Exploring the World Through Education: Ashoka University’s Semester Abroad Programme

Under Ashoka University’s Semester Abroad Programme, students can spend one semester abroad at an international institution. The students can take courses in their major or minor and transfer them to their undergraduate degree at Ashoka. The most popular destinations for this programme include Cornell University, King’s College London, Sciences Po, University of Geneva, and University of British Columbia, among others. The programme gives the students a prolonged experience in a different academic and cultural setting.

In the last semester alone, over 59 students embarked on this transformative journey, studying at more than 15 prestigious universities worldwide. From Cornell University to Sciences Po, from the University of Notre Dame to King’s College London (KCL), and from UMass Amherst to the University of Zurich, these students experienced firsthand what it means to be part of a global academic community.

One such student, Azhaz Muhammad, who spent the Monsoon 2024 semester at King’s College London, shares a compelling story of academic and personal growth:

“I spent my Monsoon 2024 semester studying at King’s College London. My experience in London has been eye-opening in many ways. This was my first time going to the West and my first time living abroad. The culture shock was both intimidating and exciting. I anticipated a life I always saw on Brit-com television as a kid, and to an extent, I did have that life – hopping the iconic London Underground and double-decker buses for my daily commute, taking occasional walks alongside canals and parks, having sausage rolls for breakfast, etc. But I also came across the unexpected joys of living alone and providing for myself in a city full of hidden surprises. As a history major, understanding perspectives is paramount to my academic preoccupations. Having studied mostly Indian scholars by Indian professors on Indian topics, this exposure completely re-oriented my worldview of the subject. My professors were incredibly sweet and erudite, both very inspiring traits for me. Apart from academics, I also joined the KCL Mountain Climbing Society. It introduced me to a sport which I always wanted to try, and I am very grateful I got the opportunity to do so in London. There is no other way to put this: London was amazing. Going there for a study abroad programme was one of the best decisions I had made in my college life.” – Azhaz Muhammad

The Power of a Global Education

Stories like this highlight the impact of Ashoka University’s Semester Abroad Programme. Whether students are at HEC Paris exploring business strategies, at the UMass Amherst, Merced engaging in cutting-edge research, or at ESSEC Business School delving into global management studies, the programme offers a platform for unparalleled academic and personal growth.

By immersing themselves in new cultures, tackling rigorous academic challenges, and stepping outside their comfort zones, Ashoka students are shaping their futures in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. The Semester Abroad Programme is more than an academic exchange—it is a journey of discovery, independence, and global citizenship. And for many, it marks the beginning of a lifelong connection to the world beyond Ashoka.

Research Internships Abroad

Ashoka students are also encouraged to pursue research internship opportunities abroad to get practical experience in their fields of interest. Through these hands-on projects, students get an opportunity to implement their learnings in a work setting. As per the new 4-year programme model under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, all students need to complete 16 internship credits in 4 years and 8 credits if they exit at the end of 3 years. Opportunities such as summer research internships or other unique programmes are counted as internship credits.

The Office of Global Education educates and informs students about the summer research opportunities abroad through information sessions as well as opening opportunities in partner universities such as the University of California Santa Cruz, Lehigh University, Tel Aviv University, Koç University, etc. The students are also guided to apply for various international organisations for research internship, for example, World Bank, ADB, CERN, etc., as well as competitive research scholarships.

“This internship has given me immense exposure to amazing people, new ideas, and, most importantly, cutting edge development finance research. It’s fascinating when multiple former Dy. Governors, Directors of different Central Banks and Chief Economic Advisors sit in a 5-metre radius.” – Soumil Agrawal, UG23, Intern at World Bank

“I had the most amazing time during my month-long internship in Spain at IREC with guidance from Giovanni Forcina and Jose Davila. to identify domestication signatures and signs of introgression in patridges of genus Alectoris. Additionally, received training in advanced wetlab techniques such as preparation of Whole Genome Resequencing and dRAD-seq libraries.” – Prisha Tiwari, ASP 23, Intern at IREC.

Ashoka’s Semester Abroad Partnerships

Ashoka University students can apply for semester-abroad nominations at several prestigious institutions worldwide. From the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Cornell University to Sciences Po, King’s College London, and Monash University, there are numerous opportunities across the U.S, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Students can also explore self-funded options at UC Berkeley and UPenn LPS or exclusive programs like HEC Paris for fourth-year students. Typically, semester-abroad nominations are open six months in advance for Ashoka students to apply, with deadlines ranging from January to April. The Office of Global Education also has strong collaborations with the Connecticut College, University of Toronto, Education New Zealand, and National University of Singapore to engage student communities through global virtual projects/internships.

The Office is further committed to developing such initiatives that can open possibilities for all students from different economic, cultural, and social backgrounds.