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FAQ about Pondicherry
Do I need to know Hindi or Tamil to participate in the program?
No. While BCA Pondicherry classes are taught in English, students are required to take Language Tutorials. You will be taking some tutorials in Tamil. This will be spoken Tamil primarily, although you will learn some script as well.
Where is BCA Pondicherry study center located?
BCA Pondicherry operates in conjunction with two institutions. The Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning (FERAL) is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 and based in Pondicherry, India with a field research center in Tamil Nadu. FERAL emphasizes the value of ecological research and advocacy and focuses its mission on combining science with social justice initiatives.
Founded in 1969, the College of the Fisheries became the first fisheries college to be started in India and the second in South-East Asia. The mission of the college is to promote education and research in fisheries science.
What can I study at BCA Pondicherry?
All BCA Pondicherry students will take the following courses. Course Evaluation is based on overall course participation, short papers, section quizzes, and a final project.
- Field Methods in Marine Systems — This is the methods portion of the program including field techniques, quantitative methods, and a scientific writing seminar. The student requirements will be a short paper, four section quizzes and a final exam.
- Island Ecosystems — This course will introduce the students to island ecosystems from both applied and theoretical viewpoints. The course will run in the Andaman Islands. The topics covered will include island fauna, island flora, reef ecosystems, and a ridge-to-reef view of these complex biotas.
- Upland Process and Estuaries — This course will introduce students to estuaries and upland processes. About 50% of the course will be at field sites with the discussion and activities intended to give a very close view of the processes, ecology, and issues in coastal watersheds and estuaries.
- Coastal Zone Management — This course will cover the current legal status, international treaties, state and central government coastal zone management regulations, and the history and current status of conflict and the attempts to overcome that conflict in India. This includes shrimp farming, over fishing, pollution, shipping, oil spills changes in beach morphology and coastal topography from weirs dams, etc.
- Language Tutorials — You will be taking some tutorials in Tamil. This will be spoken Tamil primarily, although you will learn some script as well. While in Mangalore you will learn a little Hindi, but the primary language you will use is Tamil. You will have the option for more intensive tutorials if you choose.
BCA Pondicherry students will also choose one course from the following two options:
Art as Sustainable Development — Pottery, Beadwork, Leatherwork, and Sculpture:
The arts of coastal India include pottery, beadwork, stonework, leatherwork, and jewelry. This course will provide the opportunity to work with the artists who train local people and produce these works for sale. This will cover introductory classes in these arts. The student will also visit the production factories and cottage industries where these products are produced for market. The student will also compare the economic structure of villages where the artesian communities operate with nearby villages dependent primarily on either agriculture or industry. This comparison will give the students clear perspective on the role of art in sustainable development. Students wishing to further their study in any of these fields may negotiate more time in the studios.
Culture, Class and Gender — This course will cover issues of gender and other disadvantaged groups in coastal management. Fishing villages' areas are often composed of people who are ethnically, religiously, or class wise distinct from upland populations. Women furthermore also have culturally distinct roles in the resource harvesting, production, and processing of natural resources.
Where will I live?
For the FERAL program, you will live in thatched-cabins, located about 20 meters from their research/study center. There is limited access to the Internet at the research/study center. Bathroom/shower facilities are within five meters of the thatched-cabins.
For the College of the Fisheries program, you will live in guest houses not far from the administrative center of the College of the Fisheries. There are separate guest houses for males and females and kitchen facilities are available if students would like to cook.
Will my school accept credit from BCA Pondicherry?
It is important that students check with their university registration and records office to determine whether BCA credits will be accepted. Each university has its own policy for transferring credits, and it is the students’ responsibility to follow their home university rules and regulations. Upon completion, BCA sends transcripts from FERAL, College of Fisheries, and BCA course reports to students and their home universities. If the home university or college requires a transcript from a US school, BCA provides a transcript from Elizabethtown College, which is BCA’s school of record.
Will my financial aid transfer?
Federal aid is transferable; some state aid is transferable. Aid from an individual’s school is transferred at the school’s discretion. Students should consult their financial aid advisor for further information and advice.
Why study with BCA?
BCA is one of the nation's oldest independent organizations committed to promoting international understanding and academic excellence through college study abroad programs for US students and adult seminars for faculty and administrators. Rooted in the values of peace and justice, BCA promotes international understanding, awareness of global citizenship and academic scholarship through educational exchange. Among the special qualities of BCA's programs are: unique opportunities to study peace and justice issues in places where conflict has profoundly affected culture, history and daily life; opportunity for cultural immersion; and tremendous academic and administrative support.
What are the application deadlines?
BCA encourages interested students to apply as soon as possible to get the process in motion. Applications for the spring semester are due by November 1 (October 15 to be guaranteed a place on the group flight arranged by BCA). Fall semester applications are due by April 15. Students are notified of their acceptance within three weeks of submitting a complete application.
Do I need a visa to study in India?
In order to study in India you will need to have a student visa which will give you legal status in the country for the time that you are there. Multiple-entry visas are given to bona fide students to pursue regular studies at recognized institutions in India. Valid for the period of study as approved by the educational institution in India.
Can I study abroad as a freshman?
To study abroad with BCA Pondicherry a student must have at least one year of undergraduate study. However, BCA encourages students to start planning in their freshman year and investigate which program is a good fit for their individual needs.
I’m worried my GPA may not be good enough. Should I still apply?
BCA does employ minimum GPA standards for each study center. The required GPA varies by program and is an important tool in evaluating a student’s application; however, it is not the only consideration. BCA also takes into account the student’s personal statement and their letters of recommendation. BCA encourages students to apply even if they do not quite meet the GPA standards.
How many courses will I take?
All students will take 5 classes, additional language tutorials, and have the option to complete a research project extension.
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