Study abroad in India with IFSA
Pune
, India

IFSA Summer Internships in India

Program Overview

As India gains a foothold in the global market, it’s a fascinating place to explore the impact of business expansion on cultural norms. In Pune, you’ll have an exciting array of opportunities to do just that. Explore a thriving city where the entrepreneurial and spiritual intertwine as you take a four-week class of your choice and participate in eight-week hands-on internship. It’s an incredible way to get to know a nation vastly different than your own.

Add a second four-week class to deepen your knowledge and earn more credits toward your degree.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Summer: March 15

Minimum GPA

2.00

Credit load

6 - 10

Housing

Home Stay

Instruction language

English

Prerequisites

None

Apply Now

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Academics

Enhance your learning and develop marketable skills with an eight-week IFSA Summer Internship in India.

Essential Hindi

If you’ve never studied Hindi before, you’ll take this introductory seminar taught intensively at the beginning of your summer session to complement the IFSA internship experience. By introducing key words and phrases in the classroom—and venturing out into the city to practice them—this class also provides insights into local customs and daily life in Pune. (1 U.S. semester credit hour)

International Internship Seminar

All internships include participation in the International Internship Seminar, which uses a blended learning framework with online and in-person components. Online modules provide structured opportunities to reflect on the practical experience of the internship, learn more about your host country’s business culture, and further develop the professional skills needed for a successful transition from undergraduate coursework into a career or graduate school. Plus, you will engage with an online global cohort of IFSA internship participants, gaining exposure to business cultures around the world. At your IFSA location, you will meet in-person with fellow interns to participate in exclusive field visits, learn from guest speakers about working across cultures, and attend workshops on leveraging your strengths for your future job search at home or abroad. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

ADDITIONAL CLASSES

In addition to your internship, you must take one additional class during either Session 1 or Session 2. You may opt to take an additional class during both Session 1 and Session 2 for an additional fee.

SESSION 1 CLASS

Contemporary India

One of the world’s oldest civilizations, India is often referred to as a ‘marvel and a paradox’. This course seeks to acquaint students to contemporary Indian society, culture, and politics. A nation that is poised to become a superpower with its scientific and technological advances also grapples with poverty and illiteracy. Add to it complexities that arise out of religious, linguistic, and ethnic diversities. This course will aid help students contextualize current issues in India as they experience it during their stay, through interactions with local people and personal observations. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

SESSION 2 CLASS

Food Culture and Indian Society

India is home to numerous regional food traditions and cuisine styles, and each of them has distinct characteristics, history, and cultural influences. Through anthropological and sociological lenses, students will consider the importance and roles of food in our personal and social lives. Even though we need food to survive, we cannot take for granted that we eat the same food for the same reasons at the same time. Situated in the fascinating culinary setting of Pune, this class examines food as part of national heritage, religious beliefs, hygiene practices, and as a sometimes-controversial product for tourist consumption. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

PLACEMENT PROCESS

Once you submit your application, including your resume and an IFSA Internship Intent Form, our experienced advisors will connect with you individually to identify your professional strengths, review your goals, and refine your internship interests. We will also provide internship preparation resources and interviewing tips to further set you up for success.

Our team will match you with meaningful and credible internship opportunities tailored to your interests, strengths, and background. You will interview with your internship match before your placement is confirmed. Keep in mind, final placements are highly dependent on the prior experiences and skills you may have to offer, availability of companies, and the local environment for these positions.

PLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS 

Interns are engaged for 15 or more hours per week with their host organization. All internships are credit-bearing and unpaid opportunities. Interns are jointly supervised by a site supervisor and seminar instructor, and coordinated by IFSA resident staff.

The following list showcases the variety of potential internship opportunities in Pune. While some of these internship opportunities may be available for upcoming terms, internship placements do vary from term to term. We will work with you individually to identify a placement that meets your unique personal, academic, and professional goals.

Placements are conducted in English, unless otherwise noted. If you have at least four semesters of Hindi language experience, ask your IFSA Admissions Counselor about opportunities to conduct your placement in Hindi.

​​​Organization: This independent charitable organization works to better the lives of low-income communities in Pune through a range of family welfare programs such as education, healthcare, child development, and women’s empowerment.

