SIT Study Abroad: India: Public Health

I understand that studying abroad in India is unconventional, that it doesn't strike Westerners as appealing as France or England. However, it is India that will teach you more about your knowledge, yourself, and your realities. It will test you, but it is a life-changing experience. Through my experience with SIT, I was thoroughly supported, cared about, and loved by all faculty. I was stimulated academically, linguistically, and culturally. The most incredible learning outcome from this experience was ISP period, doing research and field work was invaluable and is another building block for my career in public health.

I had a great time studying abroad with SIT India. I was able to apply my interests in Environmental Studies and Public Health, while learning about global inequality from an Indian context. The homestay was a valuable part of my experience, and I would definitely recommend this program to future students.

Studying abroad in India was the best choice I could have made! India may not be a "traditional" location, but it should be with its historical monuments, diverse culture, delicious food, and generous people. I was surrounded by love and supported from the second I was picked up from the airport by program staff. The academics are engaging with many site visits and excursions. There is also built-in time for additional travel. I learned a lot about myself through moments of discomfort, unfamiliarity, and adaptation. There is also an opportunity for a month-long research project, which could include clinical exposure--great for pre-med students!

I was originally so nervous to take on this experience. It was my first time living abroad and even my first time living in a city, since I come from rural Ohio. I wanted to join this program because the academic topics matched my interests perfectly. When I got here, I was scared as anything, but the SIT staff and faculty became the best support system I could ask for. The academics are rigorous, but they don’t take up all of your time. Much of the coursework builds on itself, and it will prepare you so well for your ISP. In Delhi, you’ll spend most evenings with your homestay families, but during excursions you’ll have plenty of time to explore, hang out, and grow close with your fellow students. Most of my time was spent with the other students, since opportunities to make friends with locals were limited. This is an incredible program, but it’s also what you make of it, you’ll have to push your boundaries and step out of your comfort zone, but that when I learned the most about myself. This experience will stick with me for the rest of my life, and I honestly wish I could do it again. The program gives you the perfect balance of independence while still being a safety net whenever you need it. Also, you will never go hungry here. If I could give one last piece of convincing evidence to join this program, let the food be it!

This program was absolutely incredible! While studying in India is less common and there are many prejudices against the country, I’ve found it to be the most welcoming, safe, and impactful place that I’ve visited. The classes are engaging and are integrated into day- and week-long field excursions across India. The opportunity to live with a host family is a rare chance to truly experience the culture outside of the classroom setting. While the experience was daunting at first, I found myself becoming a part of their family and community. The Independent Study Project, which I completed at the end of the semester, was a great way to get hands-on experience with research and working in a clinical setting (as I partnered with a healthcare organization). This program challenges you in all the right ways, pushing you to learn about yourself, step outside your comfort zone, and truly become immersed in the Indian culture. You should absolutely apply!

Thank you, SIT India, for helping me learn and grow during my semester abroad! From the moment I arrived in Delhi, I felt supported and loved by the entire staff. They helped us navigate this new country seamlessly and introduced us to all of India's wonders. I enjoyed shopping for new kurtas and jewelry, learning Hindi, trekking in the Himalayas, tasting delicious meals, living with a wonderful host family, strolling on the beaches in Goa, visiting the Taj Mahal, volunteering at a rural health organization in Maharashtra, exploring Ellora Caves, and conducting independent research on a topic I’m passionate about. I will never forget my experience in India or the beautiful people I met and the amazing places I was fortunate enough to see.

I truly evolved and grew as a person during this semester abroad. The program staff were my favorite part of the program. I would do it 1000 times again. Don’t let anyone stop you from traveling the world! India is so diverse, expansive, and I truly felt so safe during my program year. You are well equipped, prepared and even have the opportunity to travel around India during your time there! On top of that, you get to delve into a research topic of your choice that you’re passionate about for the last month of the program. I made so many connections and friendships that I will cherish with all my heart. It was academically thought-provoking and I look at the world with bigger heart and more curious mind. Don’t second guess it, apply to this program with SIT in India!!!

Transformative experience! I learned so much about what people are capable of. I saw so much, travelled so much and suddenly writing my college essays just came so easily because we were living all of those experiences.

