Return to the search form Return to your search results

India Winterim

Fast Facts

Sessions Offered:

Winter

Location:

Various cities in India

Credit:

Resident, 3 hours

Program Features

UI Faculty-Led

Application Due:

•Application Opens: Aug. 1, 2023

• Regular Deadline: Sept. 16, 2023

• Confirmation Deadline: Sept. 30, 2023

Program Cost:

• Refer to 'Costs' section under the 'Application' tab

India Winterim is an intensive, three-week, field-based program that provides students with the opportunity to learn within India’s diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and geographical mosaic. The entire coursework will be set in the context of language-learning and cultural experiences unique to the program sites. Each course in the program is based in one of several locations throughout India. This program is designed for undergraduate and graduate students.

Pongal Festival, Pondicherry

Pongal Festival, Pondicherry

Academic Credit

Each India Winterim course provides 3 s.h. of University of Iowa resident credit.

2023-2024 Sections

Finalized syllabi will be posted soon.

Water Poverty in Rural India, A Freshwater Crisis Case
PDF Syllabus Winter 2023-2024

Prof. Allen Bradley, IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering

Promotional Video for Water Poverty Course

Cultural Activities

Excursions are a central part of the academic component of this program. Participants visit a variety of community organizations, temples, and other sites of historical, cultural, and environmental significance.

Program Dates

This program takes place during the University of Iowa's winter session. Specific dates vary by year.

The tentative program dates for the 2023-2024 session are December 17 - January 5.

These dates do include time for air travel between the U.S. and India. See the Logistics tab above for more details on travel arrangements.

For More Information

Contact Ryan Ourada (ryan-ourada@uiowa.edu) for more information about the program.

To set up an appointment with an India Winterim advisor, please call the Study Abroad office at 319-335-0353 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm). The receptionist who answers the phone can help you schedule an appointment.

Study Abroad is not able to take same-day appointments.

India

India’s astounding diversity of religions, languages, and cultures is unique and unparalleled. The society of vast subcontinent, varied and complex in its rich heritage, is among the oldest in the world.

Culturally diverse and complex, with mainly rural, traditional, and agrarian population, India now is also a major industrial power experiencing rapid urban growth and rural-urban migration. It is a nation undergoing significant political, economic, and social change, while at the same time struggling to maintain many of its traditions and customs. India today is unfolding a story of a billion plus people, or more precisely, one sixth of the world’s population, on a big move as India's large and complex systems rapidly moving top-down and the country emerge as one of the fastest growing economies of the world.

Safety Abroad

Female student drinking from coconut

Visiting other countries can be a great experience. Whether you are traveling for work or pleasure, solo or in a group, staying for a few days or several years, planning ahead can help ensure your time abroad is both enjoyable and safe.

The first step to an international trip is to read the Department of State's Traveler’s Checklist to find out things to consider before you go. Pay special attention to India's safety and security information and assess for yourself the risk of traveling to a particular country or region. Some U.S. citizens with special considerations – such as students, women, and LGBTI travelers – may face additional challenges when abroad. If you do decide to travel, make a plan for what to do if something goes wrong overseas.

US Department of State Country Information

The US Department of State provides safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you.

Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to help decide whether traveling to any given country is right for you. Non-US citizen travelers may also wish to seek guidance from the embassy of their country of citizenship. The UI International Travel Policy for Students addresses restrictions on student travel to high-risk locations and engagement in high-risk activities abroad.

Living Arrangements

Students stay in hotels, sharing a double occupancy room with another course participant. All hotel rooms have private bathrooms.

Passport

If you do not have a passport, it is important that you apply for one as soon as possible to ensure you receive it before the program begins. US citizens can find more information about how to apply for a passport on the US Department of State’s website.

Important notice for students without a valid passport or whose passport will expire within the next 12 months:

US citizens can find more information about how to renew a passport on the US Department of State’s website.

Students with a valid passport should check the expiration date. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months AFTER the anticipated return to the US from studying abroad. If your passport is not valid for at least 6 months after your anticipated date of return to the US, you must renew your passport.

Expedited processing service is available for US passports (although this still takes several weeks and is at an additional cost). UI Study Abroad encourages students to ask the passport agency at the time of application whether expedited service is recommended.

Non-US Citizens

Students who are not US citizens should contact their consulate for more information if they need to get a new passport or renew their passport.

Travel Arrangements

Students will receive instructions for booking flights after the Confirmation Deadline. A suggested group flight will be shared with the group and students will make their own arrangements.

Those who do not have extensive travel experience are encouraged to book the suggested group flight.

