Delhi - Study in Delhi

IES student volunteers with local schoolchildren in Delhi India

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Overview

Quick Facts

City:

Delhi [1]

Country:

India [2]

Program credits:

15-19 per semester (4-5 courses)

Language(s) of Instruction:

English

Language prerequisites:

None

Pack your bags and head to the monumental, exotic, bustling, historic, and modern city of Delhi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. See for yourself the Raj-era bungalows, beautiful parks and sprawling cityscapes, and elegant shops and chaotic bazaars that characterize this multi-faceted city.

The seat of the modern Indian government and the historic capital of the Mughal Empire and of British India after 1911, Delhi is the ideal city to explore both contemporary India and its cultural traditions. IES Abroad Delhi offers a rigorous academic program that focuses on contemporary India in its cultural and historical context. You can pursue your own academic interests through a broad range of IES Abroad courses and by taking courses at local universities in Delhi.

The program’s many focused courses offer a thorough immersion into Indian culture: The Cities of Delhi course introduces you to the many and diverse layers in the environment where you will be living and studying, and provides an opportunity for individualized field research in an area of your interest.

In addition, the Hindi and Urdu Language courses offer the opportunity to practice your language skills, both speaking and comprehension, in a city where Hindi-Urdu is the spoken vernacular, facilitating your experience of Indian culture. Other courses integrate local field study into their syllabi to expand your academic experience through field study in Delhi and surrounding parts of north India.

Delhi is your classroom. Sample Indian fare, including kabobs and biryanis, from local eateries. Try your hand at bargaining for artisans’ crafts at one of the city’s bustling open air markets. And don’t miss visiting awe-inspiring monuments, mosques, and architectural wonders like the Red Fort, one of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Delhi. Welcome to study abroad!

We want you to feel at home in India, so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in Delhi. Deepen your familiarity of life in India through work in the local community. Gain valuable cultural insight, meet residents, and learn more about the complex socioeconomic issues in India by volunteering with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that offer a wide variety of services ranging from health care to environmental projects.

Program Dates

These dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Students should not book flights according to these dates.

Academics

Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible— which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.

We offer unique courses that explore Indian Language, History, and Culture with an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at prestigious Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.

You take 15–19 credit hours per semester. All IES Abroad courses are taught in English (except Hindi and Urdu language courses) and are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified.

In addition to the following courses, we encourage you to take a course at one of our partner universities.

You create your own academic experience by selecting from the following highly recommended program components:

AN/HS/US301 Cities of Delhi (4 credits)
Hindi and/or Urdu Language Course (3 credits)
English-taught IES Abroad area studies courses
Partner university courses at Delhi University or Jawaharlal Nehru University OR courses at the National Museum Institute

Courses

This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account.

Partner Institution(s)

Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi
www.kamalanehrucollege.org/knc [3]
Kamala Nehru College was founded in 1964 and was then known as the "Government College for Women," and was housed in Defence Colony. Initially, the college only offered courses in the arts, but today offers a full spectrum of courses in the disciplines of English, Economics, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology. It is one of the colleges that comprise the University of Delhi (DU), a federally-funded University founded in 1922 and based off of the British University model with over eighty different colleges, institutions, and post-graduate departments. DU is one of the top universities in India and is known for high level instruction and research.

Offering both undergraduate and graduate courses, DU is one of the largest universities in the world with a student population over 300,000. More than 30 libraries, located across all campuses, provide required research and reference materials.

Courses
Enrollment is limited to certain classes, primarily in Indian Studies, and course offerings vary from semester to semester. Exact course availability is determined shortly before the start of each semester on-site.

The following list is a sampling of courses by discipline:

Cultural Studies

Culture in India - Medieval [4]

Cultural Diversity [5]

Modern Delhi [6]

Economics

Development Economics

Econometrics

Economy, State, and Society

International Economics

Money and Financial Systems

Public Economics

Development Theory and Experience [7]

Economic History of India 1857-1947 [8]

Indian Agriculture and Industry [9]

India's Economic Development Since 1947 [10]

Money and Financial Markets [11]

English Literature

English Literature 1-5 [12]

20th Centry Indian Writing [12]

Classical Literature [12]

Popular Fiction [12]

Contemporary Literature [12]

Ethics

Ethics in the Public Domain [13]

