About Pondicherry

A former French colony Pondicherry is situated on the east coast, about 160 kms south of Chennai. Pondicherry has grown substantially around the central planned area of boulevards and heritage buildings built by the French who ruled for almost 300 years. Its history and major attractions have brought about a curious mix of the local and international flavor to the streets of Pondy—be it cuisine, architecture or curios.

About the Marine Science Program

BCA Pondicherry offers a broad range of topics in coastal zone management and marine sciences and covers current issues in the field. You will experience the varied cultures of India across several locations—from the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean to travelling the lengths of the southern coasts of India.

The base for the course is the small but rapidly growing town of Pondicherry. Travels will take you to the Anadaman Islands, Goa on the west coast and Chennaion the east., . A mid-semester break at Goa allows for relaxation and exploration of the unique Goan culture. You will also take short trips to interesting places in the vicinity at each of the main locations.

The program is hosted by the Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning in Pondicherry. FERAL partners with five other education centers, in five different locations including:

Andaman and Nicobar Environment Team in the Andaman and Nicobar islands
Madras Christian College in Chennai
National Institute of Oceanography in Goa
Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute in Tuticorin
Annamalai Centre for Advanced Studies in Marine Biology in Porto Nova

About the Andaman Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are two groups of islands in the southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal and are separated by the 10° N parallel. The Andaman group is the larger of the two. These islands are known for their tropical rain forests, coral reefs and mangrove forests. Given its location, the flora and fauna have Indian, Malaysian and Burmese origins. Several indigenous tribes still inhabit many of the islands. Initial settlers from mainland India were prisoners and indentured labor transported by the British. Today's population is a mix of several communities, mainly Bengali and Tamilian. Population growth, increasing tourist influx and development has put huge pressure on the islands natural systems.

About Chennai

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu and the fourth most populous metropolitan area in India. It is known both for its rich cultural heritage and fast growing economy. The city has been an important administrative center for several ruling south Indian dynasties since the 1st century. Today, it is the second largest exporter IT services in the country and also serves as a major automotive manufacturing hub. It is also the base of Kollywood or the Tamil movie industry.

About Goa

Goa is a popular tourist destination for its long coastline of beautiful beaches. The rich mix of Portuguese influence spanning four centuries and Indian traditions have forged the unique “Goan” atmosphere of music, food and festivities. The Goan Carnival, held during four days before the beginning of Lent, is a traditional Mardi Gras celebration and puts on display the soul of Goa. Sometimes students are lucky to be in Goa during the carnival.

About Porto Novo

Known as Parangipettai - "the place of foreigners," Porto Novo is a small fishing village on the banks of the Vellar River. The Portuguese, Dutch and English successively colonized the area, and the Dutch name Porto Novo stuck. Today, the village hosts the Centre for Advanced Studies in Marine Biology of the Annamalai University located in nearby Chidambaram.