Foreign students’ influx undeterred at OU

For the academic year of 2010-11, 1295 foreign students had taken admission in Osmania University and in 2011-12 and 2012-13, it was around 1350. For the academic year 2013-14, the numbers shot above 1600, according to the latest data samples as on September 27.

Osmania University has always been an integral part of all T-related agitations. There were many instances where in classes were cancelled and exams were postponed. All these would be detrimental for any university and would usually take a toll on the influx of foreign students. But a look at the statistics, with University Foreign Relations Office (UFRO), shows a sharp rise in number of foreign students every year. Nearly students from 80 countries across the world set their foot on the campus to pursue their dreams.

While over 1600 students had applied for admissions from across the world till today, the university is expecting more students, as admissions season is on. There are about 400 students from Iraq, 230 students from Afghanistan and above 150 from Yemen who have applied at the OU. Most of them are aiming for BCom, BCA, BBA and BSc at the undergraduate level and MA and MSc at the post graduation level.

For the academic year of 2010-11, 1295 foreign students had taken admission in Osmania University and in 2011-12 and 2012-13, it was around 1350. For the academic year 2013-14, the numbers shot above 1600, according to the latest data samples as on September 27.

University Foreign Relations Office has been providing a comfort zone for international students. It as a single window system that assists information about various studies, admission of international students into various courses.

Prof C Venugopal Rao, director, university foreign relations office said, “Admission rate has increased rapidly this year because of less agitation compared to the previous two years. The other reason is that foreign countries have narrowed down their university destinations for their countrymen and among them, OU is a preferred university.”

OU has been providing education at a very reasonable fee and has been accredited ‘A’grade by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Mosaad from Sudan who is perusing MA English Literature said, “As the tuition fees is affordable, comparatively to other universities, I have joined here. I didn’t know about the agitation till I came here.”

Jung from china who is in her second year of Islamic studies said, “This course is taught in only four universities all over India and I chose Hyderabad as I didn’t have much choice. We have faced problems last year because of cancellation of classes but the present scenario has changed.”

Mariyam from Saudi Arabia, pursuing her first year of MSc said, “I don’t originally belong to Saudi Arabia. So it was very difficult to get admission there and freedom for any girl is also very less. So my parents decided to send me to India. Till now I have not faced any problem as people over here are very friendly.”