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The Joint Entrance Examination, also known as the IIT-JEE, is one of the most important engineering tests held in India for admission to various engineering colleges. It is the criterion set by the government of India for admission to various IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other prestigious engineering colleges across India. Indian engineers, particularly IITians, have long been renowned around the world for their exceptional achievements in a wide range of fields, making the country proud.
As an NRI student, you must have some concerns and questions about quotas, admissions procedures, and criteria to secure your spot at the prestigious engineering universities. We’ll address some of the frequently asked questions by NRI students and parents about JEE eligibility, IIT admission for NRI students, exam preparation, and eligibility criteria.
Answer: Yes, NRI students can appear and take the IIT JEE entrance exam only if they meet all of the qualifying requirements & criteria for JEE Main and JEE Advanced, such as age, appearance, and performance in Grade XII (or equivalent) examinations.
Answer: In IITs, there is no IIT NRI quota. NRI students must meet the JEE Advanced cut-off, similarly to Indian students, and admission will be based on their scores. For admission to IITs, students must first qualify JEE Main and then JEE Advanced.
Answer: Since there is no IIT NRI quota, the process/steps of IIT admission for NRI students is similar to Indian students.
Answer: There are a total of 23 IITs in the country and the total number of undergraduate seats in all IITs is 17740 (2024).
Answer: Yes, you can get into IIT without clearing the JEE exam, but only for courses other than B.Tech. For B.Tech, it is mandatory to qualify JEE Main & Advanced exam to get admissions in IIT.
Answer: Yes, there are currently two Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) with campuses located outside of India-
IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi (UAE): This campus was officially inaugurated in early September 2024, and its first batch of undergraduate students in Computer Science and Engineering and Energy Engineering commenced their studies in September 2024. For the academic year 2025-26, they will also offer a B.Tech program in Chemical Engineering. Admissions are conducted through JEE (Advanced) and the Combined Admission Entrance Test (CAET).
IIT Madras – Zanzibar (Tanzania): This campus began its academic session in October 2023. It currently offers Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Technology (MTech) programs in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, as well as a Master of Technology program in Ocean Structures.
Answer: Yes, NITs, IIITs, and some other reputed institutes have certain reserved seats for NRI students under the DASA scheme. The DASA quota seats account for 15% of the total seats of the institute and the candidate’s JEE Main rank will be considered to determine his/her admission to DASA/CIWG seats.
Answer: NRI students have two options for getting admission in NITs:
#1: Apply, appear and clear JEE Main exam with good score & rank.
#2: With your JEE Main Rank, you can apply for DASA scheme, as 15% of seats are reserved for NRI students under the DASA scheme. the probability of getting admission increases here.
Answer: If you’ve secured your admission through JEE Main, the fee for NRI students in NITs is the same as it is for Indian students. However, you need to pay higher than the standard fee if you were chosen via the DASA system.
Answer: NRI students are eligible to attempt JEE Mains twice in a year. For each attempt, candidates need to apply online by filling out the application form and depositing the examination fee separately.
Answer: Gulf quota also referred to as CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries) is a unique quota offered by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) under the DASA scheme for the children of Gulf workers in nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Iran, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The gulf quota reserves 1/3 of the seats available under the DASA scheme in NITs, IIITs, and other prestigious technical institutes.
Answer: DASA is known as the Direct Admissions of Students Abroad scheme introduced by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, India (MHRD) for Foreign Nationals/Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)/Non- Resident Indians (NRIs)/ Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) students who want to enroll for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Engineering, Architecture Design, and Management Programs in India’s most prestigious and well-known institutions.
Answer: No, NRI students cannot take admissions in the NIT NRI quota through DASA only, because now DASA admissions will be based on JEE Main score & rank rather than SAT score. Hence, candidates need to have a valid JEE Main score and rank to get admissions in the NIT NRI quota under the DASA scheme.
Answer: No, from 2021 onwards, SAT scores are no longer valid for admissions under the DASA scheme. From 2021-22 onwards, DASA admissions will be based on JEE Main ranks rather than SAT scores.
Answer: The best way to crack JEE entrance exam is – start your preparation early (preferably from class 11th) and join a reputed coaching institute like ALLEN Overseas. Our expert faculty, comprehensive study material, and unique teaching methodology will empower you to clear your JEE exams with your dream score.
