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Some of the best engineering colleges in India are situated in Karnataka, which admit students like NRIs, OCIs, PIsOs and foreigners via JEE Main, JoSAA, CSAB, DASA and CIWG. Well-known colleges, including NIT Surathkal and IIIT Dharwad, draw students from all over the world because of their quality of education, placements and recognition worldwide.
It is important for the NRI parents to get all information related to the total cost of education, which includes fees, hostel fees, mess fees, transport fees, and other institute fees before taking part in the counseling. In this blog, we provide you with the latest fee structure of NRI, DASA and CIWG for NIT Surathkal and IIIT Dharwad.
Engineering Colleges Fees In Karnataka For NRI
NIT Surathkal and IIIT Dharwad are the two top government institutions that NRI students can apply for admission into engineering courses in Karnataka. The institutes have good academics, good placement records and admission through JEE Main, JoSAA, CSAB, DASA, and CIWG. Each institute has its academic expertise, admission process, and fees; hence NRIs should analyze both for counseling purposes.
| State | Institute | Programs Offered | Admission Pathways for NRI Students | Fee Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | NIT Surathkal | B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA, MCA, M.Sc., Ph.D. | JEE Main, JoSAA, CSAB, DASA, CIWG | View NIT Surathkal NRI/DASA/CIWG Fee Structure |
| Karnataka | IIIT Dharwad | B.Tech, M.Tech, Ph.D. | JEE Main, JoSAA, CSAB, DASA, CIWG (where applicable) | View IIIT Dharwad NRI/DASA/CIWG Fee Structure |
DASA-2027 will be coordinated by one of the NITs (as officially stated on the DASA portal). The conducting NIT for 2027 is yet to be confirmed, and the official DASA Brochure 2027 will be released shortly after the announcement. Admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate programs under the DASA scheme for 2027 will be based on JEE Main Score 2027, including for NRI students living in the USA and Middle East applying under CIWG/DASA quota.
The tuition fee payable by NRI students in Karnataka engineering colleges is determined by the admission category of the candidate. For DASA Non-SAARC candidates, the tuition fee is usually payable in dollars, whereas the DASA SAARC candidates pay the reduced tuition fee in dollars. The CIWG eligible candidates pay the tuition fee in Rupees.
| College | Regular / Institute Fee | DASA Non-SAARC Fee | DASA SAARC Fee | CIWG Fee |
| National Institute of Technology Surathkal | Usually ₹62,500 tuition per semester for Gen/OBC/EWS B.Tech students, plus institute charges | US$300 registration fee + US$4,000 first-semester tuition fee | US$300 registration fee + US$2,000 first-semester tuition fee | US$300 registration fee + ₹62,500 first-semester tuition fee |
| Indian Institute of Information Technology Dharwad | Institute-specific fee. B.Tech tuition and other academic charges are notified by the institute separately for each academic year. | As per DASA category fee and institute-specific charges where applicable | As per DASA category fee and institute-specific charges where applicable | CIWG benefit depends on DASA eligibility, seat availability and institute rules |
Note: Tuition fee does not usually cover hostels charges, messing charges, caution deposit, insurance and other travel or personal living expenses.
TestPrepKart helps NRI students and parents compare NIT Surathkal and IIIT Dharwad for B.Tech admissions through DASA and CIWG. Get expert guidance on JEE Main, DASA eligibility, CIWG quota, fee comparison, JoSAA choice filling, required documents, counselling strategy, and college shortlisting to make the right admission decision.
The National Institute of Technology Surathkal is one of the top NITs of India that offers B.Tech courses to NRIs, OCIs, PIs, and other foreigners via JEE Main. The international students join the program via the DASA route, whereas the eligible kids of Indian laborers from Gulf countries can join under the CIWG route with reduced tuition costs.
| Category | Admission Route | Fee Planning |
| Regular Indian Category | JEE Main, JoSAA, CSAB | Tuition ₹62,500 per semester for Gen/OBC/EWS students + other fees of the institute |
| DASA Non-SAARC | DASA | Registration Fee US$300 + Tuition Fee US$4,000 per semester |
| DASA SAARC | DASA | Registration Fee US$300 + Tuition Fee US$2,000 per semester |
| CIWG | DASA-CIWG | Registration Fee US$300 + Tuition Fee ₹62,500 per semester |
DASA Non-SAARC Category will be suitable for students from NRI families residing in countries like USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and Singapore. If the parents of the students fall in the category of eligible workers from India in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, or Bahrain, they may apply for CIWG Category.
