The Centre for International Affairs at Savitribai Phule Pune University will not charge international students tuition until they are able to arrive in the country and attend physical classes. In the meantime, the department has begun accepting foreign student applications for the academic year 2021-22. Thousands of international students attend the university each year.
Vijay Khare, director of the Centre for International Affairs, said that International students are being admitted. The entire procedure is performed electronically and in a seamless manner. Students are given provisional admissions after their test scores and other eligibility requirements have been checked. After that, they would be able to attend classes and take exams. After these students arrive in the country and send their papers, SPPU will confirm their admissions. The records would then be scrutinised, and the tuition fee would be charged.
Despite the challenge of Covid 19 and limitations on foreign travel, the university said it has accepted more than 500 students in non-professional courses for the academic year 2020-21. From March 22 to June 3, students can fill out online application forms.
Students must send hard copies of their application form and supporting documentation to the university between June 22 and July 31. Students from 69 countries are currently enrolled in the university’s associated schools, with the bulk of students hailing from the Middle East and Africa.
The university is hoping for more international students this year after a dull previous year. Mr Khare added that they miss the cultural influence which foreign students brought to the university. They used to have food festivals where various countries displayed their cuisines, as well as sports and other cultural activities. Things like this are not possible in online education.
