Fewer foreign students studying in Bengaluru, varsity data shows

The number of foreign students in Bengaluru, ranked as the world’s most dynamic city, is on the decline. Bangalore University (BU), for the first time, has collected and compiled data that reveals a 25% drop in foreigners studying in its affiliated colleges in the last three academic years. An even bigger drop (28%) is among female foreign students. While the university is yet to compile nationality-wise data, authorities say a majority of the students come from African nations followed by the SAARC nations excluding Pakistan - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

“The drop is because there have been so many incidents of violence against foreign students in Bengaluru. Some colleges even cheat students,” said Mobarak Abdalla Garelnabi, a Sudanese student who is also the president of the Federation of International Students Association, Bangalore. In February last year, a Tanzanian student was attacked by an unruly mob at Soldevanahalli in what was one of at least six cases of violence recorded against African nationals in the city. Foreign students have complained time and again that some colleges in the city dupe them by making false promises. “At one point, about 600-800 students came to India from Sudan every year. This is now down to 10-15 as no one encourages studying in India any more,” he said.  

An official from the BU International Centre, who did not want to be identified, said Mysuru among other cities had emerged as a magnet attracting overseas  students. “Cost of living is an important factor because many students come from poor countries,” he said. “To address this, the university has already proposed building a hostel dedicated to international students.”

Garelnabi concurred that more and more foreign students were headed to Mysuru. “Foreign students are not facing any problems in Mysuru.”

There are nearly 850 foreign students in Mysuru, according to G R Janardhana, director of the International Centre of the University of Mysore. “Foreign students are not exploited here the way they are in Bengaluru,” he said. “More importantly, as a city, Mysuru has retained quality in its academic programmes and research.” Course-wise data shows that a majority of foreigners choose to study computer applications (BCA) and business management (BBM) courses in the city.

The university is also curious on how the foreign students’ population is concentrated in a handful of colleges. For instance, two-fifths of foreign students join 3-4 colleges located in the north and north-east parts of the city.

BU Acting Vice Chancellor HN Ramesh said he was surprised that the number of foreign students is decreasing when Bengaluru has emerged as a global city. “Perhaps, Mysuru attracts foreigners because of less pollution and its peaceful nature. To arrest this trend, Bengaluru needs more international hostels,” he said.