After 12th
After 12th in the Gulf: India or abroad?
For Tamil parents in Kuwait or the Gulf, and the student about to choose a college far from where they grew up.
By Mr. Chakkaravarthy RK
10+ years Experience in Life Coach & Counselling PractitionerDr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Excellence Award & Best Life Coach of India
Internationally Recognized Couples Coach, Relationship Coach, Student Coach and Career Coach. Neurobics Expert, Memory Coach, Train the Trainer and NLP Master.
Updated 2 November 2026 · about 6 minutes to read
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In a Gulf family, Class 12 is more than an exam. It is often the year a child leaves home, because the family's life is in one country and the college is in another.
Many students pick the country first, usually because a cousin went there. This guide suggests a different order.
Why do Indians in the Gulf send their children to India after 12th?
Mainly cost, family support and recognised degrees, and because a grown child's residency often depends on the parent's visa.
Cost is a big part of it, along with being close to family and having a degree recognised at home. Residency matters too: in many Gulf countries, a grown child's right to stay depends on the parent's visa, and options there can be limited.
None of these make India the right answer for every child. They are simply the questions to look at together.
Compare honestly
- The total cost for all the years, not only the fees.
- Who your child can turn to on a bad day.
- Where they want to work after the degree.
How do we choose between India and abroad after 12th?
Decide the course first, then compare where it is taught well, the full cost, and how ready your child is to live alone.
Decide the course first, then the country. Start from what your child does well and the daily work they can picture, then find out where that course is taught well and what it costs.
A career assessment can start this conversation, but the decision needs the student and parents talking together.
Before choosing a college
- Shortlist three fields, and talk to someone working in each.
- Find out which entrance exams each one needs, and when.
- Ask your child what they want, before giving your opinion.
What admission routes are there for students schooled in the Gulf?
DASA, including CIWG seats for children of Indian workers in Gulf countries, and NRI quotas. Check current rules on official sites.
India has routes meant for students schooled abroad. DASA covers seats in NITs and similar institutes, including CIWG seats for children of Indian workers in Gulf countries. NRI quotas also exist at many other colleges.
Rules on eligibility, documents and years of schooling change, so always check the current brochure on the official site. Do this by Class 11, not after results.
Check early
- The official DASA brochure for the current year.
- NEET and JEE dates, and exam centres near you.
- Each college's own NRI rules and fees, directly from the college.
How do I prepare my child to study in India after growing up abroad?
Teach daily life skills, a little Tamil if needed, and keep a weekly call that is not about marks.
Children raised in the Gulf may never have lived in Tamil Nadu. Hostels, ragging fears, language, and managing money and health alone can be a shock, and some students hide it from parents.
Fix a weekly call that is not about marks. Make it easy for them to tell you if things are going badly.
Prepare them for
- Cooking, banking and travelling alone.
- Reading and writing some Tamil, if the college is in Tamil Nadu.
- Who to call nearby in an emergency.
To talk to Chakkaravarthy RK, call +91 74024 67044. In an emergency only: 112 · Embassy of India, Kuwait: +965 6550 1946 · 14416.
Where Feathers fits
Feathers offers online career counselling for students and parents in Kuwait and the Gulf, together on the call, in Tamil or English. This is guidance on choosing, not an admission or visa service.
This guide is published by Feathers Life Coach, a single-practitioner practice in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, with sessions online for Tamil families in Kuwait, the Gulf and anywhere else.
Questions people ask first
Should my child study in India or stay in Kuwait after 12th?
It depends on the course, the cost and how ready your child is to live alone. Choose the course first, then compare where it can be done.
What is the CIWG quota?
Seats under DASA for children of Indian workers in Gulf countries. Conditions are in the official DASA brochure and can change each year.
Can you help with admission to a college?
No. Sessions help your child choose a field and course. Admissions go through the official process of each college or scheme.
Can a parent join a career session from Kuwait?
Yes. Parents and the student can join together, even from two countries.
Talk it through with someone
One private conversation can make the next week lighter. Sessions are online by video or voice call, in Tamil or English, at a time that suits Kuwait or wherever you are. Nobody else needs to know.