Hyderabad : In a bid to widen the merit pool, IITs are planning to hold entrance tests in Singapore, UAE, Ethiopia and Saarc nations next year to select foreign students for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Officials said the seats offered to foreign nationals would be in addition to the existing ones; those available to Indian nationals at the 18 IITs would not be reduced.

While the test is to be held in 2017, the outreach programme will begin from August. Exams will be held in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Singapore and Dubai from 2017 .