What’s it like to land in a new place, far from everything familiar?
One of the standout opportunities that come with being a student at IIT Madras is the chance to participate in a Semester Exchange (SemEx) program. IITM’s strong partnerships with leading universities across the globe open doors to spend an entire semester immersed in new academic and cultural environments. The program involves enrolling in courses at the host university that align with your academic requirements, with credits then transferred back to IITM upon completion.
The SemEx program is often seen as a chance to break free from familiar routines of insti life, explore new places, and embrace diverse cultures. Beyond academics, it’s a journey of self-discovery — adapting to new climates, savoring unfamiliar cuisines, and making new friends across borders. Yet the real essence lies within the experiences of those who have personally embarked on this adventure. T5E spoke to students who have undertaken this journey and discussed their anecdotes of growth, adventure, and the invaluable lessons taught by this unique experience.
Meet Anchit, a chemical engineering student who spent his seventh semester at the University of Paris-Saclay, France, in Fall 2023; Chetan, a mechanical engineering student who attended KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, in Fall 2022; and Khadyot, a chemical engineering student who took his academic journey to the Warsaw Institute of Technology in Poland, also in Fall 2022.
At Mumbai Airport, getting ready! PC: Khadyot.
First Impressions
Do you remember your first time stepping onto the IIT Madras campus? The lush greenery and sheer scale likely caught your attention. Everything felt fresh, intriguing and perhaps even a little overwhelming. There was probably a mix of nervousness and hopefulness as you thought, “This is going to be my new home.” Now imagine reliving those emotions—not in a familiar setting—but in a completely new country, surrounded by a different culture, language, and way of life.
For Khadyot, this was exactly what he experienced when he landed in Warsaw. “Traveling out of India for the first time was an eye-opening experience,” he recalls. “The place, the culture, everything was so different—starting from the cityscape itself. Warsaw isn’t as densely populated as other European cities or Indian cities. It’s quieter and the architecture is stunning. A lot of it dates back to the pre-World War II era.”
“One of the first differences I noticed was the campus itself,” shared Chetan. “KTH has an open campus that’s much smaller compared to IIT Madras. It felt very European in style. At IITM, we’re used to a closed campus with designated gates like the Main Gate or V Gate to enter. At KTH, the campus blends seamlessly into the city—it’s integrated with its surroundings, which was a refreshing change.”
Entrance to the University of Paris-Saclay. PC: Anchit
Warsaw University of Technology, Main Hall. PC: Khadyot.
Academics and Campus Life
The Semester Exchange is often seen as a gateway to a different academic environment. With some of the most prestigious universities in the world hosting IITM students, it’s an opportunity to experience a new style of education. So, how does the academic environment abroad compare to IITM?
“The courses at KTH are beautifully structured to focus on learning rather than just scoring. You can choose the grade you aim for and complete assignments accordingly. The grading system is transparent and well-defined, allowing you to decide how much effort you want to put in based on your goals. At IITM, it often feels like we’re cramming for quizzes and endsems just to secure good grades, with less emphasis on critical thinking or true understanding,” Chetan explained.
He also highlighted the advanced research quality at KTH, noting that the research labs and infrastructure were on an entirely different level, with state-of-the-art facilities and a strong emphasis on hands-on research and collaboration.
Anchit pointed out a stark contrast in how students approach academics abroad. “In France, most students pursue a master’s degree as part of a five-year integrated program, which is the default path. What stood out to me was that almost everyone in the class had chosen their field purely out of passion. In India, many of us end up in our streams based on rank and allocation. Over there, students were genuinely invested in their subjects. Most were planning to pursue a PhD, teaching, or research. I didn’t meet anyone aiming for a corporate job that wasn’t aligned with their studies. That was a major eye-opener for me because that focus isn’t as common at IITM,” he shared.
KTH Institute of Technology, entrance. PC: Chetan
Lecture Hall at KTH. PC: Chetan
Learning to live independently is a significant part of an exchange program. Balancing cooking, laundry, and other daily chores alongside academics can be challenging. Unlike IITs, where ‘hostel culture’ is deeply ingrained in campus life, many international universities lack a centralized system for student accommodations. Instead, they partner with external accommodation providers, requiring students to secure their own rooms—often at a subsidised price. While this offers flexibility, it also introduces the challenge of adapting to the responsibility of finding and managing your living arrangements independently.
