Incoming Student Exchange

TISS receives a number of international students (self and sponsored) under short-term exchange programmes for Coursework, Fieldwork/ Research Affiliation/ Project Work or both. The following steps and rules are followed for ensuring that the incoming students fulfil their credit requirements as well as make the best of their time at the institute.

The incoming students will be invited to attend the coursework at TISS as per the mutual agreement between the TISS and the Home University.
The incoming students have to before the commencement of the academic semester
If students are coming for coursework (Self) they will need to pay the fees-$2000 per semester for programmes with Field Work or $1800 per semester for coursework without Field Work
For regular exchange student, this fee will be waived off if there is active student exchange between TISS and the partner university as defined in the MoU.
Also, if there are any additional students-other than those part of the mutually agreed, they will be required to pay the full fee at the institute applicable for foreign students.
The students coming solely for coursework will be called before the commencement of the semester to be able to attend the courses and complete the required credits
No student should be admitted to any academic course for short-term or long-term affiliation without the knowledge of the OIA.
The students will be introduced to the respective secretariats through the OIA and they have to maintain communication with the secretariats.
An incoming exchange student can choose a variety of courses from different programmes at TISS. However, they are required to inform the OIA regarding the courses they opt for in advance or within 10 days of commencement of the programmes to ensure their registration and attendance.
The OIA will provide all the time-schedules (depending on the availability) for the BA/ MA programmes and the courses being offered during the respective semester so as to enable the students to make the course selection.
The selection of courses has to be done within a week's time from the commencement of the classes/after attending the first lecture.
The students need to fill and submit a Course Selection form available with the OIA at the earliest so that details can be provided from the OIA to the concerned secretariats
The student will have to specify whether they want to audit/credit a particular course(s).
A student will not be allowed to make a change in selection- auditing a credited course or vice-a-versa after 15 days of commencement of the teaching session.
Students will also contact the respective faculty members for the permission to audit/credit their classes/ particular courses.
For all such credited courses, a student will be required to complete all the assessment units as prescribed. Failure to do so will be communicated to the home university and the student will not be provided any confirmation of credits/attendance certificate for the same.
Once the course has been selected, every student is expected to maintain regularity and 100% attendance for all programme requirements: classroom/theory course, field practicum, field trips, internships etc.
Any absence from classes due to illness or any personal reasons has to be communicated to the OIA and the respective secretariat/faculty member. A minimum of 75% attendance is required for all taught courses.
No requests for the change in the date of examination or assignment will be entertained for students traveling out of Mumbai before the commencement of exams.
Fees for such programmes will have to be paid within 15 days of the arrival or as intimated by the OIA. Failure to pay the required fees will result in a fine of US$ 1 per day or cancellation of admission within 2 months.
In the event of a student/candidate withdrawing before the starting of the program/course/research affiliation due to personal reasons or due to the failure to procure VISA or any other unforeseen circumstances, a processing fees of 20% of the received fees will be deducted and the rest amount will be refunded to the concerned student through wire transfer within 45 days – 60 days.
Similarly, in case the student/candidate is withdrawing within 15 days from the programme after joining the course and if the seat consequently falls vacant, the institute shall deduct 50% of the fees paid and the rest of the amount will be refunded to the concerned student through wire transfer within 45 – 60 days.
In the event of a student/ candidate withdrawing their candidature due to personal reasons, the Institute reserves the right to not-refund any fee.
To facilitate the travel and stay at TISS, the OIA will provide the invitation/visa letters and letters for the FRRO.
The OIA will also conduct an orientation to academic programmes, campus orientation, Mumbai sightseeing etc for all the incoming students.
The incoming students are requested to carry 08 passport size photographs for the identity card, CV, SOP etc.
On-campus accommodation is provided to short-term students depending on the availability of accommodation.

The interested students will have to submit the OIA short-term application form along with SOP, CV and other documents mentioned in the form.
In order to facilitate smooth fieldwork placement for international students, it has been decided that the Fieldwork for the international students will be managed through Secretariat of Fieldwork, School of Social Work, TISS
The Fieldwork Secretariat will (a) locate and finalize the field placement organization related to the students' area of interest, (b) introduce the student to the concerned agency, (c) introduce them to any TISS student placed in the concerned organization (d) Supervise the students in terms of facilitating their learning, growth and addressing their challenges, (e) Actively communicate with the agency key contact persons/social workers and the concerned students regarding the activities and plans during the field placement (f) Provide any evaluation report if required by the host university.
The fees for field work for students (self) is $2000 per semester. For students from SAARC countries and Tibet the fees is $1000.
For regular Exchange student, this fee will be waived off if there is active student exchange between TISS and the partner university or if this is part of MoU/ agreement.
Also, if there are any additional students other than those part of the mutually agreed students, they will be required to pay fee applicable to foreign students.
The names and details of the incoming student will be provided to the Field Work Supervisor/Field Work Secretariat in order to facilitate the placement of the student in their respective areas of interest/ organizations.
The student will directly report to the OIA, Field Agency and TISS supervisor for any problems in the field.
The option of auditing fieldwork is available to student coming for coursework provided it doesn't clash with the time-slots of the other selected courses and they will have to pay the agency honorarium for the same.
The norms pertaining to regularity in attendance and fulfilling the requirements of the fieldwork are at par with coursework.
The student is required to follow the agency norms/rules of punctuality and complete the assigned work.
The incoming students will bear the expenses of their own fieldwork traveling and cost of food etc.
A detailed report has to be submitted on the completion of the fieldwork/field placement to the OIA.
There will be an attendance register at the agency with log-in and log out time maintained by the key agency contact to monitor the field placement.

Students admitted to the Institute are requested to observe all the rules and maintain decorum in their behavior at the Institute campuses and during fieldwork, study tour, rural practicum, relief work, block fieldwork/internship etc.
Misbehaviour and violation of the rules will attract disciplinary action of fine, suspension/ discontinuation from the hostel and the dining hall, or suspension/cancellation of their exchange registration as a student of the Institute.

Incoming Student Exchange

Coursework

Fieldwork/ Field Placement:

Other Generic Rules pertaining to Short-term incoming students: