UGC Issues Public Notice Prohibiting Enrolment of Foreign Nationals in Distance Learning Programs

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has communicated that student visas cannot be issued to foreign nationals sponsored by franchise educational institutes running off-campus centers

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a public notice addressing the non-enrolment of foreign nationals in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programs in accordance with the UGC (ODL Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020.

The regulations, initially notified on September 4th, 2020, with subsequent amendments on July 1st, 2021, and July 18th, 2022, stipulate strict provisions regarding learner enrolment in ODL programs. Regulation 23(3) explicitly states that learners residing in any part of the country may only enroll in programs offered by Higher Educational Institutions recognized by the Commission for ODL, with all related activities confined to the territorial jurisdiction of the respective institutions.

Moreover, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has communicated that student visas cannot be issued to foreign nationals sponsored by franchise educational institutes running off-campus centers or study centers of open universities offering distance learning programs. This directive, outlined in Chapter 15.1 of the Visa Manual, extends to educational institutes operating "outreach" programs without statutory sanction from regulatory authorities.

Consequently, HEIs recognized and entitled to offer ODL programs are directed not to enroll any foreign nationals in such programs. The notice emphasizes that only learners residing in India may be enrolled in ODL programs, ensuring compliance with territorial jurisdiction regulations as defined in Annexure-III of the UGC (ODL Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020.