Misleading advertising

Bokor Moussa, from the Republic of Chad, is a student of Bangalore University and president (Karnataka) of the Association of African Students in India.

Why did you choose India as your higher education destination?

The quality of education in India is good and there are many foreign students studying here. India is also one of the fastest developing countries and one of the most powerful economic hubs of the world.

Did you find it easy to get accommodation?

It’s not easy to find accommodation in Bangalore. Most home owners refuse to rent their properties to African students. We have to rely on real estate brokers who charge us heavy commissions.

Any other problems you face as a foreign student in India?

What colleges advertise in our countries is very different from reality. Some colleges don’t have proper classrooms, labs and good teachers. They just want to make money from foreign students who pay higher fees.

The FRRO (Foreign Regional Registration Office) staff is impatient and not helpful. The police are also not very helpful and don’t trust us.

Unsatisfactory experience

Huguette Ket Mbay (21), a Congolese national, is currently a second year biotechnology student at Sharda University, Noida.

Why did you choose India as a higher education destination?

Education in India is comparatively cheaper than in Thailand or Singapore. Also, it’s closer to home.

Did you find it easy to get residential accommodation?

There is a hostel for international students but the facilities and the quality of food are not upto expectation. Plus there are too many restrictions and accommodation is limited. Most of us have to fend for ourselves with no assistance from the university when it comes to finding accommodation. I found it very difficult to rent a flat. Some housing societies refuse to rent to foreign students.

How satisfied are you with your learning experience?

Not much. In a degree programme such as biotechnology, the focus should be on practical and research-based learning rather than theory and textbook learning. I hope the third year curriculum is more up-to-date and placements are good. When an institute projects itself as an international university offering programmes in the English medium, it’s expected the faculty and staff can communicate in English. Surprisingly, communicating in English is a major problem here not just with the office staff but also with some teachers.

Your experience as a woman student in Delhi…

I generally avoid travelling during late evenings. Even otherwise, auto-rickshaw drivers pretend not to have understood and take us in a wrong direction if we aren’t firm. I have to be extra careful and attentive when travelling alone.

What are other problems you face as a foreign student in India?

I am from Africa and people for some reason find me strange. They come up with bizarre requests such as ‘Can I touch your hair or skin?’ No one has passed racist remarks directly, but we have to get used to strange looks and jibes in public places.

No complaints

Ojeshwini Singh, from Nepal, is reading for a Masters degree in social work at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.

Why India… The quality of education in India is good. Another reason is that my home country Nepal is in constant political turmoil with schools and colleges shut, sometimes for months.

Accommodation hassles… I completed my bachelor’s degree in social work from Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi which provided good residential facilities. But here at TISS, there are no housing facilities for foreign students. The university’s International Relations Office does provide us with names of real estate agents and home owners. But renting accommodation in Mumbai is an expensive proposition. I pay Rs.13,000 per month towards rent despite sharing a flat with three other students. 
Learning experience… I have no complaints about the quality of teaching and education. The faculty is highly qualified and easily accessible.

Two educations experience

Karin Sofi Madeleine Andersson, from Sweden, is a final year B.Sc nursing student at Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal University.

On choosing India as a study destination. I’ve always wanted to study nursing and was told by a friend that India offers high-quality para-medical education, confirmed by the good reputation Indian nurses have around the world. And India has always been a dream destination for me.

Residential accommodation. There are a wide range of hostels to choose from and all of them are within walking distance of classrooms, library, hospital, food court and restaurants, sports and recreation centres. Every hostel has support staff who clean and maintain our rooms.

The learning experience. I am very satisfied with my learning experience in Manipal. It has opened doors to so many possibilities in the future. I’ve also gained a lot of practical knowledge and hands-on-experience. I’ve been given two educations in one package — medical education and life education/experience.

Campus life. Most people are kind and helpful, but you will also meet some people who will take advantage of you. For example if an autorickshaw ride costs Rs.30, the driver will demand Rs.50 from foreigners. Many Indians believe foreign students have a lot of money, but we are all students with zero income, and loans to pay back.

The university has a dress code even for higher education students which is very different from back home. It’s very traditional, and I felt strange wearing the dress together with patiala trousers and a shawl. But I have got used to it, and put my own personal twist to it.

Visa process. It’s a lot of paper work, but the university helps you step by step.

Home from home

Aporup Das, a Bangladesh national, is a third year computer science engineering student at NIT, Durgapur (West Bengal).

Advantages of studying in India. The IITs and NITs are internationally reputed for offering high-quality engineering education 
on a par with any university abroad. I was fortunate to have got a scholarship to study at NIT, Durgapur.

Campus life. The hostel facilities are good. There’s wifi, pure drinking water, good meals.

Quality of curriculum. I’m satisfied with the quality of computer science and engineering education. The faculty and curriculum are excellent.

Quality of social interaction. Since I am from Bangladesh and speak Bengali, I face no problem in communicating with locals. Indian students are very helpful as are my teachers and other support staff.

English learning advantage

Seokminlee Deam and YaYa are students of Dongguk University, South Korea on a student exchange programme at Hindustan University, Chennai. They are enrolled in short-term courses in English, Indian culture and business studies.

Why did you choose India as a study destination?

We know that Indians read, write and speak the English language fluently and we wanted to acquire good English communication skills. Also, the Indian economy is growing rapidly and offers ample opportunity for learning and networking.

We also find the cultural diversity of India very interesting. We have been offered an internship with automobile major Hyundai Motors India in Chennai after we complete our courses and are looking forward to working with them for five months.

How are the residential facilities at Hindustan University?

International students are accommodated at the Senate House which has better facilities than the residence halls of Indian students. Even then, the hot and humid weather in Chennai is very uncomfortable. The electricity goes off frequently and the air-conditioner stops working. Mosquitoes trouble us and the toilet facilities are less than great.

How satisfied are you with the quality of education?

The faculty teaching us English and business management is very good. However, the focus is on memorising and regurgitating answers rather than practical learning. So we don’t get enough opportunities to speak English with our peers and faculty.

Any other problems you face as a foreign student in India?

It would have been nice if the residential facilities were better and we had a swimming pool on campus. It would also be great if the university provided multi-cuisine dining options as we are unused to spicy Indian food.

A once in lifetime experience

Nicolas Derrien was on an exchange programme at IIM-Ahmedabad while doing an MBA degree programme at Ohio State University, USA. He is currently working as a startup executive at etventure, Berlin.

Why did you choose India for your study abroad programme?

I chose India because I had visited here earlier and love the country. I picked IIM-Ahmedabad because of its second-to-none reputation.

How were the residential facilities?

I was lodged on campus together with other full-time students. Personally, I found the single rooms provided sufficient for my needs.

Are you satisfied with your learning experience in India?

Yes. I had some challenging classes that complemented my MBA programme in the US.

How would you describe your experience as a foreign student in India?

During my stay which was much shorter than native students completing the two-year MBA programme, I didn’t feel I was treated any differently, by students, professors or the administration.

I am still in touch with many of the exchange and Indian students. In fact we had a reunion in Berlin in April! My India experience and the relationships I formed will last me a life- time.