We are delighted to announce two exciting opportunities at Ashoka University this summer: the Ashoka International Summer Research Programme (AISRP)  and the Summer Courses Programme at Ashoka. If you are interested in the AISRP, please see Ashoka University Summer Research. To apply for Summer Courses Programme, please follow the guidance below. 

Three Turing funded places are available for this programme for Widening Participation students only. The application form is in the purple section at the bottom of this page. The deadline for applications is 16 March 2025 23:59.

The Programme

Students will take one course from the summer semester programme available at: Ashoka University: Leading Liberal Arts and Sciences University (check "Summer Courses" tab). Courses run from 7 July to 16 August 2025. Students will receive an official transcript on successful completion of the programme.

Accommodation, Campus Facilities and Support

All international visiting students are guaranteed campus accommodation in fully-furnished residence halls. Rooms are provided on double-occupancy basis. Single room accommodation is not available. Visiting international students are housed with Ashoka students to encourage intercultural exchange. Students receive a meal plan (buffet and combo meals) at the dining facilities of Ashoka.

A transfer service from the Airport to Ashoka University will be provided and all students on the programme will be paired with a student from Ashoka to provide informal help and guidance.

Further information here: Ashoka University

What are the costs?

The fee for the 6-week programme (one course) is INR 273,500 (approx. £2500). This includes tuition fees, accommodation, meals and campus facilities but does NOT include travel costs.

What funding is available?

Three placements are available to Widening Participation students only. Each student selected will receive Turing funding composed of:

• Living cost grant: £21 per day (£861 total) towards the fee for the programme
• Travel grant: up to a maximum of £745 (reclaimable against receipts)
• Additionally the balance between the grant amount and the fee for the programme will be covered in full by Durham University.

You must meet certain Widening Participation criteria to be eligible. Students’ eligibility for support will be assessed as part of the application process.  

Fair Access

Fair Access: This initiative is open to any Durham student who meets the eligibility criteria.  Expressions of interest are particularly welcomed from students from backgrounds where participation in study or work abroad is traditionally low. This includes students who: have received or are eligible for the Durham Grant Scheme; have participated in the Supported Progression Scheme or Sutton Trust Summer school at Durham University; are from a minority ethnic group; have a home address in an area of low progression to higher education (i.e. your postcode is listed '1' or '2' in the Polar checking tool.

Widening Participation

For the purposes of funding, the University's definition of Widening Participation includes:

How to Apply

Eligibility

Interested students need to meet the following eligibility criteria. At the point of expressing interest in this initiative students must:

• Meet Widening Participation criteria;
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent;
• Have one full year of study remaining at the time of the summer school (summer 2025);
• Be able to spend 6 weeks from 7 July to 16 August 2025 in India

Application Process

Please note that completing the 'register to apply' form is only the first step of a longer two-step application process. Students must:

1. Apply to Durham, who will select one student to nominate to Ashoka.
2. The nominated student will then have to complete an application with Ashoka.

1. Application to Durham

The application form (in the purple section of this page) will ask for:

• Personal details
• Name of the course you wish to undertake (see: Ashoka University)
• Upload of a Transcript of Marks indicating that you meet the GPA requirement;
• Declaration of whether you meet the University's Widening Participation criteria
• Short personal statement

Durham application deadline: Sunday 16th March (23:59 GMT)

Selection by Durham

All applications will be vetted by Durham to ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria. Each eligible application will be given a unique number with successful applications selected using a random number generator. Students will be notified whether they have been successful on 18 March 2025. 

2. Application to Ashoka

The selected student will need to apply to Ashoka by 1 May 2025, providing the following:

• Latest academic transcript 
• Statement of purpose (motivation to apply for the programme, max 500 words)
• Letter of recommendation from an academic staff (a professor/lecturer)
• Copy of passport

Following your nomination, the application portal can be accessed here: Application portal.

Click on New Registration --- Choose Visiting Student Programme (international students) --- then choose I wish to visit Ashoka University for* Summer Semester.

Then continue and register for the Visiting Student Programme. Once registered, the system will guide students to fill in the online form with the required information.

Application deadline: 1st May 2025 (11.55PM IST)

Visa and insurance

All international students will require a visa for India. Once accepted, students receive a visa support letter from Ashoka University. It is mandatory that international students have health insurance coverage for India.

Please Note: It is mandatory that students complete Durham's predeparture processes, including VIATOR travel cover and the health declaration form.

Contact for further information: exchanges.studyabroad@durham.ac.uk