Studying abroad usually means learning a new curriculum, adapting to a new language of instruction, and building an entire support network from scratch. For Afghan students choosing Maharashtra, the second barrier disappears almost entirely — nearly every professional course runs in English — and the Foreign National Student route skips India's domestic entrance exam altogether.

Here is the complete process, step by step, sourced from fn.mahacet.org's Afghanistan guide and studyinmaharashtra.org.

Step 1 — Check Eligibility and Gather Your Documents

Under the Foreign National Student (FNS) category on fn.mahacet.org, any Afghan citizen holding a completed secondary school certificate can apply directly to more than 50 professional courses — Engineering, MBBS, Pharmacy, MBA, Architecture, and more — without sitting India's MHT-CET entrance exam. Admission runs entirely on your existing Afghan school certificate results.

Step 2 — The Application, Fee, and Visa Timeline

Once your documents are ready, the process moves through the CET Cell portal first, and the Indian High Commission in Kabul second. Neither step can be skipped or reordered — the visa office wants a provisional admission letter before it opens your file.

Step 3 — What It Actually Costs

fn.mahacet.org publishes a direct comparison of course fees in Afghanistan against Maharashtra and against the UK or Australia, and the gap against Western options is the largest number in the entire guide. Living costs add roughly $200-400 a month in Pune or Nagpur, slightly more in Mumbai, with many colleges offering subsidised hostel space.

What International Students Say About the Move

These accounts are drawn from student testimonials published on fn.mahacet.org, describing their own experience of choosing and settling into a Maharashtra college as an international student.

Frequently Asked Questions