History

Delhi: Modern

History of Africa and Latin America

History of China and Japan

History of India up to 750 A.D. [14]

History of India: 750 - 1550

History of India: 1540 - 1761

History of India: 1750-1950 [14]

History of Modern Europe: 1780-1939

Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Ancient and Medieval World [14]

The Rise of the Modern West (Mid-15th Century to the American Revolution)

Philosophy

Formal Logic and Western Philosophy [15]

Theories of Consciousness [16]

Political Science

Citizenship in and Globalising World [17]

Colonialism and Nationalism in India [18]

Comparative Government and Politics

India's Foreign Policy [19]

Indian Government and Politics

Indian Political Thought [20]

International Relations

Political Theory [21]

Public Administration [22]

Reading Gandhi

Western Political Thought

Sociology

The Individual and Society [23]

Location & Commute Time
Kamala Nehru College is located in the heart of South Delhi, about 20 minutes away from the IES Abroad Center. The campus is small, with a student body nearing 1,000. Even though Kamala Nehru College is a women's liberal arts college, the institution accepts male students.

University Clubs & Events
Kamala Nehru College has an active and welcoming extra-curricular life, and students have found that joining societies, clubs and organized events is a great way to make Indian friends.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
www.jnu.ac.in [24]
Rated by Asia Week as the top general university in India, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is primarily a graduate institution and offers courses appropriate for advanced third- and fourth-year U.S. college students.

JNU has an attractive modern campus in a park setting in south Delhi. The 1,000 acre campus, in addition to university halls, is also comprised of large swaths of forest home to over 200 species of birds and various other forms of wildlife.

Courses
You should choose courses at JNU in your major or closely related fields. IES Abroad will assist you with the application process, but admission to courses is contingent on your having fulfilled the appropriate prerequisites and is determined by department. Final admission decisions rest with JNU. An early application deadline applies.

General course offerings include the following:

Arts and Aesthetics
Computer Science
Environmental Science
International Studies
Language
Literature and Cultural Studies
Life Sciences
Physical Sciences
Social Sciences

Location & Commute Time
Located in South Delhi on the Aravali Hill Range, JNU is a short commute away from Delhi’s three main railway stations and the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The commute time from JNU to the IES Abroad Delhi Center is between 30 and 60 minutes by auto rickshaw (a popular inexpensive three-wheeled taxi). Homestay commuting times will vary based on the location of the homestay.

University Clubs & Events
If you are accepted into JNU, you have the opportunity to take part in clubs and events at the University.

The National Museum Institute
The National Museum Institute is a college focusing on art history, conservation, and musicology. By special arrangement, the Institute offers a course designed specifically for IES Abroad students on art in India. Introduction to Indian Art will survey the major landmarks in Indian art history and trace significant developments in the architectural, sculptural, and painting traditions from their early beginnings to the modern period.

Service Learning

Service Learning
You can earn credit for service learning by combining academic work with volunteer placements.

Volunteering
Volunteering with community-based organizations enables you to experience the social, environmental, and economic challenges of the area firsthand. As you meet and volunteer alongside local residents, you learn about the local culture and the diverse issues facing India today.

Types
Organizations focusing on environmental issues, social and child welfare, economic development, health, housing, rural development, nutrition, cultural heritage, and animal welfare.

Placement Examples:

Community Development - Human Rights Network (an educational NGO providing education for underprivileged children), Dastakar (a support organization for Indian craftsmen and their development), Bangla Sahib Gudwara (Sikh Temple offering shelter, meals, and support to the community)
Education - AAG (HIV/AIDS), Pratham (an NGO promoting literacy and education for Indian children), Sshristhi (benefiting underprivileged children), Academy of Fine Arts and Literature
Social, Women and Child Welfare – Girls Outreach Program

Field Study

IES Abroad Delhi organizes multiple field study trips that complement our courses, and contribute to a general knowledge of Indian culture and society. The Cities of Delhi course includes structured classroom teaching and six specially designed field study trips. Required field study trips for class are included in the program fee.

Past field study excursions include:

President’s Mansion
Supreme Court of India
Tughlaqabad
Qutab Minar
St. James Church
Tours of old Delhi

Housing

Our job is to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding what landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Delhi, it will feel like home.

Homestays
Live in a homestay in South Delhi. This is an ideal way to experience day-to-day Indian life and the culture that shapes it. In your homestay, you have a single room and may share a bath. You receive breakfast and one other meal per day.

