Do international students need to take the MHT CET exam to study in Maharashtra?

No. International category students (FNS, NRI, OCI, CIWGC) do not need to appear for the MHT CET entrance exam. Admission is based on qualifying examination marks and seat availability in the international quota.

Is fn.mahacet.org the official admission portal for international students in Maharashtra?

Yes. fn.mahacet.org is operated by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Government of Maharashtra. It is the only official single-window admission portal for international category students.

Can international students apply to multiple colleges in Maharashtra?

Yes. Through the single-window system, you can apply to multiple colleges and courses. However, you can confirm only one seat after receiving offers.

Are degrees from Maharashtra colleges internationally recognised?

Degrees from AICTE-approved and UGC-recognised colleges in Maharashtra are recognised globally. Always verify that your chosen college holds the relevant accreditation before accepting admission.

What is the medium of instruction for international students in Maharashtra?

All courses for international students are taught in English. Textbooks, examinations, and academic materials are in English.

Is on-campus accommodation available for international students?

Most colleges offer on-campus hostels for international students at subsidised rates. Where hostel space is limited, colleges assist with finding approved off-campus accommodation.

Can international students work while studying in Maharashtra?

Student visa holders can undertake internships related to their course. Part-time employment rules vary by visa type. Nepal citizens have unrestricted working rights in India.

How much does it cost to study in Maharashtra as an international student?

Annual tuition fees range from $600 to $18,000 USD depending on course and institution type. There is a one-time CET Cell processing fee of $1,200 USD. Monthly living costs range from $150-600 depending on city.

Do Nepal citizens need a visa to study in Maharashtra?

No. Under the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Nepali citizens do not require a visa to enter India. They can travel with just their Nepali passport and admission letter.

What documents are required for admission in Maharashtra colleges?

Required documents include: 10th/12th mark sheets and certificates, equivalence certificate, migration/transfer certificate, valid passport (2+ years validity), student visa (except Nepal citizens), passport photos, birth certificate, bank statement showing sufficient funds, and sponsorship letter if applicable. All documents must be in English or officially translated.

Sri Lankan Students Are Quietly Choosing India Over Australia. Here Is Why.

Florence Vaz

04 May 2026 — 3 min read

Every year, thousands of Sri Lankan students pack their bags, gather their documents, and send off visa applications to Australia with one thing in mind: a better future. And every year, more of them are being turned away.

Not because their grades aren't good enough. Not because their intentions aren't genuine. Simply because of where their passport is from.

The Australia Problem Nobody Talks About Loudly

Australia has quietly hit a 20-year high in student visa rejections. For Sri Lankan students specifically, the refusal rate sits at 38%. That means nearly 4 in every 10 students who apply are rejected, often after months of preparation, thousands of dollars in application fees, and a great deal of emotional investment.

What stings even more is that the fee is non-refundable. There is no appeal that meaningfully reverses the decision. Visa officers are, in effect, making sweeping judgments about a student's financial future, their intent to return home, and their credibility, often without ever meeting them.

For context, students from certain other countries applying to the same universities, for the same courses, face rejection rates below 5%.

The system is not broken for everyone. Just for some.

Why India Is Becoming the Smarter Choice

While the conversation around Australia's visa policies continues, something else has been happening quietly. Over 3,000 Sri Lankan students have already expressed interest in studying at Indian universities through the Association of Indian Universities outreach programs. That number is not a coincidence. It reflects a shift in how Sri Lankan families are thinking about international education.

India offers something that has become increasingly rare in the current global landscape: accessibility without uncertainty.

Sri Lankan students are eligible to apply for an e-visa to study in India. If approved, the visa is processed within 5 to 6 working days. There are no month-long waits, no opaque decision-making, and no mass refusals making headlines.

Maharashtra: Where the Opportunity Actually Is

Within India, Maharashtra stands out as one of the most compelling destinations for international students. The state is home to over 200 colleges spanning disciplines like Engineering, MBBS, MBA, and Pharmacy, fields that Sri Lankan students have consistently pursued abroad.

These are not compromise options. Maharashtra's institutions carry genuine academic weight, and the cost of living and tuition fees are a fraction of what students would spend in Australia, the UK, or Canada, without the visa lottery that comes with those destinations.

The quality of education, the cultural familiarity across South Asia, and the proximity to home make Maharashtra a genuinely strong choice, not just a fallback.

The Real Cost of Chasing the Wrong Door

There is a tendency to equate a Western destination with a better outcome. But when 38% of applicants from your country are being turned away, the calculation changes.

The cost is not just financial, though that is real. It is the time spent preparing for an application that may never succeed. It is the opportunity cost of waiting for an outcome that is increasingly unlikely. It is the mental toll of building a plan around a system that was not built with you in mind.

Some students have already made the shift. They are enrolled, settled, and moving forward while their peers are still refreshing their visa portals.

A Path That Is Already Open

The better path is not a secret. It does not require navigating a broken system or hoping that this year's rejection rate will somehow be different.

If you are a Sri Lankan student weighing your options, the question is no longer whether India is a serious destination. It already is. The question is simply whether you are ready to walk through a door that is already open.

Start at fn.mahacet.org, Maharashtra's official government portal for international students.