Guides › Study abroad

Studying abroad from India: grades, tests and money

5 min read · Updated 9 Nov 2026

Applying abroad means translating your Indian record into terms a foreign admissions office understands — and planning how to pay. Here's the short version.

Your grades

• Transcripts — official mark sheets for every semester, sealed or sent by the university. Start early; universities can take weeks.
• Percentage or CGPA as-is — most universities accept your Indian figure with the scale explained.
• 4.0 GPA — some forms ask for one. A few universities require a credential evaluation (for example from WES); others convert themselves.
• Years of education — some graduate programmes expect 16 years (12 + 4). A 3-year degree may need checking with each university.

Tests

• English — IELTS, TOEFL or PTE, depending on the country and university.
• Aptitude — GRE for many graduate programmes, GMAT for business schools, SAT or ACT for many US undergraduate programmes. Requirements vary, and some programmes have made them optional.

Paying for it

• Education loans — banks and NBFCs lend with or without collateral; the rate and limit depend on the course, university and security offered.
• Moratorium — repayment usually starts after the course plus a grace period, but interest builds up in the meantime. Paying that interest during the course can cut the EMI sharply.
• Tax — interest on an education loan is deductible under Section 80E for up to 8 years, under the old tax regime.
• Sending money — fees and living costs go abroad under RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, which has an annual limit per person (USD 250,000).

Sources

University admission pages; WES evaluation guidance; Income-tax Act Section 80E; RBI Master Direction on the Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Rules and test requirements change — confirm with each university and your bank.