While living in India can be challenging for international students, it is an affordable and rewarding experience.

Today, India is known as a communication hub, and has become popular with International students from all over the world. It is highly attractive due to its forward thinking, its popularity with large multinational companies, and also due to English being the common language of communication. According to Peter Drucker, "India is become a power house very fast, the medical school in New Delhi is now perhaps the best in the world. The technical graduates of IIT are as good as any in the world. Also India has 150 million people for whom English is their main language so India is indeed becoming a knowledge center". Also, India is well-known as the centre for Information Technology, Engineering, Management and Media Studies.

India has undergone a paradigm shift owing to its competitive stand in the world. The Indian economy is on a robust growth trajectory and boasts of a stable 8 plus annual growth rate, rising foreign exchange reserves and booming capital markets among others. India has emerged as a premier global manufacturing hub with the foray of a number of Multi National corporations such as General Motors, Ford, Suzuki, Hyundai, Coco Cola, etc.

Global players such as Daimler Chrysler, General Motors, Ford, LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony, Amway, Tupperware, Pepsico, McDonald's, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Aviva, Nortel, Nokia among others have benefited from their operations in India and have made expansion plans for the country. The companies plan to expand by way of product diversification, setting up a manufacturing base in India, increasing the existing production capacity, establishing research centres in India, etc.

Education in India has many benefits. Some of them are :

Quality, Diversity and Opportunities are the main reason why you should study in India.

Quality.

1. Excellence
India has a world-wide reputation as a centre of excellence in learning. Year after year, Indian universities are progressively moving up in the rank prominently among the top 200 in the world. Also, India can offer state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge research opportunities together with the chance to walk in the footsteps of so many of the world's most influential thinkers / CEOs.

2. World Class Quality Assured
India is developing a scheme of quality assurance as most of Top CEO from Multinational Companies are Persons of Indian Origin. Indian educational institutions such as the IITs, IISc, IIMs, NITs,AIIMS, ISI, BITS, ISB and many other Private Institutions are well known worldwide to provide quality education.

3. Value for money / Low Cost
Indian Education influenced by British Higher Education which is high in academic standards; the cost of education in India is quite low as compared to many other countries of the world. Tuition fees and daily costs are reasonable, the education sector being a top priority for India's competitiveness.

4. Lasting legacy
India boasts many centuries of academic excellence. A rich academic heritage is based around many landmarks in human knowledge, and today's Indian higher education institutions benefit from this lasting legacy.

Diversity.

1. Choice
There are thousands of higher education institutions in India to choose from, offering a great variety of degree programmes. From leading research universities to small, friendly teaching colleges, you're sure to find what you're looking for. Also, one can also study some unique courses that were discovered and developed by the traditional knowledge system of India. Ayurveda, Sankrit, Yoga and Hindi are some such courses that enthuse many international students.

2. Tradition and innovation
Immerse yourself in a continent (sub-continent) with a wealth of traditions and a history as rich and varied as its many peoples and landscapes. At the same time, India is a hotbed of research and innovation, home to first-class resources and top scientists working in fields ranging from medicine to space travel, from nanotechnology to polar research, and from ICT to nuclear fusion.

3. Multicultural
India offers a unique cultural experience in a dynamic, multinational environment. Besides earning a world-class qualification, you'll have the chance to learn new languages and intercultural skills that are of great value to future employers and an essential advantage in an ever-changing world.

Opportunity

1. World-renowned
Studying in India gives you a top-quality education which will be respected the world over. Moreover, you can take advantage of the many scholarships that Indian universities offer.

2. Opening doors
Employers won't only be impressed by your education; they'll also appreciate the other skills you will have acquired. Your time in India will prepare you for the global economy, developing assets such as self-reliance, independence and intercultural and linguistic abilities that will set you apart from the competition.

3. Portable skills
Many countries encourage the best and brightest students to remain after their studies. Alternatively, you can take your newly acquired skills back home to use there. An Indian higher education will increase your mobility - across India and the rest of the world.

4. Springboard for your travels
Always wanted to explore India? Studying here provides the perfect launch-pad for your travels. Take the chance to visit our great cities, bathe on our beautiful beaches, ski in the Himalayas or join in the fiesta.

5. Financial Assistance:
Various scholarships, education loans and other financial aids are available for studying in India today by Government Institutions and Private Universities

There are quite a good number of educational institutes in India that can compete with the best educational institutes of the world. To name a few - Indian Institutes of Technology, National Law School of India University, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are the top management institutes in India. Indian Technical Education is very strong these days and there are several thousand colleges in India which provides technical education.

Where can I Study ?

Most institutes of higher education throughout India now have international student offices in order to help international students with their move to India. You can also contact representatives of Incredible India Education Fair who are happy to cater to the needs of the growing number of International Students.

Different courses for international students are offered all over the country. International students can apply for anything from medical and engineering courses to applied arts courses at most institutions. The government has reserved some seats for foreign students and students from other developing countries through which international students can get admission. For more information related to these admissions, contact the Indian High Commission (Indian Embassy) located in Jakarta, Bali and Medan. International students are required to carry the necessary documents along with them such as admission letter, passport, residence permit etc for entry to India. The international students can avail the residential permit after registering themselves at the Foreigner's Registration Office (F.R.O) within a period of seven days from their arrival.

Various International Fellowships are also available for students from across the globe who come to India. These International scholarships may be offered at various levels of study from graduate and postgraduate level, to the level of doctorate or post doctorate in various streams of study. Most of these fellowships are meant for meritorious students who would otherwise due to financial constraints have to discontinue education. There are however some scholarships more specifically meant to encourage students to pursue research and some fellowships that are meant to promote cultural interaction among students from different countries.

Life for International Students in India

India's people are friendly and welcoming, eager to learn more about other countries. Many of India's amazing sites offer special student discounts. International students in India will find the cost of living unbelievably affordable.

With all that India has to offer, it will be next to impossible not to travel. India's vast and colorful rail network puts visitors in touch with all parts of the sub-Continent, often costing less than Rupiah 130,000 to travel hundreds of miles. The trains offer the cheapest, and safest, way for those studying in India to travel.

Food in India is an experience! Whether in North or South India, restaurants offer tantalizing dishes at cheap prices. Meals at cheap restaurants often run less than Rupiah 25,000, while even pricier options often cost less than Rupiah 130,000, offering yet another good answer to the question "why study in India ?"

Although costs of lodging will depend on your program, comfortable apartments can be rented for Rupiah 1,400,000 per month outside major cities to Rupiah 2,500,000 per month in most major city centers. Cities like Mumbai and Delhi will often be more expensive although even there costs to rent will often be lower than in European or American cities.

Tuition rarely exceeds Rupiah 20,000,000 per year at private universities or Rupiah 14,000,000 at public universities, making studying in India an affordable option for most international students.