India

Contemporary India

Before you meet with a study abroad advisor be sure to complete the "Advising Form" linked at the top of this page.

Please note that you will not be able to apply for semester or yearlong study abroad program until you've met with a study abroad advisor.

Program Overview  

Eligible participants must be at junior or senior level with a 3.0 GPA preferred.

This program is limited to two students per academic year. Additional fees may apply.

Home to many of India’s top academic institutions, Pune—a city of 3.5 million people—offers a wealth of cultural resources and hosts many of the country’s most forward-thinking NGOs. Students in the Alliance’s Contemporary India program enroll in a 15-credit curriculum consisting of a required core course; a field-based component which consists of an internship, directed research project or documentary film; and three additional courses chosen from social justice, public health, development economics, gender and media film studies and Hindi language. Cocurricular classes in dance, art and music are also offered. Two excursions outside of Pune highlight the geographic and cultural diversity of the State of Maharashtra.

Two additional Alliance programs in India are available: a program in Manipal concentrates on global health issues, while a second in Varanasi focuses on South Asian and religious studies

Alliance for Global Education in Pune, India

Internships are available.

Academics

Students are required to complete GLS 277 in the spring term prior to studying abroad in the fall.

Students earn 15 credits abroad. All grades earned abroad affect students North Central College GPA when transferred back. Students cannot take courses pass/fail.

Note:  Students must have courses pre-approved by North Central College prior to taking them abroad. If students change their course schedules while abroad, they must get this change approved. Some departments only permit students to take a certain number of courses that count toward their major abroad; by getting all courses pre-approved, this ensures that these courses will count towards their degrees.

Housing and Meals

Alliance programs emphasize cultural immersion, experiential learning opportunities, and extensive interaction with local residents. In Pune, all students live with a host family, which provides a daily opportunity to interact with a local family. As a university town, Pune has many families who are accustomed to renting out rooms to students, and who, in some cases, have semi-independent apartments or rooms attached to their houses.

All homestay families undergo an extensive vetting process with special attention to health, safety, and opportunities for cultural exchange. While every student has a different relationship with their host family, students are frequently brought along to religious, cultural, and community activities, and introduced widely among their friends and family.

Accommodation details in Pune can be found here.

Estimated Costs

Students in Direct Enrollment programs (i.e. Universidad Viña del Mar) pay North Central College tuition plus a $4,000 program fee. A $30 non-refundable application fee is due at the time of application submission. This program fee includes placement, orientation and guidance fees, as well as standard self-catered housing. The College selects accommodations; if students choose to upgrade, they are responsible for paying any difference in cost. Unless otherwise noted, the fee does not include airfare, travel to and from airport, meals, visa fees, departure tax, books, national insurance, personal travel or spending money. North Central College financial aid does apply.