Read detailed guide:
NIT Surathkal Fees for NRI Quota (DASA and CIWG): 2026–27
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IIIT Dharwad is an excellent choice for NRI students interested in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Electronics and Communication, Data Science, and software engineering. The institute is known for its industry-focused curriculum, coding culture, research opportunities, and strong placement potential in the technology sector.
| Fee Component | Details for NRI Students |
| Admission Fee | One-time admission fee as per Institute rules |
| Caution Deposit | Security deposit (refundable) to be paid at the time of admission |
| Tuition Fee | Tuition Fee as per Institute fee structure for each year separately |
| Hostel Fee | Charged separately as per accommodation in hostels |
| Mess Fee | To be paid separately as per Institute Mess policy |
| DASA / CIWG | Students are advised to check DASA/CIWG fee, seat matrix, and Institute fees before counseling |
It is advisable that NRIs do not solely base their judgment on the tuition fee component of IIIT Dharwad. Other factors which need to be considered include the number of B.Tech streams offered, the coding environment at the institute, internships, placements, exposure to research, hostels, and overall cost of studies in four years.
Read detailed guide: IIIT Dharwad NRI Fee Structure for Quota 2026-27
Get a complete JEE admission guide for USA, UAE and Gulf-based NRI students. Understand eligibility, JEE Main, JEE Advanced, DASA, CIWG, JoSAA counselling, documents, fees and college selection strategy.
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There are two main avenues through which NRI, OCI, PIO and international students can gain admission into engineering institutions in Karnataka. These include DASA and CIWG. DASA (Non-SAARC) applies to NRIs from countries like the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Singapore, among others who are not in the SAARC region. CIWG is mainly for those children whose parents work in the Gulf and is much cheaper compared to DASA.
| Point | DASA Non-SAARC | CIWG |
| Best For | NRI, OCI, PIO and foreign students from USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Singapore and other non-SAARC countries | Children of Indian workers in Gulf countries |
| Registration Fee | US$300 | US$300 |
| First-Semester Tuition Fee | US$4,000 | ₹62,500 |
| Total First Payment | US$4,300 | US$300 + ₹62,500 |
| Parent Work Proof | Usually not required | Required for CIWG eligibility |
| Admission Basis | JEE Main rank and DASA rules | JEE Main rank plus CIWG eligibility |
The DASA Non-SAARC scheme would be applicable for NRIs residing in USA, Canada, UK, or any other country except the SAARC nations. The CIWG scheme must be checked by parents employed in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain since it significantly cuts down the total engineering course fees in Karnataka.
The CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf) reservation is helpful for Indians who live and work in Gulf nations. In case either of the parents is currently working or had worked before in any of the eligible Gulf nations according to DASA guidelines, the candidate can become eligible for CIWG seats after proper documentation in counselling.
| CIWG Country | Relevance for NRI Students |
| United Arab Emirates | UAE students from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other UAE cities should verify CIWG eligibility criteria |
| Saudi Arabia | Indian families working in Saudi Arabia can benefit from CIWG fee reduction scheme |
| Qatar | Indian workers from Qatar should ascertain CIWG documentation guidelines |
| Oman | Indian families based in Oman can qualify for CIWG quota |
| Kuwait | Indian parents from Kuwait can apply through CIWG eligibility criteria |
| Bahrain | Indian workers from Bahrain should verify CIWG seat and fee eligibility criteria |
Karnataka Engineering Colleges for NRI Students 2026–27 Karnataka offers multiple options for engineering aspirants under NRI, OCI, PIO and foreign categories. The main institutes include NIT Surathkal, IIIT Bangalore, IIIT Dharwad and other government/private engineering colleges.
