> Norms for Admissions to US Universities relaxed

Until now, the US accepted students in its graduate schools only after they had completed 16 years of formal education – that’s 12 plus 4. This meant that Indian students were required to study for another year after their graduation before they could appear for either GRE or GMAT tests for entry into American universities.

Now, US Graduate schools will accept students after they have completed 15 years, i.e. 12 plus 3 years of education. And while, so far, only professional programmes in India were eligible for grad schools in the US, now, all university undergraduate programmes in India have become eligible.

Reasons for this change
▪ The US acceptance of 15 years follows a European decision to harmonise the degree structure.
▪ US Universities alter admission rules for grad schools based on competitive forces, since US Universities have been losing students to European and Australian insitutions
▪ The Indian student pool is a huge target for US Universities.

“This issue has been debated and tested by several US universities. Like in any other country, US universities always look forward to enrolling international students because they enrich the campuses and enrich the classrooms,” the country co-ordinator for education services of the USEFI Vijaya Khandavilli said.

So instead of 12 + 4 years as in previous years - it is 12 +3 from now on. Also, degrees from the most of the undergrad universities in India would be recognized.