Local Transportation

Transportation for all course activities is provided, including a group airport pickup and drop-off at the beginning and end of the course.

COVID-19 Protocols

For courses traveling abroad, participating students and faculty will be required to follow host country laws and procedures regarding COVID-19. Requirements of each host country are subject to change with little notice. Requirements may include COVID-19 testing, proof of vaccination, or quarantine/isolation to enter the country or to access certain facilitates and services.

To review current entry requirements, please refer to the U.S. Embassy COVID-19 Country-specific Information page for your destination.

Eligibility

This course has a limited capacity. To ensure the highest level of academic preparedness, the instructor will review all applications for final decisions on admission, using the following criteria:

  • Clear interest and commitment: This program is open to students of all academic backgrounds. Students must demonstrate a clear academic or personal interest in the program’s subject matter and a commitment to engage responsibly in coursework abroad.
  • Demonstrated preparedness and maturity: Students must meet entry requirements for the countries and venues visited by the program, including entry requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students must demonstrate preparedness to take on the heightened responsibilities associated with international study and travel and demonstrate a commitment to behave responsibly abroad while respecting cultural differences. Students are expected to obey both local laws and program directives conveyed to participants before and during the program. The University of Iowa Code of Student Life applies to all program participants while abroad.
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing: Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at the University of Iowa, or at another US college or university where the applicant is enrolled in a degree program. Students placed on either academic or disciplinary probation for any period of time overlapping with the study abroad program dates are ineligible to study abroad on a University of Iowa program. Academic and disciplinary history will also be considered when determining whether a student is prepared to represent the University of Iowa as part of this program. Students who are not in good standing at any point overlapping with the program dates will have their acceptance revoked, and will be responsible for the associated late withdrawal fees.
  • Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA: Students must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA to participate in this program. Applications from students who have a GPA below 2.5 may be considered for the program, but will be interviewed by the faculty director in order to make a final acceptance decision.
  • Completion of at least one semester of college-level study: First-year student applicants may be required to provide an academic reference in addition to other application materials. Preference given to juniors and seniors.
  • Approval By faculty director and UI Study Abroad: Applications will be reviewed by the program’s faculty director, and students will be accepted based on their eligibility, and application materials.
  • Attendance at mandatory orientation programming: Students must attend all in-person and online pre-departure orientation programming.
  • Major Program of Study: Preference given to majors related to area of course.
  • No Language Experience Required: This course is taught in English. No previous language experience is required.

Waitlist Procedure:

Once the course has filled, UI Study Abroad will maintain a waitlist, and notify any students who are waitlisted. Further information will be sent out at that time to waitlisted students regarding next steps.

Participants who are enrolled at institutions other than the University of Iowa

Students who attend institutions other than the University of Iowa must also contact their home school study abroad office to review any additional study abroad requirements.

Costs

Students will be responsible for paying many of their program costs through their University of Iowa U-Bill, while other costs will be out-of-pocket costs paid by the student directly to vendors before and after going abroad. Refer to the cost sheets below for details on the costs associated with this program.

The cost sheets outline the total estimated costs associated with participating in this program and can be used for financial aid purposes. They include fees charged on students’ U-Bill as well as out-of-pocket expenses. Actual out-of-pocket expenses will vary from individual to individual. Quoted estimates are conservatively high, yet realistic.

Costs for future sessions are usually similar to the current session, however students can expect a modest increase in overall costs each session. Final cost sheets for future sessions are typically available early in the semester before the session begins.

Cost Sheets

The following cost sheet applies to winter 2023-2034.

PDF 2023-2024 Cost Sheet

Included in the billed program cost:

  • Application fee ($50)
  • Academic instruction and guided tours in the India
  • 3 semester hours of UI credit
  • Accommodation
  • Ground transport from and to airport in India
  • Transportation for all course activities
  • Welcome and Farewell dinners
  • Some meals
  • 24/7 staff support
  • CISI International Travel insurance

Calculating Fees

The cost sheets are based on the fees described below:

Cost sheets do not include the following optional costs:

Personal Travel Costs

Costs for personal travel are not included in the cost estimates provided on the cost sheet. If you plan to travel during your free time during or after your study abroad program, you will need to budget for additional funds to cover the cost of your personal travel.

The cost of personal travel depends entirely on each student’s individual travel plans and spending habits. Estimates for personal travel costs provided by past students on this program vary significantly from $300 to as much as $2,000 or more per session.

