Foreign students, particularly those from African countries, pursuing studies in Indian universities have complained to the government about delay in award of degrees that is affecting their career progression and prolonging their stay here.

The education ministry has written to higher education regulator, University Grants Commission (UGC), and technical education regulator, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), to take up the matter with the institutions.

The UGC and the AICTE have written to the vice-chancellors of technical universities and the heads of AICTE-approved institutions to ensure that the degrees are awarded on time.

According to AICTE member secretary Rajive Kumar, every year there is delay of a few days in announcement of results and award of degrees at certain institutions, but the problem has become widespread because of the Covid pandemic and resultant restrictions.

“The education ministry has written to us after receiving representations from students. The award of degrees has been delayed. It is mainly because of Covid-induced problems. Since visas are issued for a certain period, the foreign students have to seek extension. They face difficulty in both visa renewal and applying to other institutions,” Kumar said.

Onkar Singh, founding vice-chancellor of Madan Mohan Malviya University of Technology, Gorakhpur, said the last academic session had been disrupted by the lockdown and other restrictions.

“There was too much uncertainty in the past two years. The regulators said final-year exams should be held for the announcement of results. But the local restrictions created difficulties. Not only foreign students but also Indian students suffered. Those whose admissions were due for higher courses in foreign universities also faced difficulties. Now that the regulators have written to the universities, I hope the administrators will be sensitive to this issue,” Singh said.