International students decide to study abroad in India for all different reasons; some are more academically driven, and others care more about the journey itself. It is possible both to enroll at a local university and pursue courses that will advance your degree track (most Indian universities luckily use English as the medium of education), or to take a variety of different courses tailored for international students while studying at a smaller satellite school.

Some popular subjects that students pursue while studying abroad in India include Development Studies, Women’s Studies, History, Philosophy, and Economics. If you enroll at a local university then you will have the luxury of choosing from a full course catalogue while also immersing yourself in student life. Studying abroad at a smaller international or satellite school may limit your course options, but it can also be a great way to brush the surface of many different aspects of Indian history and culture.

Many India study abroad programs are also subject-specific, meaning that you can study alongside students of similar interest while benefiting from a more focused academic approach to the Indian context. For example you might choose to embark on a summer program built around sustainable development, which may also offer the opportunity to combine your studies with an internship or other form of community engagement.