Program Information | Course Information | W&M Faculty | Dates | Deadlines | Program Fees | Eligibility | Handbooks


Bengaluru, also referred to as Bangalore, is the capital of the Indian State of Karnataka, in which over 8 million people call home. The city is known as the "Silicon Valley of India" or as the "IT capital of India" due to the large number of IT companies headquartered there. In addition to these monikers, Bengaluru is also referred to as the "Garden City of India" due to the large number of public parks in the city, including a large botanical garden. Bengaluru is also the home of the National Law School of India University.

Goa is a coastal Indian state, known for its white beaches and Portuguese influence. It's also home to the Western Ghats, one of the most biodiverse mountain ranges in the world that is home to not only hundreds of threatened species but many undiscovered ones as well. Bangalore is a major Indian city, the third-largest in the country, known as the "Silicon Valley of India" due to its high percentage of IT exports.

Bengaluru/Goa video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyUzbwqPNYc


Journey Abroad Podcast hosted by Study Abroad Student Advisory Board. In this episode of "Journeys Abroad," host William Moore '20 interviews Greer Bateman '20, who describes her experiences on William & Mary's Summer Study Abroad Program to Goa/Bengaluru, India.

Things to Do and See:
In Goa, check out the Dudhsagar waterfall. Standing at 1,017 feet tall, Dudhsagar is India's fifth highest waterfall and huge tourist attraction in Goa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mh633HKZ4Y
https://www.goa-tourism.com/waterfall_tour

In Bengaluru, head to the packed VV Puraam or Food Street to discover various hole-in-the-wall eateries. Here you will find locals cooking classic street food dishes from all across India, ranging from handmade roti to freshly dunked bhajia (vegetable fritters). 

Program Description:
Students on the William & Mary Bengaluru and Goa summer program spend five weeks exploring India. Students begin the program in Bengaluru, staying and studying at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), where they are hosted.  At NLSIU students attend panel discussions and excursions to local NGOs and businesses, depending upon the course offerings that year.  Students also get an opportunity to work with Master's in Public Policy students at NLSIU.   From Bengaluru, the program will head to Goa, where students will have course-related excursions to points of interest around Goa will enhance the student’s understanding of the economic and cultural background of the region.  Possible additional excursions might include an overnight visit to an organic spice plantation or a trip to Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Students will be housed in Bengaluru at the NLSIU in apartment-style dormitories, and in Goa at the Panjim Inn where they will also attend class.   On excursions students will be housed in hotels. All meals are provided on-site (included in the program fee). 

The 2019 Goa & Bengaluru program was featured in a local newspaper. Please review the article here: new story Goa.jpg.  

Course Information:
All Summer 2025 students will be enrolled in:
 

RELG 308:  Mediation, Temples, and Festivals:  Religious Expression and the Impact of Globalization)/COLL 200 ALV (3 credits) - Taught by Program Director Professor Mark McLaughlin, Teaching Professor of South Asian Religions. This course considers the ramifications of globalization on 3 distinctly Indian religious mode3) - Taught by Professor Kondolkar of the Goa College of Architecture, this course considers Goan architecture and its reflection of/relationship to social, political, and cultural identity of Goa and its appropriation in the colonial, modern, and post-modern eras. The course intermixes lectures and class discussion with field visits to local sites. 

ARTH 220:  All that Glitters in Goa:  Introduction to the History of Goan Architecture (1510 - present) (3 credits) Taught by local faculty
 

There is a required 1 credit course to be taken in the Spring prior to departure, which you will be registered for following program acceptance. This course is designed specifically for students going on the summer program and is intended to enhance your cross-cultural understanding of Bengaluru and Goa and to cover a variety of pre-departure information. The scheduling of this course will be dependent on the class times possible for program participants.

Courses taught by W&M faculty. Grades will appear on the W&M transcript and will be included in GPA calculations.
 

W&M Program Director:
Mark McLaughlin


Term:
Arrival: May 23, 2025
Departure: June 28, 2025

Deadlines:
Application Deadline of Dec 2, 2024
                With a deposit ( $750) due deadline:  March 7, 2025 (Friday prior to Spring break)
                And a balance due deadline:  April 1, 2025

Application fee information:
The application fee ($75) is due by the deadline and should be paid online at the GEO Marketplace Store. Whoever is making the payment will need student 93#, email, and phone number. The application fee is refundable in the event that you are not accepted into the program or the program is canceled by W&M. 

Program Fees: 
2025 Program fee:  $8125

Students are responsible for airfare, vaccinations, some meals, and visa fees. 

To view the estimated costs for this program and important payment information, please visit here. ​

Reves Summer Scholarships are available for this program.
If applying for a Reves Summer Scholarship, please apply to the W&M faculty-led application BEFORE applying to the Reves Summer Scholarship. 

Program features:

• All meals provided on program
• Transportation to/from airport in Bengaluru and Goa
• On-site orientation
• Excursions and entrance fees for excursions
• CISI insurance
• Housing
• On-site support 
• W&M credits
• Fulfills COLL 300
• Reentry programming

Eligibility:

• Students must be an active W&M undergraduate student in good standing, not on academic or disciplinary probation during time abroad, and eligible to take classes at the W&M Williamsburg campus to study abroad. 
•  Students currently on-campus must successfully complete 1 credit spring course. 
• For more information about eligibility, please visit our Policies that Affect You page.

**Please note that international students should email the GEO advisor directly about this program, as you may need additional time to apply for a student visa to India.  All non-Indian students will need a visa to attend the program and will need to provide adequate time for the application process of the visa.  It is highly recommended that US and European citizens apply no later than early April for the visa.

Summer Abroad Handbook 2025