Costs charged to the U-Bill

  • Application fee (charged at the time of application, before financial aid/scholarships disburse)
  • Course Fees (Includes tuition, housing, meals, and program-related transportation and tours (charged shortly before departure)
  • Study Abroad Fees (charged shortly before departure)
  • CISI Health Insurance (charged shortly before departure)

Out-of-pocket costs (not charged to U-Bill)

  • Round trip airfare (paid by student directly to travel agent or airline- approx. 6-8 weeks prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed)
  • Passport (paid by student prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed)
  • Medical exam/immunizations (paid by student as needed prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships disburse)
  • Personal expenses (paid by student at their discretion while abroad)

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Students are encouraged to apply for Need-based, Merit, and other scholarships awarded by Study Abroad. More information is available on the Scholarships page.

Students who receive a Federal Pell Grant are eligible to apply for the Gilman International Scholarship, an external scholarship awarded by the Department of State. Learn more here.

Financial aid received to attend the University of Iowa (scholarships, grants, and loans) may be applied toward the program cost. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to explore financial aid options.

How to Apply

Students Attending the University of Iowa

  • Meet with your academic advisor(s) to discuss how this program might fit your graduation plans, and to ensure that it meets your academic and personal goals.
  • If you and your academic advisor agree that this program is a good match for you, complete the UI Study Abroad application. Please note that the non-refundable $50 application fee will be charged to your U-Bill as part of this online application.
  • Submit the online application before the application deadline.
  • The faculty director and UI Study Abroad will review your application materials and, if you meet the requirements for the program, you will be contacted with your acceptance status within 2 -3 weeks.

Students Attending Other Universities

  • Contact the study abroad office at your home institution and ensure you follow all of the policies and procedures required for you to participate in this program.
  • Contact UI study abroad advisor Ryan Ourada by email at ryan-ourada@uiowa.edu to request an application for the program.
  • Complete the UI Study Abroad application. Please note that the non-refundable $50 application fee will be charged to your University of Iowa U-Bill as part of this online application.
  • Submit the online application before the application deadline.
  • The faculty director and UI Study Abroad will review your application materials and, if you meet the requirements for the program, you will be contacted with your acceptance status within 2 -3 weeks./li>

Application Deadline

Applications for the Winter session are due by September 16. Confirmation will be due 2 weeks after on September 30.

Health & Safety Planning

Students should carefully review the following materials starting at least two months prior to departure:

Prepare for Departure

Health and Safety

Iowa Regents CISI Health Insurance Information

Students are also encouraged to complete the Health Preparation Guide for International Travelform with their medical practitioner. This document is intended to help you plan for your medical needs abroad. Please DO NOT turn this form in to UI Study Abroad.

Flights

Students will receive instructions for booking flights after the Confirmation Deadline. A suggested group flight will be shared with the group and students will make their own arrangements. Those who do not have extensive travel experience are encouraged to book the suggested group flight.

Immigration/Visa

All program participants are required to complete immigration requirements to enter and study in your host country. UI Study Abroad and your program provider/host institution abroad will provide you with immigration instructions prior to departure.

Note that permission to enter and study in your host country is provided exclusively by the host country’s government based on that country's immigration requirements. Your host country’s immigration requirements may include considerations related to specific national origin, national heritage, criminal background status, and similar issues that can make it impossible to receive permission to enter the country in some cases. Contact your UI study abroad advisor for more information.

It is essential that you thoroughly review all of your immigration materials before you leave for your host country to ensure that they are absolutely complete and accurate. It is entirely your responsibility to ensure that all of your immigration materials are in order and fully accurate before you leave for your host country. If any of your immigration materials contain inaccurate information of any kind, contact your UI study abroad advisor immediately to discuss your options.

Do not take steps to complete your host country’s immigration requirements until you receive more information from UI Study Abroad.

Review the informaiton under the Visa heading our Prepare for Departure page for further guidance on the immigration/visa process.

Orientation

In order to prepare for your time abroad, you are required by the University of Iowa to complete two orientations. These may be in addition to orientations provided by your on-site provider. See below for more information.

Online Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation

You are required to complete the International Programs ICON course "Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation" prior to departure. This orientation is mandatory for all students going abroad under the auspices of the University of Iowa. It covers many practical matters about living overseas, such as health and safety, communication, money, goals, and much more. You will be enrolled in this course by International Programs and an email will be sent to you once enrolled. If you have any questions, you can email safety-abroad@uiowa.edu.

Program-Specific Orientation

A mandatory, in-person orientation will be facilitated by the Faculty Leader and Study Abroad Coordinator before departure and will cover content specific to your program and host country.