HYDERABAD: The spread of Covid-19 has severely affected admissions of foreign students at Osmania University (OU), which was once a sought after destination for international students.
The university had called for applications for the academic year 2021-22 from April 6. Last year, the university had 249 foreign admissions as against 370 during pre-Covid-19 times. With the educational institutions shut and classes still continuing online due to the second wave of Covid-19, the university authorities are apprehensive of the number of applications that they will receive from international students this year.
“The impact of Covid-19 has been very significant on foreign students. With the second wave setting in, we are slightly apprehensive about the number of applications. Nonetheless, we have received 168 applications from foreign students so far. We have reached to embassies seeking support and relaxations for foreign students. We are hopeful that the numbers will be better than last year,” said GB Reddy, director, foreign relations, OU.
The university has received majority of applications from Afro-Asian countries. “We have a large number of applications from Afghanistan, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya etc. We receive many students through Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). This year too, we are expecting large number of students to come through ICCR,” said Reddy.
Following nationwide lockdown, the university had introduced online classes last year and even conducted exams and declared results online. While the university intends to continue the same initiative this year too, it has also permitted students to directly apply through the ICCR’s admission to alumni portal.
“We have an advisory committee meeting soon where we will decide if any new initiative is to be introduced. Online payments, admissions and exams shall continue. While we enhance the fee by 10% every year, we have decided not to increase it this year due to the pandemic,” said Reddy.