Group Homestays
Live in a group homestay in South Delhi with approximately five other IES Abroad students. In the group homestay, you have a double room and share a bath. You receive breakfast and one other meal per day. This option is best for students who prefer to live with a group of students in a secure and friendly environment.

Single and Double Room Accommodations
These accommodations are a typical way for both Indian and international students to live in Delhi. They are family houses in South Delhi where separate and independent rooms are rented to short- and long-term guests. You live in a single or double room with a shared bath and access to kitchen facilities. Meals are not included. This option is best for students who are more comfortable living independently.

Student Life

Part of making you feel at home in Delhi is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it’s the orientation that prepares you for what’s ahead, housing that is well located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.

Orientation

Predeparture
You will have a personal IES Abroad Advisor who will work directly with you to prepare you for your study abroad experience. Upon your admission, you receive predeparture information and shortly before the program begins, you receive information that familiarizes you with the structure of the program (course enrollment, what to expect), inoculations and health precautions, packing tips, and cultural challenges (suggested dress, climate and homestay).

On-Site
Once in Delhi, the program begins with an orientation introducing you to the IES Abroad staff, your fellow students, and Indian life and customs. You will explore Delhi with a peer guide to learn how to navigate public transportation and other essential information about the city of Delhi. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety are covered during that time.

Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.

Orientation also includes a general introductory lecture series on historical and contemporary India, as well as visits to some of Delhi’s famous neighborhood markets to build your familiarity with the city and the many communities that constitute Delhi’s unique milieu.

Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events

Redefine the way you live and learn in Delhi through our cultural events, such as:

Concerts, plays, dance, and music performances
Local holiday festivities, such as Holi and Diwali
Regional cooking classes
Indian classical and Bollywood dance
Cricket or field hockey matches
Yoga

Field Trips

Although your adventure begins in Delhi, our field trips take you to other great cities and sights in India to expand your Indian experience. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad. Past destinations are listed below.

Agra & Taj Mahal
Take a look into India’s past during explorations of Agra and its fort, as well as the UNESCO world heritage sites of the magnificent Taj Mahal, its recently rediscovered gardens, and the palace at Fatehpur Sikri.

Khajuraho, Varanasi, Goa
Journey to locations such as Varanasi to visit the sacred site of Hindu religion, or to Goa for a look at the fusion between Portuguese and Indian culture. This longer field trip is planned in conjunction with courses taught during the term.

Ranthambore
Gain insights into village life in India and visit the national forest that is home to the largest population of tigers on the planet. A special focus of this trip is on the integration of conservation efforts into the traditional rural village society of the area.

Center

IES Abroad Delhi [25]

Housed in an independent bungalow, the IES Abroad Delhi Center is located within walking distance to the neighborhood’s central market, well-known in Delhi for its great restaurants. The Center provides easy access to local transportation to partner universities and your accommodations.

Features include:

Spacious multi-story student lounge
Garden and spacious rooftop terraces
Classrooms and administrative offices
Central meeting hall
Library and study area

Center staff:

Maria Stallone
IES Abroad Director
Maria Stallone has been developing and directing study abroad programs in South and Southeast Asia for more than twelve years, and has a lifelong history of international experience. Following a well-traveled childhood, Maria studied abroad in Sweden for a year as a Rotary Exchange student. She went on to spend a year at Regent’s College in London as part of her undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where she earned a B.S. She first traveled to Varanasi, India in 1993 with the prestigious Rotary Foundation Fellowship, where she began her study of Indian classical music. She completed her graduate work at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, achieving an Award of Merit in Ethnomusicology and Urdu. Her other academic distinctions include a diploma in Indian classical music and Hindi from Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi and most recently, graduate work in Thai Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Maria speaks four languages and has been the recipient of several grants and scholarships promoting her interests and research.

She plays an active role in community affairs, infusing the values of reciprocity in all her professional ventures. She was the founder and chair of Jashn Jaipur India, a business group that is engaged in philanthropic ventures in Jaipur. Other civic activities include volunteering with Help in Suffering India, ProPoor InfoTech Center United States, and Little Stars School India.

IES Abroad Staff
Sunita Kewalramani
Student Services Coordinator

IES Abroad Faculty
IES Abroad Delhi faculty are from local universities including Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University.

Cost