Study in India
India is home to over thirty UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of the seven modern wonders of the world. YFU students have the exciting opportunity to call this cultural wonderland home!
+ More About India
Namaste! Are you looking to experience a culture that’s completely different from your own? A fusion of East and West, India is a destination sure to fill your thirst for adventure.
The vast and varied geography of India echoes throughout its diverse peoples, cultures, languages, religions, festivals, and foods; you may find yourself wearing a sari, eating chapatis, or dancing bhangra! Festivals and celebrations are at the core of Indian life, and whole communities or neighborhoods are often included in special holidays such as Diwali, the festival of lights, and Holi, the festival of colors. Renowned for decadent and vibrant festivities, Indian weddings are an awesome spectacle of color and music that typically entail a number of celebrations involving family, friends, and neighbors that may last several weeks – hopefully you’ll get to experience one for yourself!
India’s film industry is the largest in the world. Based in Mumbai, Bollywood produces iconic films filled with plots as intricate as their dance moves. You’ll learn about Indian culture while enjoying these films with your friends! While students in India are expected to study diligently, there is also time for extra-curricular activities including sports, music, and language clubs. You can be assured that your education in India will be an engaging and rewarding experience.
+ Scholarships Available
YFU USA is proud to send over 200 American students on cultural exchange with a full or partial scholarship each year. Financial assistance may be in the form of a merit-based scholarship, needs-based financial aid, or Legacy Grant for students who are previously involved in the YFU Community. Scholarships may vary in deadline, requirements, and eligibility. To learn more, please visit our Scholarships Page to find details on the following scholarships eligible for India:
Holcomb & Farnell Foreign Study Fund
YFU Legacy Grant
YFU Financial Aid Fund
WEH Foundation Scholarship
Karla Topolka Scholarship Fund
Passport to Equity
+ Application Deadline
Applications for tuition based programs must be submitted by April 1 for Fall departures. Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a case by case basis depending upon availability.
+ Additional Information
Visa Information
Information regarding visas and other immigration processes will be provided upon enrollment. Students will also be required to register in the Foreigners Regional Registration Office after their arrival.
Additional Costs
Program tuition does not include personal spending money. Students should budget to cover additional school-related expenses including summer and winter school uniforms, textbooks, and transportation. Students are also responsible for covering any fees associated with obtaining a visa.
Choose Your Program
+ Academic Year Program
As a YFU student to India, you’ll live with a host family and attend a local high school. Part of your experience will be:
School
Secondary school (grades 9-12) is for students between the ages of 14 and 18. It prepares students for higher education at India’s colleges and universities. Students who have graduated from school in the U.S. will be placed in the 11th grade, as will students completing their senior year. No students will be placed in grade 12 while in India. Courses may include Hindi, English, mathematics, humanities, commerce, computer science, history, social studies, yoga, arts, and physical education. Most classes are taught in English. YFU Students will be placed in private schools, where they typically study humanities and commerce. Students do not study science due to the high level of difficulty.
Orientations
All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas. All students will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place on-line dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
In India, students will also attend a 4-5 day post-arrival orientation as well as mid-year and re-entry orientations with other YFU students from all over the world.
Extracurriculars
YFU students are encouraged to engage themselves in extracurricular activities offered by their host schools and communities. Some examples of popular extracurriculars include cricket, musical theater, and athletics.
Optional Excursions
Year program students will also usually have the option of participating in educational trips and excursions during their stay, at an additional cost.
Cultural Trip: In mid-March, students are invited to participate in a 3-5 day cultural expedition with other YFU students from around the world. The destination of this trip varies from year to year, but previous expeditions have gone to sites like Himachal, Dehrandun, and Shimla. Students will find out more about this optional trip upon arrival in India. The trip has typically included food, transportation, accommodations, and sight-seeing.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fall Year | Mid July | Early May | $14,995 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Indian private high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU India Area Representative while on program
- Comprehensive insurance
Age Requirement
- 2024 Fall Departure: Students born July 31, 2006 – June 29, 2009.
- Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of their program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
- Students looking to partcipate in a Gap Year program should be prepared to be placed in the 11th grade
Language
Hindi and English. No previous language study is required. A survival Hindi manual will be provided to students one month before their departure.
Host Family Placement
Students are typically placed in Northern India.
+ Semester Program
As a YFU student to India, you’ll live with a host family and attend a local high school. Part of your experience will be:
School
Secondary school (grades 9-12) is for students between the ages of 14 and 18. It prepares students for higher education at India’s colleges and universities. Students who have graduated from school in the U.S. will be placed in the 11th grade, as will students completing their senior year. No students will be placed in grade 12 while in India. Courses may include Hindi, English, mathematics, humanities, commerce, computer science, history, social studies, yoga, arts, and physical education. Most classes are taught in English. YFU Students will be placed in private schools, where they typically study humanities and commerce. Students do not study science due to the high level of difficulty. Students who participate in the Semester program will attend school and return home before the exam period begins in late March.
Orientations
All students applying for the semester program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas. All students will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place on-line dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
In India, students will also attend a 4-5 day post-arrival orientation as well as mid-year and re-entry orientations with other YFU students from all over the world.
Extracurriculars
YFU students are encouraged to engage themselves in extracurricular activities offered by their host schools and communities. Some examples of popular extracurriculars include cricket, musical theater, and athletics.
Optional Excursions
Semester program students will also usually have the option of participating in educational trips and excursions during their stay, at an additional cost.
Cultural Trip: In mid-March, students are invited to participate in a 3-day cultural expedition with other YFU students from around the world. The destination of this trip varies from year to year, but previous expeditions have gone to sites like Himachal, Dehrandun, and Shimla. Students will find out more about this optional trip upon arrival in India. The trip has typically included food, transportation, accommodations, and sight-seeing.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fall Semester | Mid July | Late January | $12,595 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Indian private high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU India Area Representative while on program
- Comprehensive insurance
Age Requirement
- 2024 Fall Departure: Students born July 31, 2006 – June 29, 2009.
- Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of their program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
- Students looking to partcipate in a Gap Year program should be prepared to be placed in the 11th grade
Language
Hindi and English. No previous language study is required. A survival Hindi manual will be provided to students one month before their departure.
Host Family Placement
Students are typically placed in Northern India.
+ Summer Program
Experience “Incredible India” this summer during a one month exchange to the endlessly fascinating subcontinent.
Discover India
Stay with fellow exchange students in the dormitories of a local school campus during the week and get to know India from an insider’s perspective through host families stays during the weekends.
Participants will have the opportunity to try a wide range of activities like yoga, meditation, Hindi or Punjabi language classes, popular local sports like cricket, and Indian cooking classes. There will also be visits local temples of different religions, museums, and a trip to the Indian border. This program will be based in Punjab, a state in the north of India, and will also offer a 5 day trip to either the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh or to Rajasthan and the iconic Taj Mahal. Click here to view a tentative itinerary.
Orientations
Students applying for the Summer program must be available for a mandatory one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.
Age Requirement
- 2024 Summer Departure: Students born July 31, 2006 – June 29, 2009.
- Students who are approximately 2 months outside this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of their program are welcome to apply.
Language
Hindi and English. No previous language study is required.
Host Family Placement
Students are typically placed in Northern India.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Summer | Mid July | Mid August | $6,995 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement in dormitory accommodations
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU India Area Representative while on program
- Comprehensive insurance