CIEE Arts + Sciences in Hyderabad, India

While I stand by the notion that there is really no way to prepare for this program, that leap of faith is very much caught by the CIEE staff in Hyderabad. They are very much there to help you through every step of the way with kindness and expertise. If you are looking for a program filled with many unexpected challenges, CIEE Hyderabad staff are there to make sure you can have an adventure in and out of the classroom. Especially because life in South Asia follows a different pace and initially ambiguous social rules, having experienced advisors really makes this program logistically manageable and emotionally rich.

My semester at the University of Hyderbad with CIEE was undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life. The University campus is beautiful and the student body is talented, diverse, and engaged; living there was an amazing learning and cultural experience all it’s own. The classes, too, were fantastic; the program allows both direct-enroll classes with regular University students and specialized courses for study abroad students. The housing was comfortable and convenient. Moreover, the CIEE support staff are some of the most helpful, kind, fun, and generous people I’ve ever met; they constantly went out of their way to take care of me and the other students and make our time in India as great as possible.

My study abroad in Hyderabad has changed my life. I learned so much about India—culture, language, food, history, art—as well as about myself and my own background. The program allows for plenty of independent travel, so I also got to explore beyond Hyderabad, which is in itself a fascinating city. I had such an amazing time, and I’m so grateful to CIEE for making it happen.

If you’re considering doing this program, GO.

Spending a semester of schooling in Hyderbad was one of the best decisions I ever made. India is so rich in culture, and the city of Hyderbad is a diverse representation of the region of Telengana and other regions from all over India.

The CIEE Arts and Science program was awesome. It gave me the freedom to take classes that I was really interested in about very culturally specific topics. The CIEE local support staff is absolutely incredible, they plan excursions and really go out of their way to make sure students all feel comfortable in the new culture.

The campus is absolutely beautiful at the University Of Hyderbad. The campus has tons of running and hiking trail with really cool rock and boulder formations. The campus also hosts wildlife like peacocks buffalo and spotted deer all over campus.

The lodging was also really good. The lodging for all the students is right above the area where all the meals are prepared and the food is delicious.

If you are on the fence about this program I would say you should go for it.

I loved my semester with CIEE in Hyderabad! India was a big switch from Indiana, but the CIEE staff was incredibly supportive every step of the way. Culture, classes, travel, health, and emotional health - they were there for everything! The semester allowed me to stretch myself and learn in ways that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do elsewhere. Besides being loads of fun that I will always remember, it helped me deepen my relationship with my then boyfriend / now-fiancee (originally from nearby Visakhapatnam), enables me to connect with Desi people wherever I am, taught me to think in new ways, and helped me get into a career in economic development.

It's easy to travel to and get around in other Western countries at any point in your life, but a semester with CIEE in India is absolutely irreplaceable. Definitely the right choice for me :)

I am so beyond grateful that I chose to study abroad with CIEE Arts + Sciences in Hyderabad. Although I had been out of the US for brief trips before, this was the first time that I ever spent a prolonged period of time abroad. I was nervous. I was excited. I didn't know what to expect or what I was getting myself into. Fortunately, I absolutely had the time of my life and if I could relive the entire experience, I undoubtedly would.

The other reviews seem to have already provided a lot of substantive information, so I'll just share a few thoughts/observations/memories:

Housing:
At first I did not think I wanted to do a homestay. However, I changed my mind upon arrival, and I am happy that I did. I lived with three other students in a home near campus with a wonderful Indian couple. Settling in off campus helped ease me into life outside of the university while introducing me to an amazingly gracious host family.

Academics:
Classes are more lecture-oriented than I was used to. I took a course in the politics department and listening to the students discuss current events was fascinating. Also, campus is gigantic and learning to navigate it was a fun challenge. Bikes were provided to us and that certainly facilitated exploring.

Travel (City/Beyond):
I really made a point of familiarizing myself with the city's public transportation (bus, rickshaw, the MMTS train system). This made weekend and post-class jaunts around town a lot easier. Also, as was mentioned in other reviews, Hyderabad is centrally located within India and it isn't hard to get to a lot of other great travel destinations quickly (by bus or train). There is so much to do! It should also be noted that CIEE does a great job of helping everyone learn how to use the trains, rickshaws, buses, etc. when they arrive.

Study Abroad Cohort:
This was probably the best part. I made great friends and the shared experience of everything above made for an irreplaceable life-changing semester.

I arrived to India on December 27th, 2018, and immediately upon getting off of my plane, I was greeted by a man that asked me if I was Enrique. That was my first interaction with Kalyan, one of the program's staff, and that first time truly foreshadowed just how prepared and supportive the staff was. In the first week or so we were given bikes to get around the huge campus, it was arranged for us to get cell phones from an Indian cellular service, and even the orientation before the semester started was longer and far more immersive than other programs there.

One of the first things we did was go on a scavenger hunt all across Hyderabad, in groups of 3 competing against each other, and that day gave us a giant tour of the city and the knowledge of how to best get around via rickshaw. The teachers were very accommodating and one of the language teachers, Bhavani, would actually invite students over about once a month to learn how to prepare various Indian dishes and snacks.

I did a homestay, instead of staying at the Tagore International House on campus. My host family was very welcoming and it truly felt like I was part of their family. I still stay in touch with one of my host brothers and we hope to visit each other again in both the US and India. My host mother was amazing, and despite the language barrier, she was able to explain to me what certain holidays meant and how to prepare dishes like daal and aloo gobi. I did end up spending a considerable amount of time in Tagore to hang out with other students in the program. The social space set up their was pretty nice; a lot of ping pong games were played there, and a lot of great movies were watched. Mr. Das, the guy in charge of everything involving Tagore and its residents, was a great guy and always helped anyone book a bus, plane, or hostel, when we wanted to travel outside of Hyderabad.

We even had a cultural show at Tagore, which was the result of the program affording students the opportunity to learn how to play instruments like the tabla or the sitar, how to dance various styles of Indian dance, and yoga. We got to showcase what we had learned in our respective extracurriculars towards the end of the program and it was such a fun night that the program planned, and out of the many fond memories I have of my time there, that one is one of the ones that stands out to me.

I loved my study abroad experience and I'm beyond happy that I ended up choosing CIEE Hyderabad because I do believe it was an integral part of just how immersive my experience was. I still keep in regular contact with some staff and teachers and I hope to visit them again on my next trip to India.

I had studied abroad before but this experience was exceptional. The staff changed my experience. They were available for emotional support to chai time chats. I always felt welcome and free to ask any questions I might have. We had a much more balanced view than other study abroad programs in the same university. CIEE provided a longer orientation, trips as a group, supplies for events and more. I have never felt more safe or happier than I did while I was in India with CIEE.

Many people were nervous about me going so far but with CIEE's backing, there was no need. The advisors gave us many options and were constantly there to help us. Even while we were traveling in other parts of the country, they were always available on the phone. They were some of the kindest people I have met and I was privileged to have their support. I am so thankful I was able to have this experience and would recommend it to everyone.

The CIEE staff did a phenomenal job of ensuring we learned about Indian culture through immersion and gave us the skills to navigate the country on our own and create a meaningful experience. Not only did we learn about culture, but we had important discussions about modern India that apply to any field of study. India can be overwhelming, but this program made it a fun experience and the staff were always there to support us. They truly treated us like family. Three years later we're still in touch and I've gone back to visit!