Program Reviews

It was a very interesting experience. I got to find out a lot about Indian food. I got to also study a lot! The staff was very helpful and accommodating and I did not feel left out. The social scene was inclusive and fun. The housing was clean. I found all the items i needed for a comfortable stay provided to me for the housing. i did not feel unsafe during any part of the programme. i think it taught me a lot and helped me make new friends. i would recommend my peers to take this programme! thank you

The classes are a very good standard of teaching and are very engaging. The fellow students are also super friendly and are more than happy to help you with any issues you are having. The on-campus food selection is also pretty tasty and cheap!

However, I have had quite a few technical problems in my first week (of which some are not entirely the university's fault to be fair), such as problems with my Indian sim and phone number, not being able to log onto the university app, not being able to scan through the university's gated security checkpoints smoothly, and a few other issues.

There are also very strict security rules and curfews here which has taken a bit of getting used to as it is very different from my home country university setup. For example, no alcohol is allowed on the premises and you cannot leave/come back to campus after midnight.

Also apply for your visa as early as you can as mine got delayed!!

For my second time ever outside the U.S., Ashoka University has been an amazing place to learn and explore more of India. The students are very welcoming as well as the staff. There are plenty of extracurricular activities to explore outside of academics, such as sports, visits to Delhi, and movie nights. As for the research I am doing, my professor has been very supportive in finding me projects within her lab that match my interests and skill set. She has also been helping me to learn new skills in a field I've never explored before Ashoka. This university is an amazing opportunity to learn more about Indian culture while also building resume worthy experience.

The content taught during the Summer Program has been incredibly insightful and intellectually stimulating. I'm so grateful to Ashoka for the opportunity to be part of this experience. The course has been highly engaging and rewarding, and the professor has been approachable and supportive throughout by creating an environment where questions and discussions are always encouraged. I've learned a great deal from both the professor and my peers, and interacting with such a diverse group of students has been equally enriching. The vibrant campus atmosphere and the overall learning experience have made this an unforgettable summer.

The Summer at Ashoka program offers a rigorous academic experience with engaging seminar-style classes, approachable faculty, and a vibrant residential campus that brings together students from India and around the world. It's a great opportunity to explore liberal arts in a collaborative environment, make international friendships, and experience campus life in India. While the workload is more demanding than some summer schools, most participants find it rewarding for the intellectual growth, cultural exchange, and lasting connections it provides.

My time at Ashoka University has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic career. The program perfectly balances rigorous intellectual engagement with deep, meaningful cultural immersion.
​The Academic Environment
The courses I took were intellectually stimulating, and I particularly appreciated [mention a specific class or research project]. The faculty are not only experts in their fields but are also incredibly approachable, fostering an environment where critical thinking and open discussion are encouraged.
​Life at Ashoka
The campus itself is a vibrant hub of activity. Engaging with both local students and fellow international participants created a diverse community that broadened my perspective significantly. I loved [mention a specific activity, club, or campus tradition, e.g., the lively atmosphere in the dining hall or a specific student event].
​Exploring India
Beyond the classroom, Ashoka provides excellent support for students looking to explore the region. Whether it was [mention a city trip, a local experience, or a weekend excursion], having the opportunity to navigate life in India was both challenging and deeply fulfilling.
​Advice for Future Students
If you are considering this program, my best advice is to [insert one practical tip, e.g., arrive a few days early to acclimate, participate in student-led organizations, or be open to trying new foods].
​Overall, my time here has been transformative. I’m leaving with a new perspective, lasting friendships, and a much deeper understanding of India. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a unique, growth-oriented study abroad experience.

Being at Ashoka was an incredible experience. I learnt so much about different intellectual fields of study. The faculty and the staff are extremely accomodating and helpful. The people here at Ashoka make you feel very welcomed and accepted. My advice would be to interact with the professors as much as possible and interacting with the students to form a larger network. Small tip would be to prepare for the weather and pack accordingly. But overall, if you're looking for a study abroad experience, don't hesitate and just apply.

As someone who's always wanted to travel to India but never got the chance until now, I'm extremely thrilled to say that living, learning, and exploring India through the International Summer Research Program at Ashoka University has been an absolutely life-changing experience for me!

