A Guide to Student Exchange Program for Indians
Do you want to enhance your educational experience while exploring the cultural and social realms of another country? Feeling disheartened for not chasing your study abroad dream? Student Exchange programs are a great opportunity for Indian students to broaden their perspectives and skills while enrolled in Indian Universities.
This article will outline everything you need to know about applying for a student exchange program as an Indian student.
What is a Student Exchange Program?
Student exchange programs allow students enrolled in a university to spend their time learning or doing research at another university for a time period of one month to one year.
The primary purpose of an exchange program is to broaden the academic horizons of students or to gain expertise in a particular field in which the host institution provides a specialised course or training program.
List of Student Exchange Programs for Indian Students
Student exchange programs allow students enrolled in a university to spend their time learning or doing research at another university for a time period of one month to one year.
The primary purpose of an exchange program is to broaden the academic horizons of students or to gain expertise in a particular field in which the host institution provides a specialised course or training program.
Erasmus+ Scholarship
Erasmus+ is a scholarship program launched by the European Union. Indian students who receive Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarship will have the opportunity to study or conduct research in two or more European Universities and obtain a joint or multiple degree. The scholarship will cover the living expenses and travel cost of the student recipient.
Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship
Rotary Youth Scholarship Program is one of the student exchange scholarships available to Indian students between the ages of 15 and 19. The period of the exchange program may range from one month to a year. Rotary international will provide expenses of food, accommodation, and school fees.
Fulbright Foreign Student Program
Fulbright scholarships allow Indian graduate students to conduct up to a year of their study from a US university. There is also a Fulbright-Nehru Master’s fellowship organized by the United States-India Educational Foundation focusing on Master’s level education. The fellowship covers living expenses, accommodation and travel costs. Apart from graduate students, Indian students who want to pursue their post doctoral studies and faculties who want to teach or research abroad can also apply for the Fulbright scholarship.
Commonwealth Exchange Program
Commonwealth scholarships are awarded to students from commonwealth countries to pursue their full-time Post graduation in the UK, or to study part of their Masters or Phd studies(up to one year in the UK). Following two scholarships under the common wealth program comes under exchange programs.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
It is a post graduate exchange program funded by the commonwealth. UK universities decide the courses with potential development impact and notify for the application process. Indian students who wish to apply for the fellowship need to go through their University for the procedures.
Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarships
Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarships are for PhD students who want to pursue their research at a UK university for up to one year. Applications for this exchange program are accepted directly from students.
AIESEC Global Exchange Programs
AIESEC, one of the largest youth run organizations in the world, provides scholarships for students for global volunteering programs. The student must travel to the destination country of their volunteering within four months of receiving the scholarship.
Global Undergraduate Exchange Program Global UGRAD
Global undergraduate exchange program which is also known as Global UGRAD provides opportunities for undergraduates students around the world to spend one semester in the US. The program includes community service and leadership development combined with educational training.
MITACS Globalink Research Internship
MITACS Globalink Research Internship provides opportunities to undergraduates around the world to do an eight week internship with a professor at Canadian universities. The funding includes travel cost, living expenses and stipend.
Apart from the above mentioned exchange programs, there are direct collaborations with universities in India and abroad. This exchange program may require you to arrange funding either externally or you need to show your financial documents to prove your sponsorship.
How to Apply for a Student Exchange Program?
Applying for a student exchange program that matches your career goals and academic interests is a tedious process. Let us see the step by step process for the application in detail;
- Identify your academic interests, career goals etc and choose a scholarship that matches your interests.
- Explore the funding options and financial aids.
- Gather all the required documents such as academic transcripts, letter of recommendation, birth certificate, etc
- For documents that need to be apostilled start with the apostille process.
4 Simple steps to get MEA Apostille on your Documents
- Register on Apostille Portal
- Collect all Documents you want to Apostille
- Submit the Original / Photocopies of documents
- Receive Documents with Apostille Directly to your home
Documents Required for Student Exchange Program
- Apostilled Transcripts
- Degree Certificate Apostille
- Passport
- Application including covering letter, statement of purpose and resume.
- Birth certificate with Apostille as a proof of identity.
- If you are married and planning to take your spouse abroad while going for exchange program, you need Marriage certificate with Apostille
- Sponsorship document with Apostille.
MEA Apostille of Documents for Student Exchange Program
Apostille is a process to legalise documents used across countries party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostille attestation has made it easier to validate the originality, correctness and authenticity of a document issued in a country across HCCH countries.
As an Indian student pursuing exchange programs abroad, you need to go through the apostille process to validate your degree certificate, degree transcripts, birth certificates and other public documents required for your application.
In India, the Ministry of External Affairs provides apostille attestation required for your student exchange program. The Ministry of External Affairs outsourced the process of collection, submission and distribution of public documents to private enterprises.
As an Indian student planning for an exchange program abroad, please fill the Apostille Form to get your certificate apostillation faster and safer.
Register for Online MEA Apostille
Provide applicant details
Frequently asked questions
Apostille is a process of checking the authenticity or originality of a public document issued in a country to use abroad. As an exchange student, you need to submit your degree certificates, proof of identity, and sponsorship details to the destination country. An apostille is needed to verify the authenticity of a certificate issued in India at your study destination.
Documents required apostille varies depending on the country you are doing your exchange program and the scholarship you are receiving. Given below are the documents required with apostille for a student exchange program for Indians:
- Degree Certificate with Apostille
- Birth Certificate with Apostille
- Transcripts with Apostille
Please fill the Apostille Application Form to apply for apostille service for your student exchange program.