Most NRIs concentrate only on tuition when comparing colleges, but the actual expenditure of studying in India is much more than that. Expenditure related to hostels, mess, transport, and other day-to-day expenditures are not normally part of the tuition fee. This is the reason why one needs to prepare a budget for the whole year before selecting any college.
| Expense Head | Why It Matters for NRI Students |
| Tuition Fee | Main academic fee under DASA, CIWG, or regular admission program |
| Institute Charges | Academic fees, developmental fee, library fee, insurance fee and other institutional fees |
| Hostel Fee | Fee for living in campus hostels |
| Mess Fee | Food fee, separate from the academic fee |
| Travel Cost | Travel cost by air to and within India, airport pick-up/drop-off, and holiday travel |
| Laptop and Books | For coding projects, assignments, architectural designs, etc. |
| Personal Expenses | Day-to-day expenses such as washing, toiletries, mobile phone recharge, etc. |
| Document & Verification Cost | Passport copy, visa copies, transcripts, certificates, etc. |
The best engineering college in Karnataka depends on the interest of the student, his/her JEE Main rank, his budget, and the future career plan. The state has a lot of great colleges in terms of top NITs, IIITs, and even IITs, which makes it preferable among students from NRIs, OCIs, and Pios.
In case the student is looking for top-notch NIT brands and good core engineering branches, then NIT Surathkal is your choice. If the student is interested in computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, software engineering, and IT professions, then he should choose IIIT Bangalore and IIIT Dharwad.
| Student Goal | Recommended Institute Type |
| Core engineering with top NIT brand value | NIT Surathkal |
| Computer science, AI, data science, coding & tech career | IIIT Bangalore / IIIT Dharwad |
| Research, innovation and high-level engineering careers | IIT Dharwad (or IIT-level institutes in region) |
| Lower tuition under Gulf worker benefit | Check CIWG eligibility under DASA |
| USA-based NRI student | Usually DASA Non-SAARC route |
Pursuing studies at any college or university should never be made on the basis of its fees or reputation. Factors like branch preference, placement, internships, programming culture, and future career objectives need to be taken into account.
NRI, OCI, PIO, and CIWG candidates need to have all their documents ready prior to the counselling process. Incomplete or inaccurate documents might result in rejection of the application at the time of verification or cause delays in the reporting process
| Document | Who Needs It |
| JEE Main scorecard | Required for admissions to B. Tech., B. Arch., or B. Plan via DASA/JoSAA path |
| Class 10 certificate | For proof of date of birth and identity proof |
| Class 11 & 12 marksheets / transcripts | Required for proving academic eligibility |
| Student passport | Mandatory requirement for NRI, OCI, PIO, and foreign candidates |
| OCI / PIO card | Required if applicable |
| Proof of education abroad | Significant for NRI eligibility verification via DASA |
| Parent passport, visa & work permit | Required for CIWG verification |
| Parent employment certificate | Mandatory proof for CIWG eligibility in Gulf countries |
| Fee payment receipt | Required at the time of reporting and admission verification |
All documents should be valid, properly attested (if required), and match the details filled during application. Students should double-check institute-specific requirements before counselling and reporting.
Explore these important DASA and CIWG resources to understand seat matrix, participating colleges, cut-off scores, application process, quota eligibility and required documents for NRI engineering admission in India.
| S.No. | Resource | Open Link |
| 1 | DASA CIWG Seat Matrix 2026 | View Seat Matrix |
| 2 | CIWG Quota Colleges | View Colleges |
| 3 | DASA / CIWG Cut-Off Score For NRIs | Check Cut-Off |
| 4 | CIWG Quota | Understand CIWG |
| 5 | CIWG 2026 Cut-Off Score | View Cut-Off Guide |
| 6 | CIWG Application 2026 | Check Application Process |
| 7 | CIWG Quota Documents Required | View Documents |
NRI families from USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain or any other country planning for Engineering admission in India can be confused. Parents need clarity on JEE Main, DASA, CIWG, JoSAA, CSAB, documents, fee payment, branch preference and college choice filling.
TestprepKart helps NRI students to prepare for JEE Main and understand the DASA/CIWG admission process for NITs, IIITs, SPAs and other top engineering colleges in India.
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