As someone who studies South Asian/Indian Linguistics, getting the opportunity to work with esteemed faculty such as Professor Aalok Thakkar from Ashoka University's Computer Science Department was an excellent way to explore India through the lens of language, governance, and politics. I've learned so much about the historical foundations of India as a modern-nation state while being immersed in an linguistically rich environment. I've had so much fun learning with and from my peers and the passionate faculty at Ashoka, and I'm glad that my first introduction to India is through Ashoka University.

The Office of Global Education at Ashoka University was incredibly helpful throughout the process of adjusting to life on Campus and getting travel arrangements in the first place. Throughout the confusing VISA application process, the Global Office has always been available directly on WhatsApp to answer questions and even on Google Meets to offer more personable advice, staying by our side every step of the way. Furthermore, the Global Office ensures that every student who comes to Ashoka University for an intensive-summer experience also gets an immersive trip to various cultural, historical, and social sites all across the city of New Delhi, giving students the opportunity to visit everything from the Akshardham Temple to the Qutub Minar. It was truly an experience I am grateful for, and it is made possible by the support, dedication and meticulousness of the Global Office.

Throughout my summer program at Ashoka, I've made friends not just from all over India but from all over the world, and we have had such a cherishable bonding experience, whether we are chatting away at breakfast or planning thrilling day-trips across the Golden Triangle of India. My friends and I even organized a trip to go see the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort in only one day, and it was an incredible success. With the continued support of our lovely student Ambassadors and the Global Office, trips like these were planned without unnecessary worries. The Global Office also ensures that we have numerous opportunities for bonding and relieving academic stress whether through watching Bollywood movies every other day or helping out with Campus tours!

Ashoka University is a place that offers unprecedented services and facilities to its students. With two state-of-the-art gyms and an all-inclusive sports complex, Ashoka University students have the resources they need to make sure that they are always physically active and engaging in fitness-based activities. The gyms on campus are both open 24/7 and are quite new, and the campus is filled with volleyball courts, basketball courts, and areas to play all sorts of sports like Badminton and Squash. There is even a new pool that is under construction!

In addition to all the services Ashoka Provides for its students, the security at the university is truly astonishing! Every gate is guarded by 24/7 security officers who are there to ensure the wellbeing of students and staff.

Overall, I would 100% recommend my friends and peers to come to Ashoka University, as my summer here has been one of the most fruitful, exciting, and memorable summers ever, allowing me to find a beautiful balance between having fun with friends exploring India and using my time productively on academic projects that interest me.

I recently completed the Summer Course program at Ashoka University, and overall I'd call it a worthwhile experience for anyone considering a shorter-term study abroad option in South Asia.
Academics
The program compresses a full semester's worth of academic rigor into six weeks, which means the workload is intense but manageable if you stay organized. With 40 contact hours per course, classes met frequently, and the material moved quickly. I appreciated that professors didn't dumb things down for the accelerated format — the courses felt just as substantive as a regular semester offering, just condensed. If you're taking two courses at once (which the program allows, for those wanting the full 8 Ashoka credits/15 ECTS), be prepared for a genuinely busy schedule with limited downtime during the week.
Facilities and Support
Housing was dormitory-style and included in the program fee, along with meals, campus wifi, and access to facilities. This bundled pricing made budgeting simple, since I didn't have to think much about day-to-day costs once I arrived. The campus itself was clean, well-maintained, and had a good mix of international and local students, which made it easy to make friends quickly despite the short duration.
Cultural Experience
Outside of coursework, the program included activities and heritage walks that gave a good introduction to Indian history and culture. These felt well-organized rather than rushed, and paired naturally with what we were learning in class. Weekends were largely free, so students who wanted to explore Delhi or take short trips elsewhere had the flexibility to do so, though this required some independent planning since transportation beyond program activities wasn't included.

I had a lovely time studying a variety of courses. The teaching faculty really care about the students' learning and help with any issues related to the course content and beyond. I particularly enjoyed the performing arts course about Sanskrit plays where we not only read them, but explored the related dance and music and put up an act at the end of the semester. I had such a joyful time not only inside the classes but even outside through different club events and activities. The people of Ashoka are definitely the best part of the experience.