Anna University Sees Surge in NRI Admissions Amid Visa Restrictions
Anna University in Chennai has seen a significant increase in admissions from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries (CWGIC) quotas this year. The university attributes this growth to visa restrictions in the US and Europe, as well as lower fees.
The number of students enrolled under these categories has increased by 20% compared to last year, with a total of 160 students admitted for the 2026-27 academic year. This includes students from countries such as Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, UK, Korea, Japan, Canada, Angola, Azerbaijan, Australia, and Germany.
According to V Kumaresan, registrar (in charge) of Anna University, 'The cost of education is affordable at Anna University' and the university offers high-quality engineering education. The fee for courses such as computer science engineering, IT, and electronics and communication engineering is USD 7,500, while other courses cost USD 3,750.
NRIs have joined a diverse range of courses besides computer science engineering and ECE, including UG courses such as biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, electronics engineering (VLSI), mining, robotics, production engineering, and geoinformatics. The university's twinning programs with foreign universities are also attracting NRIs.