First Year in India: A Practical Guide for International Students

Most first-week problems come from a missing piece of paper. Put every important document in one waterproof folder in your hand luggage, and keep a second set of photocopies in your main bag. COMPEX scholars should also remember that document verification at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu comes before joining, and that the college confirms the reporting date directly.

Pack for the climate of your new city, not the one at home. Check your institute's location and the season you will arrive in, and remember that most everyday items can be bought locally after you arrive, so there is no need to overpack.

• Original academic certificates and mark sheets, with several photocopies of each.
• Passport or citizenship certificate, plus notarised translations where relevant.
• Your admission or offer letter and any scholarship nomination or award letter.
• A good stock of passport-size photos, since universities, banks and mobile providers all ask for them.
• Medical records and a supply of any regular prescription medicines, with the prescription.
• Scans of all of the above saved in your email and a cloud folder.

Your first days will involve a series of offices. Typical tasks include reporting to the international students' office, document verification, fee or scholarship paperwork, hostel allocation and, where required, a medical check-up. Students who must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) usually have to do so within a short window after arrival, so ask the international office about it on your first day.

You will probably also need a local SIM card and a bank account. Both require identity documents and photographs, and a bank account may need a letter from your institute. Ask seniors from your country which bank and mobile network work best on campus, because that advice can save you hours.

Tip: Keep a running note of every office you visit, who you met and what they asked for. When you are told to come back with one more document, you will know exactly what to bring and where.

Most first-year students live in university hostels with shared rooms, common bathrooms and a mess for meals. Hostels usually have rules on entry times, visitors, cooking appliances and noise. Read them on arrival, because breaking hostel rules can lead to fines or disciplinary action, and international students are not exempt.

A good relationship with your roommate makes the whole year easier. Agree early on simple things such as lights-out time, guests, cleaning and shared items. Differences in habits are normal, and sorting them out calmly in the first week is far easier than after resentment builds.

Indian universities have anti-ragging rules and committees, and ragging in any form is prohibited. If you experience or witness harassment, report it to the warden, the anti-ragging committee or the international office. You do not have to tolerate it in order to fit in.

Indian food varies enormously by region. Mess food in a southern state can be very different from what you know at home, and spice levels may be higher than you are used to. Give your stomach a couple of weeks to adjust, eat simple food when you feel unwell, and drink only filtered or bottled water until you know the local supply is safe.

Climate adjustment is just as real. Parts of India have very hot summers, heavy monsoon rains or cold northern winters, and coastal cities stay humid for much of the year. Students from the hills of Nepal often underestimate the heat of the plains. Stay hydrated, keep an umbrella handy during the monsoon and plan outdoor activity for the cooler hours of the day.

If your scholarship includes a stipend or allowance, find out from your university or scholarship authority how and when it is paid, and what paperwork triggers the first payment. Bank accounts, verification and approvals all take time, so the first payment can come later than you expect. Arrive with enough money to manage your first month or two on your own.

Build a monthly budget with a few fixed categories: food or mess fees, mobile and internet, transport, books and stationery, personal items, and savings for emergencies. Track your spending for the first two months, because most students are surprised by how much goes on small daily purchases. Many scholarships also require satisfactory academic progress to continue, so treat your studies as part of protecting your funding.

• Keep a small emergency reserve that you never touch for routine spending.
• Avoid lending large sums, even to friends, since it is a common source of conflict.
• Use digital payments carefully and never share OTPs or banking PINs.
• Keep receipts for fees and official payments, as you may need them later.

Register at the university health centre early and find out what your scholarship or university covers for medical care. Some schemes include medical benefits under their own rules, and others expect you to arrange insurance, so ask rather than assume.

The monsoon months bring a higher risk of mosquito-borne illness in many regions, so use repellent and nets where needed and see a doctor promptly about any persistent fever. Food hygiene matters too, especially at roadside stalls during your first weeks.

Homesickness is common and usually strongest in the first two or three months. Keep a daily routine, stay in touch with family without calling so often that you never settle, and use the counselling services that many universities provide. Seniors from your country have been through the same adjustment and are often the best people to talk to.

Indian universities commonly use a semester system with continuous assessment through assignments, quizzes, mid-semester tests and practicals, followed by end-semester exams. Your final grade often depends on all of these, so the work you do in the first weeks already counts.

Many institutions set a minimum attendance requirement for sitting end-semester exams, and it is often enforced strictly. Find the exact rule in your university's handbook during your first week, and do not use up your allowable absences early in the semester when you may need them later for illness.

Teaching is usually in English, but the local language is used outside class and sometimes in informal explanations. If you struggle with a subject, speak to the teacher early, during office hours or after class, rather than waiting for mid-semester results. Teachers are generally more able to help when a problem is raised before it becomes a failed exam.

Two offices matter. The first is your own country's embassy in India, which for Nepalese students is the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi. Save its contact details and follow its notices, because it is the office that assists citizens in emergencies and with document problems.

The second is the body that administers your scholarship. For COMPEX that is the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, and for ICCR scholarships it is ICCR, usually through your university's ICCR contact or regional office. Reply promptly to their emails, tell them immediately if your phone number or address changes, and follow any reporting or document requirements they set.

India is a large and varied country, and most students settle in without serious problems. Ordinary precautions go a long way: share your location with a friend when travelling, use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps at night, keep document copies separate from originals, and be wary of anyone offering paid help with university or scholarship processes. Genuine scholarship processes do not need middlemen.

• Learn a few phrases in Hindi or the local language of your state; the effort is noticed and appreciated.
• Dress according to campus norms, which vary between institutions and regions.
• Respect religious places, festivals and customs, and ask before photographing people.
• Stay out of local political activity, which can create problems for you as a foreign student.
• Join a club, sports team or student society early, so your friendships extend beyond your own community.