Subject Areas: Public Health

Potential Projects: On the background of COVID-19, the organization would have you prepare awareness material for their target population. They also work with women, adolescents, and HIV+ people regarding their health and nutrition. Depending on student interest, the work may be designed for a team of students.

Language: English

Organization: The mission of this NGO hospital research center is to conduct research in areas which affect the life of common people, with an emphasis on women and children. Areas of research include reproductive and child health, adolescent health, HIV and AIDS, quality of health services, women’s development, and various clinical topics. In addition to its ICU facilities, it has medical, surgical, and pediatric departments.

Subject Areas: Public/Global Health

Potential Projects: You may work on projects related to literature review, data analysis, and preparing awareness materials for COVID-19, reproductive health, mental health, child sexual abuse, and HIV.

Language: English

Organization: This organization focuses on sustainable socio-economic development through granting micro-finance loans, imparting skills and vocational training, and availing health services through micro-insurance plans. Additionally, the organization successfully runs training, family security, education, and awareness programs.

Subject Areas: Finance

Potential Projects: Projects will be based on your specific skill set.

Language: English

Organization: This K-10 school serves more than 800 children from underprivileged families residing in the old central parts of Pune. Many of the students are the first-generation learners in their family.

Subject Areas: Education Studies, Elementary Education

Potential Projects: You would assist in developing personality development workshops for fifth grade to ninth grade students. Other projects available based upon your skill set.

Language: English

Organization: This “inclusive” preschool through 10th grade school accepts students from all socio-economic backgrounds, including those with physical and mental disabilities. One of the school’s extension is a center for children with severe disabilities, while another extension teaches secondary school students arts and crafts as a vocation.

Subject Areas: Education Studies

Potential Projects: With teaching plans prepared for the coming academic year, you would work to develop teaching materials and tools to assist the preschool and first grade to fourth grade teachers.

Language: English

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

  • You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
  • You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
  • You must have completed at least one (1) semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.

Recommendation Letter
Not required.

Visa Requirement
This program requires a visa for all students.

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects courses taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t our control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.

Activities

  • Saras Baug: Visit this garden which features a Lord Ganesh temple in its lake. It is cultural practice to pray to Lord Ganesh as he is the god that removes obstacles.
  • Food and Markets: Explore the octagonal shaped Mandai market with more than 500 fruit and vegetable stalls, Dorabjee’s self-serve supermarket dating back over 100 years, or the uniquely Indian very first fast-food restaurant in Pune.
  • Copper Workshop: Visit Tambat Ali, a famous community of copper artisans, and learn how they are continuing traditional techniques while embracing modern design aesthetics and sustainable business models.
  • Palkhi Pilgrimage: Each year, from every corner of Maharashtra, thousands of devotees to Lord Vishnu make the long walk to Pandharpur on the Deccan Plateau. The pilgrimage passes through Pune and the city streets come alive with exuberant devotional songs. Watching this procession is in itself a tremendous experience.
Excursions
  • Velhe Day Trip: Travel to the nearby village of Velhe to experience life in India. You will visit the Primary Health Care Center, interact with women and girls’ empowerment projects, lend a hand with agricultural initiatives at the local technical school, and learn about the traditional craft of making musical drums.
  • Sinhagad Day Trip: Enjoy a morning trek to the ruins of an ancient fortress in the Sahyadri Mountains overlooking Pune. Literally “lion fort,” this historic hilltop features a memorial to 17th-century Maratha emperors and a temple to the goddess Kali.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Home Stay

Meals

All Included

Details

During the program, you will live with an Indian host family. All homestay families undergo an extensive vetting process with special attention to health, safety, and opportunities for cultural exchange. While every student has a different relationship with their host family, students are frequently brought along to religious, cultural and community activities, and introduced widely among their friends and family. Host families may be a large extended family, an older couple with children living abroad, or a nuclear family. They will likely speak Marathi, English, and some Hindi.

Dates and Fees

Term

Term begins

Term ends

Program costs

Application deadline

Summer 2023

May 29, 2023

July 21, 2023

$6,475

March 15

Term

Summer 2023

Term begins

May 29, 2023

Term ends

July 21, 2023

Program costs

$6,475

Application deadline

March 15

Get started

Apply Now
schedule time to talk
Vineeta Chauhan

Vineeta Chauhan

Admissions Counselor

Zipporah Gaines

Zipporah Gaines

Prearrival Counselor

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