News highlights

New India programme launched

The 200 successful applicants on the part-government funded programme will be selected to go to either Mumbai or New Delhi, with King’s organising the programme for Mumbai, and Birmingham doing the same for Delhi. The programme will run from 24 August to 12 September 2009. 

Participants will have the opportunity to visit India, attend lectures on various aspects of Indian society such as history and commerce, take language classes and be immersed in Indian culture through a colourful programme of social activities. Students from King’s will also have the opportunity to spend one week on a work placement in an Indian organisation or company, with some facilitated by King’s Alumni Department. A preliminary itinerary for both Mumbai and Delhi is available on the Study India website. The programme is open to undergraduate students currently studying in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Skills for the future

Tayyeb Shah, Head of the Short Course Unit at King's Business, and coordinator of the programme at the College, says: 'This fantastic initiative from the UK Government is a once in a lifetime opportunity for students to learn about India and Indian culture first hand in the country, with substantial financial support. India is one of the world's largest and fastest growing economies and a country with increasing global importance. This programme will equip students with the skills and awareness necessary for a successful future in the global economy.'

A very similar programme for China was established in 2007 and has received great feedback from participants. Sarah Wing, a student from the University of Salford, said about her experience on Study China: ‘I really had the time of my life and loved every minute of it’. Douglas Haynes, a student from the University of Hertfordshire said: ‘By being on this trip it has made me a better person and has given me more clarity on the path that I lead in life.' Felicity Minns from the University of Exeter agreed: ‘This programme was enormously worthwhile and I feel privileged to have been selected.'

Costs and accommodation

Student accepted onto SIP only need to cover the cost of their airfare, visa, vaccinations and insurance plus spending money. The SIP organisers will cover the cost of the programme, accommodation and meals.

In New Delhi the accommodation will consist of a YMCA or YWCA Hostel with air conditioned twin rooms. In Mumbai students will stay in a three-star hotel in triple or quadruple rooms with en-suite bathroom, television and air conditioning.

How to apply

To apply for SIP, students need to fill in the online application form and ask a King's tutor or lecturer to fill in the online reference form. The reference can be provided by any member of academic staff.

More information

For more information, students are advised to visit the SIP website, which will answer most questions. In addition, a Facebook group has been created for all who are interested in this summer's programme. It is strongly recommend that applicants join this group as they can meet other applicants and exchange information about the applications. Students will also be able to meet other participants before departure once the successful candidates have been announced.

SIP is organised by King's College London's Centre for Indian Cultures and the University of Birmingham's International Office and is funded by UKIERI, the UK India Education and Research Initiative.



Notes to editors

King's College London
King's College London is one of the top 25 universities in the world (Times Higher Education 2008) and the fourth oldest in England. A research-led university based in the heart of London, King's has more than 21,000 students from nearly 140 countries, and more than 5,700 employees. King's is in the second phase of a £1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.

King's has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise for British universities, 23 departments were ranked in the top quartile of British universities; over half of our academic staff work in departments that are in the top 10 per cent in the UK in their field and can thus be classed as world leading. The College is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of nearly £450 million.

King's has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine and dentistry) and social sciences including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar. It is the largest centre for the education of healthcare professionals in Europe; no university has more Medical Research Council Centres.


King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are part of King's Health Partners. King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services. For more information, visit: www.kingshealthpartners.org.



Further information
Melanie Haberstroh, International PR Officer
Public Relations Department
Email: melanie.haberstroh@kcl.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7848 3076

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