Admission Procedure

1. 1. Introduction

These rules outline the procedures for admitting international students to various courses at TAU. They are formulated in accordance with the general guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), and statutory/regulatory directives issued from time to time.

2. 2. The Cell

The Directorate of International Affairs will provide the necessary guidance for the admission process. All correspondence related to international students should be addressed to the Directorate of International Affairs of the institution.

3. 3. International Students:

i. Foreign Students: Students holding passports issued by foreign countries, including individuals of Indian origin who have acquired foreign nationality.
ii. Non-Resident Indians (NRI): Only those NRI students who have studied and passed their qualifying examinations from schools or colleges located in foreign countries will be considered as international students. This includes students attending schools or colleges in foreign countries, even if these institutions are affiliated with Boards of Secondary or Higher Secondary Education or Universities located in India. However, it does not use it to refer to those NRI students studying in schools or colleges situated in India and affiliated to the Boards of Secondary Education or Universities located in foreign countries, or those qualifying examinations from Boards or Universities located in foreign countries as external students and dependents of NRIs studying in India.
iii. Wards of NRI/PIO/FN who have completed the qualifying examination from schools or colleges located in India are excluded.

4. 4. Documents Required for Admission of International Students:

i. Visa:
All international students are required to obtain a student visa endorsed to The Apollo University for admission to full-time courses. No other endorsement will be accepted.
Students applying for research programs must have a research visa endorsed to The Apollo University. The visa must be valid for the entire duration of the course.
ii. Security Clearance for Research Programs:
International students intending to undertake research work or enroll in a Ph.D. program must secure prior clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs and obtain approval from the Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

5. 5. Eligibility Qualifications:

Only students with qualifications recognized as equivalent by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) are eligible for admission as per the UGC norms.
i. Age Requirement:
The candidate must have completed 17 years of age on or before 31st December of the admission year for any program.
ii. Qualifying Examination Criteria:
Only students who have studied and passed the qualifying examination from a school located in a foreign country will be considered. This includes students attending schools or colleges situated in a foreign country, even if those institutions are affiliated with any Board of Secondary or Higher Secondary Education or a University in India.
iii. American System of Education:
Candidates from schools following the American system of education must have completed relevant subjects at the Advanced Placement (AP) level that align with the eligibility criteria of TAU programs, with a minimum grade of ‘C’ in these subjects.
iv. Equivalence Certificate:
Candidates must obtain an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi.

6. 6. Admission Procedure

• All applicants must check with the university prospectus available on the university website to ascertain the eligibility requirements for the course(s) they might be applying for.
• The admission of all international students will be managed through the Directorate of International Affairs.
• Students wishing to join the University should submit the completed application form to the Directorate of International Affairs, along with the prescribed application fees. Upon receipt, the Directorate will process the application and issue a provisional admission letter from the competent authority.
• Upon receiving the provisional admission letter from the University, the students are required to produce, with a valid passport in the Indian Embassy or the Indian High Commission (as the case may be) in their respective native countries, get a student visa endorsed to The Apollo University for the entire duration of any undergraduate or postgraduate programme.
• Those applicants who send requests for admission to PhD programme should get a research visa similarly endorsed for the entire duration of the concerned programme.
• The student must then report for final admission, fill out the admission form, and pay the required fees. A medical examination will also be conducted, and the student will be required to appear for an English proficiency test. Upon successful completion of these steps, final admission will be granted.

7. 7. Change of Program Policy:

International students admitted to a specific program will not be permitted to change their program during its duration. Transfers from one institution in India to another are strictly prohibited.

8. 8. Summary (Step by step process)

Step 1:

• Purchase the International Student’s Bulletin published by the Directorate of Press and Publications, TAU and the university prospectus once you have decided the program at TAU.

Step 2:

• Complete the eligibility form for international students and submit it along with:

1. Copies of certificates listed in the eligibility form.
2. Required fees.

• Ensure submission is done well in advance to allow time for obtaining the visa and NOC before the admission deadline.

Step 3:

• Obtain a provisional admission letter from the Directorate of International Affairs to facilitate the student visa process.

Step 4:

• Present the provisional admission document to the Indian Embassy in your home country to secure a student visa endorsed to the institution.

Step 5:

• Report to the institution for admission.
• Submit the permanent admission form along with the following original documents and one photocopy each: a. Mark/Grade Statement of the qualifying examination. b. Transfer/School Leaving Certificate from the last attended institution. c. Nationality Certificate (for NRI/PIO/FN students) or Guardian’s Nationality Certificate (if the guardian resides abroad). d. A notarized photocopy of the passport. e. Physical Fitness Certificate from a registered physician. f. Employment certificate from the guardian’s employer, specifying length of service and total emoluments (if employed abroad). g. Income Certificate from a competent authority (if the guardian is self-employed).
• Note: Original certificates will be returned after necessary endorsements.

Step 6:

• Undergo a medical examination and obtain a Medical Fitness Certificate as per the regulations of the government for international students.

Step 7:

• Appear for an English Proficiency Test (if the qualifying examination was not in English/or if the requirement is mandatory for specific courses).

Step 8:

• Admission is confirmed upon verification of original certificates, passing the medical fitness test, and payment of the required fees.

Step 9:

• Within one week of arrival in India, register with the local Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) under the police jurisdiction.

9. 9. Discipline

International students are required to abide by the rules and regulations of the institution and adhere to the code of conduct/ordinances applicable to Indian students enrolled in the same programs.

10. 10. Examination and Award of Degrees & Diplomas

The procedures for examinations, payment of examination fees, issuance of mark sheets, passing certificates, and the awarding of degrees or diplomas will be the same as those applicable to Indian students pursuing the same programs.

11. 11. Conclusion

In case of any differences in the interpretation of rules, the opinion of the Directorate of International Affairs will be considered final. Fees are subject to revision, and students will be required to pay the revised fees as applicable. For matters not explicitly covered, the decision of the Vice Chancellor will be final.