Youth For Understanding USA

India is home to over thirty UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of the seven modern wonders of the world. YFU students have the exciting opportunity to call this cultural wonderland home!
Learn more about India.

Academic Year and Volunteer Program 

Students enrolled in the Year + Volunteer program will participate in the traditional YFU academic year program, attending school and then going on to participate in a community service project for the last month of the exchange year. Projects may include but are not limited to working in an orphanage, teaching, working with the elderly, or working with people with intellectual disabilities.  Students are matched with a project based on their interests and available opportunities near their host family. On this program, students continue to live with their host families, but instead of attending school, they volunteer for several hours each day. This volunteer opportunity is a great opportunity for students to make a difference in their Indian communities and immerse themselves even deeper in their host culture. 
 

Gap Year Abroad

The traditional Academic programs are also available as Gap Year Abroad options. Learn more about other gap year programs. Students participating in the gap year in India will not be placed in grade 12. 

Academic Year and Semester Programs

As a YFU student to India, you'll live with a host family and attend a local high school. Part of your experience will be: 

School: Secondary school (grades 9-12) is for students between the ages of 14 and 18. It prepares students for higher education at India's colleges and universities. Students who have graduated from school in the U.S. will be placed in the 11th grade, as will students completing their senior year. No students will be placed in grade 12 while in India. Courses may include Hindi, English, mathematics, humanities, commerce, computer science, history, social studies, yoga, arts, and physical education. Most classes are taught in English. Students will be placed in private schools, where they typically study humanities and commerce. Students do not study science due to the high level of difficulty. Students who participate in the Semester+ program will attend school and return home before the exam period begins in late March.  

Orientations: All students applying for the semester or year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation, which usually takes place in mid-July. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas. All students will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June. In India, students will also attend a 4-5 day post-arrival orientation as well as mid-year and re-entry orientations with other YFU students from all over the world. A survival Hindi manual will be provided to students one month before their departure.

Extracurriculars: YFU students are encouraged to engage themselves in extracurricular activities offered by their host schools and communities. Some examples of popular extracurriculars include cricket, musical theater, and athletics.

Optional Excursions: In mid-March, students are invited to participate in a 3-day cultural expedition with other YFU students from around the world. The destination of this trip varies from year to year, but previous expeditions have gone to sites like Himachal, Dehrandun, and Shimla. Students will find out more about this optional trip upon arrival in India.  The trip has typically included food, transportation, accommodations, and sight-seeing, and has cost around $400 to participate. 

Summer Program

Experience "Incredible India" this summer during a one month exchange to the endlessly fascinating subcontinent. Stay with fellow exchange students in the dormitories of a local school campus during the week and get to know India from an insider's perspective through host families stays during the weekends.

Participants will have the opportunity to try a wide range of activities like yoga, meditation, Hindi or Punjabi language classes, popular local sports like cricket, and Indian cooking classes. There will also be visits local temples of different religions, museums, and a trip to the Indian border.  This program will be based in Punjab, a state in the north of India, and will also offer a 5 day trip to either the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh or to Rajasthan and the iconic Taj Mahal.  

Tuition Includes

-Placement with a host family (and in dormitory accommodations for the Summer Program) 
-Enrollment in a local Indian private high school (Year and Semester Programs)
-Airport transfers
-Domestic and international travel
-All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
-Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
-Support from a YFU India Area Representative while on program
 

Additional Information

 Visa Information: Information regarding visas and other immigration processes will be provided upon enrollment.  Students will also be required to register in gthe Foreigners Regional Registration Office after their arrival. 

Additional Costs: Students should budget to cover additional school-related expenses including summer and winter school uniforms (approx. $200), textbooks (approx. $150), and transportation (approx. $60 per month). Students are also responsible for covering any fees associated with obtaining a visa. Program tuition does not include personal spending money.