IFSA The City, the River, the Sacred
- India
About Program
Explore the intersections between religious practice, urban studies, and environmental issues in the ancient city of Varanasi. Arguably the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, Varanasi serves as an important holy site for Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist communities alike. Today, this dense urban center is defined by its close symbiotic relationship with the Ganges River, which can be simultaneously understood as pure and polluted. Artistic and artisanal traditions thrive in Varanasi, known for its silk-weaving and pottery, as well as generations of mastery in classical Indian music forms.
In addition to your academic studies, you will also have ample opportunities for language learning and cultural immersion. You will live with an Indian host family and participate in co-curricular activities that take learning outside of the classroom. A week-long excursion to West Bengal will expose you to India’s cultural diversity and colonial history.
Video and Photos
Scholarships
IFSA Scholarships and Financial Aid
IFSA is deeply committed to making study abroad accessible to as many students as possible. We believe that cost should never be a barrier: that’s why we offer financial support to a larger proportion of our students than any other organization.
Financial assistance is available for IFSA January term, semester, year, and summer programs. Scholarships include the IFSA First-Generation Scholarship and IFSA Diversity Scholarship, as well as program-specific scholarships in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK. We also offer $2,000 IFSA State School Grants and IFSA Minority Serving Institution Grants to all qualified applicants.
Once you’ve started your IFSA program application, you’ll gain access to IFSA’s scholarship application.