Universities in India

Disadvantages of universities in India

• Specific learning style. Studies are conducted using “rote learning.” This is a method of memorizing by repetition. This approach may be unusual for those who are accustomed to discussions in seminars. Rote learning is bad for the development of analytical skills and does not teach you to think independently.
• Competitive environment. The best Indian universities have high competition for admission. And those who manage to pass, face high competition in the class. Getting higher grades than other students becomes more important than knowledge itself. This creates unfavorable psychological conditions^[4].

Requirements for admission to universities in India

Unlike many universities in Europe, the legalization of documents is not required. Classes at universities are in English, so you need to provide a B2-C1 level language certificate. For certain fields of studies, you’ll need to pass specialized examinations such as GRE, or GMAT — for admission to the MBA program. Some universities conduct interviews and their own entrance tests. You can submit documents through the centralized application system DASA.

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Public and private universities

Public universities are more numerous. The choice of training programs is wider, but it is more difficult to enroll there, especially to the Institutes of National Importance. In India, this sector is considered the most prestigious. The cost of education there is lower than in private universities because they receive funding from the government. The quality of the infrastructure depends on the university, but, as a rule, there are no problems: the development of the higher education system is one of the state’s top priorities.

Private universities are a rapidly growing sector of the Indian education system. Over the past ten years, more than 250 private universities have been opened in the country due to the growing demand for higher education^[5]. In many such universities, the admission requirements are less strict, while the tuition fees, on the contrary, are higher — above 1,167 USD/semester. Therefore, for students, private universities remain a backup option: first of all, everyone tries to get into one of the state universities. Programs can be general or narrowly focused, such as the Business Process Services program at Manipal Academy of Higher Education or Real Estate And Urban Infrastructure at Amity University.

There are many small private universities in the country that prepare students for careers in specific professions. Education in such institutions may be shorter. The activities of private universities are under the control of state commissions, and their autonomy is limited: they do not have the right to open their own colleges and out-of-campus educational centers.

The quality of education is similar in both types of universities. The requirements for the selection of the teaching staff are equally strict: a PhD degree, experience, and approval of the commission. However, practice shows that a degree from a state university is still valued by employers a little more: since it is more difficult to get there, confidence in the skills of the applicant is also more grounded.

Best universities in India

• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITВ). The campus is located in Mumbai, the financial center of the country. IITB is an Institute of National Importance. This status means that the university plays an important role in the training of highly qualified specialists. It is now one of the best in the field of engineering. It is included in the list of 200 best universities in the world according to QS^[6].
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc). It is a public university with more than a century of history, located in Bangalore. This is where India's high-tech industry is located. IISc is the country's center for advanced scientific and technical research. The strongest areas are Natural Sciences, especially Chemistry and Biology, as well as Computer Science. The Times Higher Education named IISc the best university in the country^[7].
• Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD). Institute of National Importance, an important science and technology center in India. Included in the top-200 universities in the world^[8]. Studying at this university is a chance to join one of the ongoing studies. IITD researchers regularly publish papers in the fields of Technology, Biochemistry, Physics, and Information Technology.
• Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM). The campus of the university is located in Chennai, the "automobile capital", a large industrial center of India. The factories of many international companies such as Hyundai, Ford, and Mitsubishi are located here. IITM is an Institute of National Importance, a major center for fundamental and applied scientific research, technological innovation, and industrial consulting. It is among the top-300 universities in the world according to the QS rating^[8].
• Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK). Founded in 1959, IITK from the very beginning has been working closely with renowned American universities such as the California Institute of Technology, Princeton, and the University of Michigan. The American experience allowed the institute to quickly take a leading position among the universities of India. Most of IITK's research today is in bioengineering and aerospace technology.