I cannot recommend this program enough. For anyone deciding between this program and another, I will say that this program provides opportunities for community, connection, and exploration of yourself and your interests, that I doubt you can find anywhere else. The program staff is incredible. The professors become like family. They are so warm and welcoming, and provide overwhelming support when any challenge arises. They are also primarily concerned with students learning and growing, so you get to have a learning experience where you can truly focus on following your interests and passions rather than just worrying about your grades. The curriculum in Delhi is a combination of language, lectures, and visits with NGOs and other groups. The combination of courses basically provides an education in the basics of public health, as well as public health issues specific to women and gender and sexuality minorities, and learning about how to conduct fieldwork. The lectures are interactive and you have the opportunity to learn specifically about your interests, whether they are more related to culture, community/public health, women and children, or queer issues. The combination of issues that are explored and the media through which they are explored- lectures, visits, and excursions- mean that you get a real understanding of the cultural, social, and political nuances generally and as they relate to public health. Also, because there are so many field visits and excursions that are based in connecting with community groups, you get the opportunity to really connect with local people who you share interests with. Many times throughout the program students would find ourselves talking with lecturers or visit hosts outside of class, looking to go deeper into topics or just talk about our lives or local culture. Many of them are such unique and courageous agents of change, and it was really exciting that SIT provided the opportunity to connect with so many incredible and progressive people. The excursions and ISP also provide the chance to travel around the country in a way that you would never get to experience by traveling alone. By going to different locations for the purpose of meeting with organizations or groups, Visit hosts often brought us around outside of meetings, so we got to explore with locals, and be part of their communities. Outside of having Delhi as a base location, I spent time in at least 8 different cities and towns as part of SIT. The ISP also provides the opportunity to dive deep into the area of your passion in anything you choose within the realm of health or gender/sexuality. I know that every year there are a number of students who return to India after this program because they have developed such a connection to the place and to the work that they have done. I highly recommend this program. It changed my worldview and the way I think about the impact I want to have, and how to go about it — not simply in the sense of having been exposed to a very different culture and environment, but even more because of the people I interacted with, and the nuances of the cultural context that I was pushed to grapple with, as a result of this program.

I learned so much in this program! I was fully immersed in Indian culture with my homestay and incredible academic staff. I gained so much knowledge and expertise in public health in a local and global context. It was the most rewarding semester of college I’ve ever had! I’m so glad I got this experience and I would 100% recommend this program to others.

My time abroad with SIT was absolutely amazing, from the vibrant cultural immersion to the insightful academic journey, every moment exceeded my expectations. It's truly a wonderful program with many opportunities for growth not only academically but also professionally and personally. 

Would highly recommend this program to anyone who truly wants to challenge their cross-cultural understanding and learn what it truly means to be a global citizen. This study abroad program truly immerses you in the culture in a unique way. I learned so much about myself, the host country and its politics. I got some insane opportunities like working with the Comprehensive Rural Health project in Jamkhed and visiting Tibetan refugees in Mcleod Ganj. Came out of the experience with a good understanding of conversational Hindi.

I learned so much in this program! I was fully immersed in Indian culture with my homestay and incredible academic staff. I gained so much knowledge and expertise in public health in a local and global context. It was the most rewarding semester of college I’ve ever had! I’m so glad I got this experience and I would 100% recommend this program to others.

I'm so glad I went on this program! I loved being able to see so many areas of the country, practice my Hindi language skills, and get to know my peers, instructors, and co-workers during my 1-month internship. As a queer person of Indian heritage myself, having the opportunity to intern at a queer community-based organization was particularly affirming and educational.

I had a phenomenal experience on this program. The emphasis on experiential learning created a unique learning opportunity and ability to learn about different people and cultures in India. The independent research projects was my favorite part of the program and such an incredible opportunity.

This program was the greatest experience of my life. The people I met, the places I went, and the things I learned will stay with me forever. The group leaders (both American and Indian) were some of the wisest, nicest, inspiring people I have ever met. The culture shock was insane, India is a crazy, overwhelming place, but it is also beautiful, incredible, and inspiring. The people are so welcoming and warm, and love that you want to learn about their country. This trip is so worth going on, I learned more than I thought I ever could, became life-long friends with incredible people, and became passionate about public health.

I truly sing the praises of the Public Health, Policy Advocacy, and Community program in India to anyone who will listen. I spent the Fall semester of my junior year in 2015 studying in Delhi with SIT, and it was the greatest choice I have made in my academic career thus-far. I wanted a program that pushed me outside of my comfort zone and was not something I ever could have experienced in a classroom at Williams College, my home institution. This semester did that and more. I learned about healthcare practices and policy in India through an experiential-based model, doing workshops at long-functioning NGOs and speaking with doctors, midwives, and community health workers at District Hospitals and Community Health Centers; I spoke with people from the WHO and with Indian government officials; I led an independent study project by myself in rural Uttar Pradesh on maternal health access and outcomes. But the best part of the program lies in the staff and support through the SIT program in Delhi. Our professors were our teachers but also our parents away from home, helping us push ourselves to the limits of our comfort zones as juniors in college, while feeling safe and confident all the way. I felt supported 24/7 in all my new experiences. This program impacted my approach to my classes, education, and goals for a future career in healthcare back in the states, and led me to get a Fulbright-Nehru fellowship continuing public health research with connections I made during my independent study on the program.

My SIT program in India was fantastic-well ran and with great excursions and immersion experiences.