Study Abroad in India

Semester Programs

As a YFU student to India, you’ll live with a host family and attend a local high school.

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 National Pre-Departure Orientation. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.

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 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 may have the option of participating in educational trips and excursions during their stay, at an additional cost if offered.

Language

Hindi and English. No previous language study is required. A survival Hindi manual will be provided to students one month before their departure.

Summer Programs

Orientations

Summer students will participate in an online, mandatory virtual pre-departure orientation in late May/ early June. This orientation is a required part of the program to prepare students for their overseas experience.

Language

Hindi and English. No previous language study is required.

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 family 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 to 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.