India Education Records

Indian Student Records
Indian students pursued a range of studies in Great Britain, particularly in Law, Medicine, and in technical fields. Although many individual colleges tried to keep their numbers down, Indians at first came manly to oxford, Cambridge, London, and Edinburgh universities. In the early 20th century the South Asian students also went to Glasgow University and the Manchester School of Technology.

Therefore, it may be useful to consult the admission registers of these universities. Oxbridge details are supplied in the ten volumes of John &amp; J.A. Venn's Alumni Cantabrigienses (Cambridge University Press, 1922-54), and the eight volumes of Joseph Foster's Alumni Oxonienses (James Parker &amp; O., 1888-91). From 1880 to 1913, the total number of Indian students in Britain expanded from approximately 100 to 1700.

Indian Civil Service (ICS)
As the Indian Civil Service examination could only be taken in London until 1922, Indian aspirants for a post had to journey to Great Britain. Lord Salisbury, the Secretary for India, reduced the qualifying age for the ICS Exam from 21 to 19 in 1876, an action that probably significantly reduced the number of Indians who might apply. Indian ICS candidates were put on probation and compelled to attend Oxford, Cambridge, or the University of London as a means of acquiring the requisite moral fiber. The records of the Civil Service Commission Department are held in the National Archives.