The University of Delhi (DU) is preparing a strategy to include a foreign student quota from the academic year 2024-25, in the recently introduced five-year integrated BA LLB (Hons) courses. The decision came after the Delhi High Court (HC) urged the university administration to incorporate a quota for foreign students in its recently introduced five-year law course in the upcoming academic session.
Amarjiva Lochan, joint dean (Foreign Students), Delhi University, says, "The BCI approval came in late as the admissions for international students for integrated law course got over in April. Now, the members of the Foreign and the executive council are deciding on a strategy to admit foreign students in the 2024-25 session."
According to the DU authorities, the admission process for foreign students had already been wrapped up in April before the Bar Council of India (BCI) granted per- mission. The petition was fi- led by a foreign national in November to seek admission to the current academic session at DU. the Delhi HC had dismissed the petition as the court could not find any ground to interfere in the university's policy decision. However, the HC had directed the University to prepare a strategy to admit more foreign students as per the UGC regulations.
Vikas Gupta, registrar, DU, says, "We had filed an approval application with BCI in August, which was finalised in September. This led to a delay in the admissions of native students too, which further delayed the admission process for the international students."
Since there were no set - provisions and infrastructure ready for international students then, the university executive council members decided to begin applications for these courses starting from the next academic year, adds Gupta.
Foreign students aspiring to apply for these integrated five-year law courses at DU will be able to apply from the academic year 2024-25. To be able to take admission a foreign national should at least meet the minimum requirements as per the course and once a profile clears the minimum qualification, the committee inspects through the portfolio, after that admission is gran- ted, says Lochan. Most inter- national students applying in India are Indian-origin students from the US, Cana- da, the UK and more. Star- ting next year, these students will also be able to take admission into these law courses and later can find employment opportunities with various international law firms established in India, adds Lochan.
Faizan Mustafa, former vice-chancellor NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad and professor, Faculty of Law, AMU, Aligarh, tells Education Times that including foreign students in the law courses will help Indian universities improve their international ranking. "Once a student is aware of Indian laws, they can study any law in the world, it is a skill and art. Having foreign students in Indian universities is helpful to the country as it will improve the international rankings. International students will increase diversity on the campus and quality of learning. Moreover, this will not violate the rights of native students as foreign students are admitted as per the intake permitted in any course."
Published on - Times of India
Date - 12/12/2023
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