Semester Abroad Programme | International Relations

Semester Abroad Programmes (SAP)

Semester Abroad Programme (SAP) encourages undergraduate and postgraduate students to do their Capstone Research Project / Master Thesis project / pre-approved elective courses at partner universities or top 500 World QS Ranking Universities.

Students explore their new interests and state-of-the-art learning from a diversified international academic community in addition to their curriculum..
It is an opportunity to establish a professional network that widens the relationship across borders and creates international pathways.
The importance of internationalization is to gain the best academic and research practices and experience through interactions with faculty/ researchers.
The students get exposed to new cultures, language skills, and a competitive work environment that enhances their international career opportunities.

How to apply

The foreign host institutions select nominated SAP Applicants for Academic Credit Transfer programmes or for Capstone Project opportunities.
The students can transfer the credits earned through pre-approved elective courses during SAP at the host institution.
VIT provides travel assistance in the form of scholarship, to SAP applicants who meet the specified eligibility criteria, once during their SAP.
All students submit their applications via VTOP
(https://vtop.vit.ac.in/open/page)

I had the incredible opportunity to undertake my semester abroad at the Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan, where I conducted a project titled “The Impact of Clamping Force on the Fatigue Strength of Al6061 Bolts.” The Semester Abroad Program enabled me to deepen my understanding of material sciences and provided hands-on experience in mechanical experimentation and simulations. Through this project, I gained invaluable insights into both theoretical concepts and practical applications in engineering, further enriching my academic experience. My deepest gratitude to VIT for making this enriching experience possible. The knowledge I gained will greatly impact my academic and professional growth.

Mr. Nabhas Revi Kumar , Mechanical Engineering (20BME0507)

My time at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore was truly exceptional. I gained invaluable knowledge and experience from the research group I was part of. The welcoming environment and the opportunity to connect with people from around the globe made my stay incredibly enjoyable. I am deeply grateful to VIT for supporting me with the SAP scholarship, which is a fantastic opportunity for students aspiring to pursue their doctoral studies abroad.

Mr. Pradipta Das , Biotechnology (22MSB0033)

My semester abroad program at the esteemed National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT) ,Taiwan was a transformative experience that significantly enhanced my academic and research skills. Working on an innovative project involving Camellia Sinensis-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles for the photodegradation of organic pollutants under visible light illumination exposed me to cutting-edge research and advanced instrumentation like X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis spectrophotometers.

Under the mentorship of professors and collaboration with master’s students, I developed critical skills in nanoparticle synthesis, environmental remediation, and experimental design, while gaining valuable experience in multidisciplinary research. This opportunity not only deepened my understanding of green chemistry and environmental technologies but also strengthened my collaborative and problem-solving abilities. Engaging with diverse peers from various cultural and academic backgrounds broadened my perspective on global environmental challenges, making me more adaptable and innovative in my approach.

This experience gave me a competitive edge, significantly elevating my master’s application and ultimately helping me secure admission to Imperial College London for Environmental Engineering, where I am eager to further develop my skills and contribute to sustainable solutions for environmental challenges.

Ms. Bidisha Mondal, Chemical Engineering (20BCM0088)

“VIT’s Semester Abroad program has been incredibly beneficial for me. During my 10-month internship at Virtusa in the USA, I worked on AWS cloud migration, assisting JP Morgan Chase & Co. in transferring their customer’s data from on-premise systems to the AWS cloud. This experience provided me with invaluable opportunities to interact with industry professionals and deepen my knowledge. It has significantly boosted my confidence, and I believe this exposure will be extremely advantageous as I pursue a Master’s degree in the US.”

Ms. Niketha, Computer Science and Engineering (19MIC0035)

During my internship at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, I worked on enhancing the Geant4 toolkit, a critical tool for Monte Carlo simulations in physics research across domains like high-energy physics, nuclear research, medical imaging, and space science. The project involved developing the Geant-val web application, utilizing modern web technologies like Express.js, Node.js, and React.js, and integrating PostgreSQL for data storage and ROOT/JSROOT for interactive visualizations. I also optimized Geant4’s build and deployment processes by automating and migrating scripts to CI/CD platforms like Jenkins and GitLab CI. This experience highlighted the importance of modern technologies in supporting scientific research. I am deeply grateful to the VIT faculty and the International Relations team for their guidance and support, which were crucial in making this opportunity possible.

Mr. Alok Mathur, Computer Science and Engineering (20BCE2959)

Working at the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University was an opportunity of a lifetime and nothing short of eye-opening! I had the opportunity to work with industry-level and cutting-edge software and hardware while working on HUMRS ~ The Hardened Underwater Modular Robotic Snake. When I started, HUMRS was an underwater UAV, and its next upcoming milestone was to develop self-awareness and low-level autonomy for it. This experience not only tied in perfectly with my specialization in the Internet of Things, but it also gave me the chance to dive deep into robotics and get hands-on experience with engineering tools like 3D printers, laser-etchers, and other fundamental engineering skills like getting my hands dirty at the woodshop.

It was my first time in the U.S., and adjusting to the cultural and lifestyle differences was much easier thanks to my advisor, Dr. Howie Choset, and my mentor Dr. Geordan Gutow who were incredibly amiable and supportive. I got a taste of research and the academia sector in general which has greatly helped shape my future goals. I also had the opportunity to meet several alumni from VIT itself who were there for their master’s or PhD programs. I earned a brand new perspective to my challenges and upskilled my profile supremely while working on something that always intrigued me, Robots!

Mr. Avineesh Sathyakumar , Computer Science and Engineering with Specialization in Internet of Things (20BCT0043)

I embarked on a remarkable journey of SAP which was given me the most enriching experiences of my life. I had the unique opportunity to work under the guidance of a Toxicology Specialist & Scientist at CIIMAR – University of Porto, Portugal. During the whole of a year, I gained knowledge in aquatic biotechnology. I had a chance to collaborate with talented scientists and researchers, I also had the privilege of mingling with people from diverse backgrounds and had the best conversations about research. Beyond the research lab, I have been to nine countries and it was a whirlwind of cultural exploration. A main highlight of my journey was learning new languages like Portuguese, French, Spanish etc. I am grateful to VIT for this opportunity to have worked in such a dynamic and supportive environment.

Ms. Sruthi K, Biotechnology (19MSI0095)