Introduction
The semester abroad programme, offered by the International Programmes and Collaboration Division (IPCD), is a pathway for students to study abroad at a university of their choice. To learn more about the programme and the benefits a student could receive from pursuing the same, the English Press Club (EPC) reached out to the joint student coordinators of IPCD—Kirat Chawla and Siddhesh Kumar—for a brief interview.
To begin with, Kirat and Siddhesh shared some details about the application process, the technicalities, and the rules. Kirat clarified that semester abroad programmes differ from exchange programmes. For the former, a student from BITS Pilani travels to another university to study, but a student from that university is not required to study at BITS for the same duration.
An essential prerequisite to apply for the programme is the completion of all Compulsory Disciplinary Courses (CDCs). This means that single-degree students can only apply in their fourth year and dual-degree students in their fifth, while being mindful of their two PS/TS components. This also means that students can only take electives at the partner university; all CDCs will need to be completed in BITS. Additionally, the partner university chosen by the student has to be ranked among the top 400 universities in the world, as per the QS World University Rankings.
Application Process
When asked about the process of applying, Kirat and Siddhesh made it clear that the onus was entirely on the student. A student begins by shortlisting universities that have a programme allowing visiting students to study for a semester in universities they already applied to and got accepted into. Mailing the respective admissions staff or international divisions of those universities could be the next step, Kirat said. The first step a student has to take is shortlisting universities that host students for semester abroad programs, and universities that have already accepted their applications for their semester abroad programme. Kirat said that the next step could be to mail the respective admissions staff or international divisions of those universities, and obtain details regarding the availability of such programmes.
After receiving a confirmation letter, the student submits it to IPCD and AUGSD for a preliminary screening. After receiving a no-objection certificate from AUGSD, the student submits the list of courses they will take at the partner university. It is then the job of IPCD to map these courses to the student’s elective requirements left in BITS; the courses a student takes will have to be analogous to the ones here at BITS. For example, if a student has two DEls left, two courses taken up by them in the semester abroad programme will have to be similar to disciplinary electives offered in BITS. Once the mapping is done, the student is ready to go.
Kirat said that the institute does not have any tie-ups with other universities that facilitate these programmes, and that any university that ranked in the top 400 was an acceptable choice. He explained that some of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed are similar to, but not the same as semester abroad programmes—like with Hiroshima University in Japan. They periodically accept students from BITS for residential programmes—if the student maintains a good enough CGPA. He mentioned that they have had talks with many universities regarding semester exchange programmes, but no MoUs have been signed currently.
Comparison with Off-campus Thesis
When asked about the current level of interest students have in the semester abroad programmes, Siddhesh said that incoming freshers and sophomores tend to be most curious, having heard of these opportunities from their school days. He said that given the conditions set by the administration to pursue the programme, ‘it doesn’t really make sense for someone to go for a sem abroad.’ He mentioned that the hectic schedule one would have to have during their time in BITS in order to go abroad, made the off-campus thesis seem like a far more viable option.
Kirat added by saying that first-year and second-year students tend to be more excited about the programme, but generally end up backing out when they realise they may miss the chance to sit for placements. There was also the lack of flexibility—in that a student could only travel in their final year. Further, dual-degree students have two PS/TS components—and to go abroad, they would need to find a way to complete one of those in the partner university. He said that ‘theoretically it is possible but, like, logistically it can get a bit difficult.’ However, due to the hassle, students favoured the off-campus thesis.
A semester abroad and an off-campus thesis, however, are two very different opportunities. When one goes for a semester abroad to a particular university, they are treated as a student of that university for the duration of the programme. They will have to attend lectures and complete their coursework as usual. An off-campus thesis, on the other hand, will involve working on your thesis with a mentor. This may include conducting research, talking to your mentor and networking with people working in your field.
Benefits of the programme
When asked about how a semester abroad might help add weight to a student’s CV, Kirat explained that foreign universities generally look for “malleability” in a student, apart from just academic excellence. Having spent a semester studying in a foreign college makes a candidate appear to be more ‘globalised’, and this is appreciated by foreign universities.
He also added that pursuing a semester abroad in a particular university might lead to a Master’s opportunity within that university. He explained that by offering a semester abroad programme, most universities are not looking to just gain some extra tuition fees. Instead, they are looking for prospective students who could become assets to their university in the future.
Kirat also pointed out that this programme is particularly helpful for students who are looking to go for an MBA from a foreign university. He said ‘in MBA your research does not matter as much as does your globalisation, etc.—that matters.’
When asked about what some common misconceptions about the semester abroad programme are, Kirat explained that while sitting for placements becomes an issue for students going for a semester abroad, they can usually manage to sit for Day Zero and Day One companies because of the difference in the academic calendars of Indian and foreign universities.
Before the pandemic, the new session at BITS Pilani used to start in the first week of August, whereas most foreign universities commenced their fall semester between mid-September and early October. So, students could sit for placements in the meantime. Additionally, if the test and application process were being conducted online, the students could appear for it even if they weren’t on campus.
When asked about the financial aspects of the programme, Kirat made it clear that fees would have to be paid at both the partner university and BITS for the entire duration of the semester. He lamented that scholarships aren’t offered for students pursuing semester abroad programmes, whereas students pursuing off-campus theses may be eligible to receive up to ₹30,000 through certain scholarship allocations. He added that the amount hadn’t been updated in a long time.
Towards the end of the interview, Siddhesh emphasised the importance of talking to one’s seniors about their experience with respective programmes. Talking to a lot of people who have undergone similar experiences will provide the student with several different perspectives and will ultimately help them make an informed decision about the best possible course of action.
Kirat strongly agreed with this piece of advice and also added that any student considering a semester abroad should take some time out to look at their degree requirements and clearly map out their courses well in advance. One must keep in mind the different rules about maximum credits allowed per semester depending on universities, which makes completing as many DEls and OpEls as possible beforehand a must, so they don’t face any issues while applying for courses of their choice in the foreign university later on.