India might not be the first country that comes to mind when THWS students start to plan their semester abroad. Yet this country offers a diverse and exciting culture - and many challenges, too.
Published on 7 June 2024
Holy cows, spicy food, and Bollywood: These are just some of the many clichés of many Westerners when they think about India. And yet, this distant country offers so much more: With over 1.4 billion inhabitants, India is the second most populated country in the world after China. It does not come as a surprise that the country is a melting pot of utmost diverse cultures and languages.
THWS has two partner universities in the south of the subcontinent: Rajagiri College of Social Sciences mainly offers courses for the degree programme Social Work. The higher education institution is located in the city of Kochi. Christ College Bangalore is situated in the third-largest city in India and is particularly suitable for students at the Faculty of Computer Science and Business Information Systems. THWS and the higher education institution organise a field trip for THWS students within the framework of the "India Gateway Programme". At both institutions, the courses are taught in English, the official language in India.
One of the students who dared venture to India is Ruben Oesterle. He wanted to spend his semester abroad in a different culture and studied at Rajagiri College of Social Sciences in the winter semester 2022/23. From all the partner universities, he was most interested in India.
Organisation with some stumbling blocks
The organisation worked out pretty well. Food and accommodation were provided by the college against a fee - and it is definitely advisable to make use of this offer. However, it is important to not only rely on others but to show initiative: "You have to actively ask to get information," Ruben says. "But if you do, they are happy to help you, at least in the case of my higher education institution." Ruben had his own air-conditioned room in a house he shared with other short-term students.
The most complicated organisational task is the visa. The process is tedious: You require different documents – and communication with the Indian embassy is not always smooth, It is thus essential to approach the topic in due time.
Life at Rajagiri College in Kochi
There are many international students at Rajagiri College in Kochi, many of them from Africa. Most of them complete their entire degrees in India. Students who only spend one semester at the higher education institution are considered short-term students. Courses are taught in English and are summed up in the local language afterwards. The communication inside the higher education institution is different to what you are used to from Germany. It is no exception to only learn five minutes in advance that the lecture that was supposed to be cancelled is now actually taking place.
Especially vegan or vegetarian students should obtain information on food options in the canteen: While the Indian cuisine is known for its many vegan dishes, the options at Rajagiri College are quite meat heavy. However, exchange students do not have to visit the canteen.
"If you decide to take a semester abroad in India or the south of India respectively, you should look forward to challenges, and expect to be confronted with difficult situations and to master them and learn from them. You must be willing to embrace a different culture. But if you meet all these requirements, I can highly recommend it," Ruben says. During his semester abroad he did not only encounter challenges but also made many nice memories. He, for example, took a trip with friends to the federal state Goa, or smaller trips to a city in the mountains, for example. He attended several concerts which he enjoyed a lot.
Indian students in Germany
It is also interesting to learn how students from India experience studying in Germany. Aryan started in the bachelor's programme Business and Engineering at THWS in 2018. The German education system convinced him. In India, there is a lot of competition between students. Simply to get into a good university, you must be among the best of the best.
In Germany, there were still some challenges for him. In addition to a completely different cuisine, the fact that supermarkets are closed on Sundays, and the much colder climate, he also faced difficulties that were not just unexpected but also very awkward. It is more difficult for international students to find a flat, which is not only due to the language barrier. While he is mostly accepted as a student, he sometimes still experiences being met with prejudice at first.
Core elective module (FWPM) "India Gateway Programme"
Those who do not want to spend an entire semester in India, can gain some insights into the Indian culture in the core elective "Software Industries, Education, and Economy in India" - India Gateway Programme in short. The programme is offered every year and has existed since 2009. This module is offered by THWS in cooperation with the Christ University in Bangalore. The programme is in particular advisable for bachelor's students of the Faculty of Computer Science and Business Information Systems in their third programme semester. In this weekly seminar, the students learn about the Indian history, culture, politics, and IT-industry. Together with Indian exchange students, the students work on projects focussing on technical topics. The final presentation takes place at the Christ University in Bangalore. It is embedded in a two-week field trip that takes place after the examination period. If you are interested, make sure to visit the information event on the India Gateway Programme. It usually takes place in May or June.
THWS has the perfect offer for everyone wanting to get to know this exciting culture whether they want to go there for an entire semester or a two-week field trip. If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact the International Office for information to start your India adventure. Arya Helchel, who studies International Management at THWS, plans to apply to spend her next summer semester in India. She is curious about the new challenges the semester will have in store for her. One thing is certain: It will be a valuable experience.
