Career in Foreign Trade in India: Courses, Top Colleges, Fees, Top Salary, and More!

India is a massive economy that houses over 1.464 billion, or over 146.4 crore, people, making it the fourth-largest economy in the world. That title has its ups and downs, especially towards the foreign countries who are now slowly shifting their production and manufacturing plants to our grounds. So, how does India deal with it? It’s simple, with its specialized force of Foreign Trade.

Foreign trade is exactly what it sounds like; they have absolute authority over what comes in and what goes out. It’s like the diamond rule of accounting, but on a global scale with trillions of dollars at stake. But that doesn’t mean India is suffering from a lack of manpower or resources. Instead, India is one of the few economies that have constantly kept up with the demand, and now you have the choice to become one with the chain of command. This article will guide you on what foreign trade is, how to land successful foreign trade jobs, and what kind of foreign trade course you should be aiming for.

So What Is Foreign Trade?

Foreign trade basically refers to the exchange of goods with other nations, especially those who we consider foreign. Some countries may have some exemptions (i.e., rules, reduced taxes, close ties, etc.), but ultimately everything other than India will be considered foreign. Since we are interfering with external goods, some also like to call it External Trade or even International Trade. All of those terms are accepted, and refer to the same thing.

Types of Foreign Trade

The foreign trade happens mainly in three ways:

1. Import Trade: Goods are imported from abroad, and sold inside the country or used for other purposes.
2. Export Trade: The goods from inside the country are exported to outside, and the other side follows the same Import Trade of their own.
3. Re-export Trade: This is a special case where goods are imported, and then immediately exported without any alterations. For example, exhibit items for museums, defective goods, goods that are supposed to get minor alterations in India, project-specific goods which are re-exported when they are no longer needed, etc.

This is surely a complicated process, but still an important one nonetheless. Having a fully functional Foreign Trade division makes it possible for the international markets to properly integrate themselves into the country. Just like Apple, who now builds 20% of its Apple products in India. Doesn’t sound a lot, right? Just know that it was 0% before, and China was making all of their products. But now India is making one of every 5 iPhones, which is a massive achievement. Anyway, enough small talk; now let’s see how to become a part of the foreign trade in India in 2025.

How to Be a Part of Foreign Trade in India

Software engineering and foreign trade, they may be totally different, but in the end, both of them follow the exact same pattern in landing a job or gaining the required education. So, let’s break it down in the simplest form possible:

Career Counselling

This goes without saying: always take career counselling because it makes it clear which courses to take, which college to land, and which job you should be aiming for. It becomes even more important when you are aiming for a complicated chain of command like Foreign Trade, and you will know exactly why in just a minute. So, make sure that you take one at a moment's notice and begin your journey onwards.

Education

Now the true passion will shine, because you have a lot to choose from. Most educational lineups only have a couple of courses, but this, on the other hand, has so many that it will make anyone dizzy. Can’t believe us? Well, just have a look yourself:

1. Diploma Courses
   1. Diploma in International Trade/Business
   2. Diploma in Export-Import Management
   3. Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
   4. Diploma in Foreign Trade and Documentation
2. Undergraduate Courses
   1. Bachelor of Foreign Trade (BFT)
   2. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with specialization in International Business/Trade
   3. Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) with specialization in International Business/Trade
   4. Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics
   5. Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in International Relations
   6. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
3. Postgraduate Courses
   1. Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Business
   2. Master of International Trade (MIT)
   3. Master of Commerce (M.Com) in International Business
   4. Master of Arts (M.A.)/Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Economics with a focus on International Trade
   5. Post Graduate Diploma in International Trade (PGDIT)
   6. Master of Supply Chain Management
   7. Master of International Relations with a focus on International Economics/Trade
4. Professional Certifications
   1. Certification in Export-Import Management
   2. Certification in International Trade Finance
   3. Certification in Digital Marketing for International Business
   4. Certifications related to specific aspects of trade (e.g., customs procedures, logistics software).
   5. FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding
5. Doctoral Courses
   1. Ph.D. in Economics with a focus on International Trade
   2. Ph.D. in International Business

Remember that not all programs listed here are available in India. For example, some are taught at study-abroad colleges in the USA, Australia, Singapore, and so on. So make sure to take that into consideration beforehand.

Fees and Colleges

The fees and the college of choice will also depend on what you pick. For example, the average annual fee (AAF) of government colleges will be 1-2 lakh each year. While the fees in private colleges will be three or four times that amount. Here’s a list of some of the best colleges offering the top foreign trade course in India:

• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
• Management Development Institute (MDI)
• Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB)
• Amity University
• Lovely Professional University (LPU)

Foreign Trade Jobs

Once your education comes to an end, it is time to look for job opportunities. At this point, if you have taken career counselling, it will be crystal clear to you which jobs to apply for. And if you did not, or changed your mind later on, then here’s a list of the most popular foreign trade jobs in India in 2025:

• Export Manager and Import Manager
• International Business Development Manager:
• Logistics Manager
• Trade Analyst
• Customs Broker

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the highest-paying foreign trade jobs in India?

Ans. Positions like International Trade Specialist and Equity Trader are top-of-the-line jobs that always pays more than 10 LPA, and that’s excluding all the benefits. If we include that, it will double in an instant.

Q2. What is the masters in foreign trade degree called?

Ans. There are two courses in foreign trade that are postgraduate level, and they are Master of Foreign Trade (MFT) and Master of Science in Foreign Trade Management. They both have entirely different educational roadmaps, but in the end, they serve the same purpose: creating skilled people for the India Foreign Trade Department.

Q3. Can I land international trade jobs?

Ans. You absolutely can. Just make sure to pick the proper course that focuses more on International Trade. This will help you build a strong foundation on how foreign trade works in, let’s say USA or Singapore. Also, you will be surprised how uncommon Indian faces are in this day and age.

Q4. What is the bachelor of foreign trade salary in India?

Ans. It heavily depends on what kind of role you are currently filling. Let’s say you are an international trade analyst; in that case, you will get about 8-10 LPA. Some other roles may supply more cash, or even less than that. At the end of the day, it will depend on your skills and knowledge about foreign trade. That’s why you should always make sure to get additional certificate courses whenever you can.

Q5. Is an MBA in foreign trade good, or should I go for a Master of Science?

Ans. Both educations are fine; after all, they lead to the same conclusion. But if you are not certain about which course to pick, take career counselling and decide it beforehand. There are countless online counselling service providers like Infigon Futures that are known for their excellent services.