Answer: No, BITS does not have an NRI quota. Only the BITSAT online test is used to determine admission to BTech/BE engineering programs at BITS-Pilani.
Answer: JEE exam registration process for NRI students are as follows:
JEE Advanced registration starts following the JEE Main final results.
Answer: The chances of NRI students qualifying the JEE exam depend entirely on their exam preparation and performance. If you have prepared with determination, consistency, and hard work, then you’ll pass the exams with flying colors.
Answer: Documents required from NRI students for JEE exams:
While appearing for the JEE exam, students need to carry their admit card and valid ID proof only.
Answer: Yes, NRI students can take the JEE exam outside of India. NTA has set up JEE test centers in – Bahrain, Colombo, Doha, Dubai, Jakarta, Kathmandu, Kuala Lampur, Kuwait, Lagos/Abuja, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah, & Singapore.
Answer: There are so many classes/coaching centers in Gulf countries that prepare students for JEE examinations. However, if you are looking for the best institute with top-class faculty, comprehensive study material, and a proven track record of success in JEE examination, look no further than ALLEN Overseas. Our interactive classroom program provides 360-degree support to students to ace competitive exams like JEE and NEET with their dream scores.
Answer: No, as ALLEN Overseas and several other coaching institutes are providing digital/physical classes in foreign nations as well, NRI students can prepare for JEE exams near their home location only, without relocating to India.
This concludes the FAQs by NRI students seeking admission to IITs. Although we tried to cover all the prevalent questions, if you have any queries, write to us in the comment section, and we’ll gladly assist you.
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Hello,
My son is studying for Cambridge A levels at international school in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). He has taken 3 A level subjects (maths, physics and chemistry) and 2 AS level subjects ( English, and further math statistics and mechanics). Moreover he has also taken ( Arabic, social studies for Saudi Arabia which are ministry approved subjects ). Can these subjects be sufficient to satisfy the criteria of 5 subjects for IIT admissions please confirm
Thanks
Thank you for writing to us!
To be eligible for JEE, your son needs to have three Cambridge International A Levels in Maths, Physics, and either Chemistry, Biology or any technical vocational subject. Examples of Cambridge International A Levels that fall under the category of technical vocational subjects include Applied Information and communication Technology, Computer Science, Computing, Information Technology, and Biotechnology.
Please note that for entry to institutions like IITs, NITs, IIITs and other government-funded technical institutions, your son will need four Cambridge International A Levels in specific subjects and one Cambridge International A Level in any language (or Cambridge International AS Level in English Language). Hope this will help you. For further details you can visit the official website of NTA.
Would like to undergrad options for NRI and how to prepare
Greetings from ALLEN Overseas!
There are plenty of undergraduate options available in India. Depending on your preferences, you can opt for Engineering courses in different branches, a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, a Research program, and so on. You have to clear entrance exams to do these courses from India. For details, you can reach out to us!
Hope this will help you!
Hi, will only 3 A levels from UK suffice to enter for JEE and admission to IIT/ NIT
Thank You for writing to us!
To get admission to institutions like IITs, NITs, IIITs and other Government Founded Technical Institutes, you will need four Cambridge International A Levels in specified subjects and one Cambridge International A Level in any language (or Cambridge International AS Level in English Language).
For further details, you can visit the official NTA website.
We hope this will help you!
I am an NRI and my son is studying 12th in India. Is he eligible to get admitted at NIT under CIWG ?
Thank You for writing to us!
No, your son is not eligible for the DASA CIWG quota. As per the DASA/ CIWG eligibility criteria, your son must have completed her 11th & 12th from outside India.
My Son is studying 11th In Jakarta, We need clarification on the selection of IB curriculum. His school giving option to select IB, a compulsory India-Indonesia board exam. Does he need to take IB option to qualify for IITs and NITs college for engineering? or is it ok to skip IB option to focus more on JEE preparation?
Greetings from ALLEN Overseas!
IB students can take the JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) for engineering. However, they must meet the eligibility criteria for OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India), PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin), and foreign nationals.
Thank You!