Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on

DASA Scheme

Part- A   General Questions about DASA

Part-B  Academic Eligibility

Part-C Residential Eligibility

Part- D   SAT Subject Tests (for Undergraduate Courses)

Part- E    Fee Payment (for Undergraduate Courses)

Part- F   Application Form Filling

Part- G     Miscellaneous queries

Part-H  Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries (CIWG)

Part- I: Real Life Queries (Choice-Fillng by CIWG etc)

 Part- A   General Questions about DASA

1)    What is DASA Scheme?

DASA stands for Direct Admission of Students Abroad. Under this scheme, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)/ Foreign Nationals/Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)  are admitted to Undergraduate Courses in Engineering in National Institutes of Technology (NITs), IIITs and other premier Technical Institutions in India. DASA scheme is centrally coordinated  by one of the NIT by rotation under HRD Ministry. Just for clarity, IITs are not covered under DASA Scheme.

2)    Is there is any DASA-like scheme for medical (MBBS) admissions?

No. However, the NRIs/PIOs can get admissions to private medical colleges as about 15% seats are allocated for NRI admissions. Please refer following article for more info on medical admissions

MBBS Options in Top Private Medical Colleges in India under NRI Quota

3)    What are the options in Govt/Private technical institutes other than DASA  scheme administered by NIT-Surathkal for NRIs/PIOs?

It is to be noted that the following institutes have their own separate schemes for NRIs or International Students and the application for the same has to be completed on the respective Institute’s website:

IIIT-Hyd, BITS-Pilani (Pilani, Goa, Hyd camps), BIT-Mesra, Thapar Univ,  VIT Vellore, DA-IICT Ahmedabad, COE-Pune, HBTI-Kanpur, MIT-Manipal, Nirma, COE Guindy, Amrita, SRM, MS Ramaiah, RV College, Jaypee Inst of IT.

So, if you have preference for a particular city, location or a private college, there are many other options for NRIs, other than DASA scheme.

4)    Which are the most popular institutes under DASA scheme?

NIT-Trichy, NIT-Surathkal, DTU, NIT-Warangal, IIIT-Delhi, NSIT, NIT-Calicut, VNIT- Nagpur, SVNIT-Surat, MNNIT-Allahabad, IIIT-Allahabad, IIIT-Kancheepuram are the 12 most popular institutes per previous years preference by NRIs/PIOs. These are followed by NIT -Jaipur, NIT-Delhi, PEC, MANIT-Bhopal, NIT-Jamshedpur, NIT-Kuru, NIT-Rourkela, NIT-Goa, NIT-Durgapur and NIT Hamirpur.

5)    Which are the most popular institutes for CSE?

1. IIIT-Hyd
2. DTU=NITK=NITT=NITW=IIIT-D=NSIT (choose anyone depending on convenience)
3. NIT Calicut=MNNIT (choose anyone depending on convenience)
4. MNIT=NIT-Delhi=VNIT=SVNIT=PEC=IIIT-A=DAICT 
5. NIT-Kuru, NIT-Rourkela, NIT-Durgapur and NIT Jalandhar.

6) Which are the most popular institutes for ECE?

1. NITK=NITT=NITW=IIIT-Hyd=IIIT-Delhi
2. IIIT-A= VNIT=MNNIT=NITC=DCE=NSIT=NITD
3. MANIT=MNIT=SVNIT 

7) Which are the most popular institutes for Mech?

1. DTU
2. NITT=NITK=NITW
3. MNNIT=NITC 4) MNIT=SVNIT=PEC 

8) Which are the most popular institutes for Other Branches?

Please choose in the order of SAT2 Cut-off score for 2016-17 provided at the website.  (higher SAT 2 cut-off being better institute). Generally,

1. NITK=DTU=NITT=NITW
2. NSIT=NITC=MNNIT=NITD
3. MNIT=VNIT=SVNIT=PEC   

9)    Are NRIs eligible to compete to get merit seat (at normal resident fee) for Engg and Medical Colleges?

NRIs are fully eligible to give competitive exams like JEE-Main and JEE-Advance for engineering colleges and AIPMT/NEET for medical colleges and pay normal resident Indian fee if they qualify in the exam.

10)    What shall be the basis of preparing Merit List for the scheme?

Merit list shall be prepared on the basis of SAT Subject Test (SAT II) aggregate scores of Maths Level 2, Physics and Chemistry. While a total score of 2400 in PCM would guarantee a seat in the preferred college and the branch, a minimum score of 1440 (60%). In case of a tie, the Date of Birthis used as tie-breaker where older applicant is favored

www.collegeboard.com is the official agency to administer SAT II tests.

SAT II Subject Tests: Everything About It

11)    Do I need to appear for SAT I (Aptitude Test) before SAT II (Subject Tests)

No. Only SAT II (Subject Tests) are required to be given for DASA.

12) What is the fee for DASA admissions

As of 2016, the fee per year is $8000. CIWG applicants (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf) need to pay about $1400 per year (equal to resident Indians on merit).

Part-B  Academic Eligibility (for Undergraduate Courses)

1. Question : What is the minimum requirement to qualify for application?

Answer            : Applicant must have passed the qualifying examination, i.e. Senior Secondary [10+2] or equivalent [See Appendix-I of Brochure] from any system of education as recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (www.aiuweb.org).

2. Question : What is the minimum requirement in +2 /qualifying examination?

Answer            : A candidate should have a minimum of 60% aggregate (or 6.50 CGPA on a 10 point scale or equivalent) in the qualifying examination. The qualifying examination, shall include all subjects as mentioned in qualifying examination Mark sheet.

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