Secondary vocational education in India

There are many types of study programmes in Indian secondary vocational education. The study programmes vary in terms of their admission requirements, duration, content and . You need information about this in order to determine the level of a diploma.

Board exams

Sometimes, students take exams administered by a state board (or an equivalent) in a specific discipline. This is often the case with technical and medical study programmes and study programmes that prepare pupils for a . For technical study programmes offered in the state of Punjab, for instance, the board is called the Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training. Students are then awarded a diploma from that board, rather than from the educational institution itself. To find out if students have to take board exams, please check the information on:

  • the website of the educational institution;
  • the website of the government of the Indian state (where the student is pursuing the study programme).

Diploma from a state board

On completion of lower secondary education, many students choose to pursue a Diploma study programme after obtaining their Standard X diploma.

  • Duration: usually 3 years.
  • Inhoud: often technical study programmes (engineering) or (technology). Students sit exams from a state board (or an equivalent).
  • Admission requirements: usually a Standard X diploma (or an equivalent).
  • Diploma: Diploma in + the name of the field of study. The Diploma is awarded by a state board (or an equivalent).

We usually compare a Diploma awarded by a state board (or an equivalent), obtained after a Standard X diploma, to an diploma level 4.

Please note: there are also Diploma study programmes that students can pursue after obtaining the Standard XII diploma. In that case, they will have completed upper secondary education first. For example, see Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery.

Want to know more?

Do you have questions about Indian secondary vocational education? Contact the SBB, the expertise centre for foreign diplomas and study programmes at VMBO and MBO level.