With booming global high-tech industries, colorful markets, well-respected universities and a rich history and culture, India provides many opportunities for study abroad students. While some students will choose to spend a semester immersed in a local community (three-fourths of India's population lives in villages), others will thrive on the chance to live in one of the world's most populated, exciting cities.

The seventh-largest country in the world and the second most populous, India is divided into 28 states and six union territories. Its capital, Delhi, contains the most universities in India. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, for example, is known as one of the best medical institutions in the world. In addition, students interested in the arts and social sciences can attend Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. Bangalore, located in southern India, is known as the hub of India's booming information-technology industry. Mumbai (Bombay) is India's largest city and port, and the center of the country's finance and business sector. Film students will enjoy everything "Bollywood" has to offer, as more films are produced in Bombay than in Hollywood.

Generally speaking, Engineering, Medicine, Management and Information Technology are the country's strongest university programs. Students who want to study engineering and technology may want to look into the Indian Institute of Technology located in Kanpur, Madras, Kharagpur and Mumbai. The Indian Institutes of Management located throughout India, the Xavier's Labour Research Institute in Jamshedpur, and the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research in Mumbai offer fine management programs. International students must complete entrance exams for admission into an Indian university.

History students will find themselves intrigued with India's ancient and varied history. From 3300 to 1700 B.C., the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world's most ancient civilizations, flourished here. This Bronze Age civilization was followed by the Iron Age Vedic period, and the birth of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha in the 6th century B.C. Mughal rulers brought Islam to the subcontinent early in the 8th century from Central Asia. At the height of the Mughal period, between 10th and 15th century A.D. and even after, the arts and architecture flourished in India. Between the mid-18th century and the 1900s, India was gradually annexed by the British East India Company. India's freedom movement began with Mahatma Gandhi in the 1920s and succeeded in 1947 after being partitioned into India and Pakistan; the latter's eastern wing became the nation of Bangladesh in 1971. India became a democratic republic in 1950. Today, Hindi and English are the country's official languages but many regional languages such as Bengali, Tamil and Punjabi are also widely spoken.

Religion majors will find that numerous religions exist alongside Hinduism, reflecting Indians' belief in religious freedom. Students interested in biology or zoology will enjoy the diverse wildlife, including elephant herds, Bengal tigers and the barking deer. And, of course, nobody studying in India should miss seeing the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the world.

A caste system still exists to some extent in India. Traditionally, castes are determined by occupation and include: Brahman (priests), Kshatriya (warriors), Vaisya (traders) and Sudra (laborers). Society in India revolves around the family, and it is common for several different generations to reside in the same house. Loyalty, respect\and a strong sense of community are central Indian values. Hospitality is also a core part of Indian culture. The famed Sanskrit saying "Atithi Devo Bhava" translates roughly into, "The guest is God and should be treated as such."

In the past decade, India has enjoyed significant economic progress in the global marketplace. It has established itself as a center for big business, while preserving ancient traditions. This diversity, coupled with the friendly and inviting Indian culture and the prevalence of English, makes the country an ideal destination for studying abroad.

With booming global high-tech industries, colorful markets, well-respected universities and a rich history and culture, India provides many opportunities for study abroad students. While some students will choose to spend a semester immersed in a local community (three-fourths of India's population lives in villages), others will thrive on the chance to live in one of the world's most populated, exciting cities.

Generally speaking, Engineering, Medicine, Management and Information Technology are the country's strongest university programs. Students who want to study engineering and technology may want to look into the Indian Institute of Technology located in Kanpur, Madras, Kharagpur and Mumbai. The Indian Institutes of Management located throughout India, the Xavier's Labour Research Institute in Jamshedpur, and the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research in Mumbai offer fine management programs. International students must complete entrance exams for admission into an Indian university.

In the past decade, India has enjoyed significant economic progress in the global marketplace. It has established itself as a center for big business, while preserving ancient traditions. This diversity, coupled with the friendly and inviting Indian culture and the prevalence of English, makes the country India an ideal destination for studying abroad.

Resources -

MIUSA Resources for Students with Disabilities: http://www.miusa.org/ncde/intlopportunities/indiafeat/
National Portal of India: http://india.gov.in
Welcome to India: http://www.welcometoindia.com
Tourism: http://www.incredibleindia.org
International Students: http://opendoors.iienetwork.org
University of Delhi: http://www.du.ac.in/
University of Mubai: http://www.mu.ac.in
Indian Government Sites: http://www.goidirectory.nic.in/
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: http://www.iie.org/gilman
National Security Education Program: http://www.iie.org/NSEP