varanasi the banaras hindu university has recorded the highest enrolment of international students in current academic session in comparison to four previous sessions according to the bhu spokesperson the varsity received as many as 276 enrolments from international students till the first week of january during the academic year 202223 of these 83 students have been admitted under the iccr scholarship category while 193 students have taken admission in the self finance category in 202122 as many as 120 international students had taken admission while 102 foreign students had taken admission in 202021 there were 132 and 141 enrolments of international students in 201920 and 201819 respectively at present the total strength of international students in various courses like undergraduate postgraduate research and shortterm certificate or diploma including the new admissions stands at 551the coordinator of the international centre bhu prof svs raju said that the centre is proactive in assisting and supporting foreign students in the admission process and helping them in registration formalities he informed that bhu offers higher education of international standards at very reasonable course fee charges compared to other institutionsaccording to him bhu attracts students and scholars from all across the globe the university offers education and research in diverse disciplines ranging from ancient indian knowledge and medicine systems to modern sciences humanities arts and culture advanced medical studies among others this makes bhu exceptionally popular among students from foreign countries too and the increased enrolment of international students stands testimony to that he said the university has taken a number of initiatives to boost enrolments of foreign students bhu has launched a new scheme of providing a scholarship of rs 72000 each year to all the international students who dont have any scholarship those receiving a lesser amount as scholarship will be provided the difference amount the university has recently commissioned a dedicated boys hostel for international students with 400 seats the hostel g10 is equipped with all the modern facilities like spacious living rooms with attached kitchen and washrooms wifi pantry laundry gym indoor games facilities conference room common dining area of nearly 125 seating capacity cctv surveillance and 24 x7 security the students are also offered free medical facilitiesto enhance the hostel seats for girl international students the old boys international hostel complex has been converted into girls hostel adding 176 seats the existing international girls hostel has a capacity of 62 while siddhartha vihar hostel complex can accommodate 40 students the new international girls hostel is near completion and will add 200 rooms offering 400 seats the new complex is also equipped with all modern amenitiesnotably bhu is an institution of eminence under the ioe initiative of ministry of education