At KTH, for instance, students typically stay in dormitories or private housing. “There’s no dedicated mess,” Khadyot shared. “Instead, we had a shared kitchen for the entire floor. It became a lively social hub where people from all over cooked together, exchanged recipes, and got to know each other. It was a lot of fun and a unique way to connect with people from so many backgrounds.”
For many students, cooking was an entirely new experience. “I had never cooked before and I really missed the mess system from IITM,” Chetan admitted. “It was so convenient and I wasn’t used to preparing my own meals. I remember talking to a Swedish friend about how the mess system works in India and he was fascinated by the idea.”
The diversity is remarkable, with dormitory floors often housing people from all over the world, creating a vibrant mix of cultures. Chetan recalled the joy of participating in potluck events where everyone prepared dishes from their respective cultures. “It was a great way to bond and learn about different traditions and lifestyles,” he said, reflecting on the experience.
Social and Cultural Adjustments: Challenges and Connections
An exchange program also offers students the chance to immerse themselves in a new social and cultural environment: an experience both enriching and challenging. Adjusting to unfamiliar settings often begins with forming connections. Universities and organizations like the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) make this easier by hosting activities such as guided tours, welcome events, and even camping trips. “There’s a camping trip with a bonfire during the welcome week,” shared Khadyot. “It’s very easy to mingle with people if you’re open enough and even if you’re not, the university’s structured events make meeting others effortless.”
Anchit shared that his early impressions of France were shaped by the stark cultural and linguistic differences. “One of my early impressions of the French is that they’re not as welcoming as people in India, especially if you don’t speak French,” he explained. Unlike India, where the large diversity fosters a natural openness to different languages and cultures, navigating daily life in France without knowing the local language proved challenging.
Language barriers, a common concern for exchange students, often prove less daunting than expected. English typically becomes the default mode of communication among students from various countries, making it easier to connect. Chetan, who initially felt disconnected, highlighted the role of icebreaker events and university-organized activities like Friday parties in building friendships. However, bonding with locals required more effort, especially in countries where English wasn’t widely spoken. As Khadyot noted, “It was easier to communicate with other European students in Poland because they also relied on English.”
Adapting to local norms and lifestyles brought its own challenges. Food, for instance, was a recurring issue, particularly for vegetarians. “The concept of vegetarianism isn’t as common as in India. It’s mostly vegan or non-veg,” said Anchit, who often struggled to find more than basic options like bread or sandwiches. Social norms also varied. In Sweden and Poland, for example, alcohol was an integral part of campus culture. “Student-run bars were as common as student-run clubs back at Insti,” Chetan observed. “It was a much more casual and open approach compared to India.”
Beyond cultural adjustments, some challenges were completely unexpected. Chetan, for instance, struggled with Stockholm’s long, dark winters. The early sunsets and lack of sunlight led to a Vitamin D deficiency and a bout of seasonal blues. “It’s a bit depressing when you’re not used to it,” he admitted. Yet, this also gave him a newfound appreciation for sunny days. “It’s funny how much you start valuing sunlight in a place like Stockholm,” he quipped, recalling a rare winter day spent outdoors with a friend despite being sleep-deprived.
Leisure and Exploration
Traveling and exploring new cultures are among the main highlights of an exchange program, offering students a chance to experience the world beyond the classroom. For many, it’s a unique opportunity to visit places they’ve only dreamed of, immersing themselves in diverse lifestyles and traditions.
Anchit described his exchange experience as “entirely about traveling.” Over 150 nights, he spent 52 exploring other towns, cities, and countries, often utilizing weekends and holidays. Short trips to neighboring countries like Belgium and the Netherlands filled busy weekends, while longer breaks allowed for extended journeys to Italy, Portugal, and Spain. A particularly memorable trip was a ski holiday in the Alps during Christmas, organized by the scholarship group Campus France.
Vatican City, Pope’s Residence. PC: Khadyot.
Similarly, Khadyot made the most of his time abroad, visiting around twenty cities and fifteen countries. “Every weekend or weekday off was spent exploring,” he shared. Highlights included an incredible Christmas in Italy with stops at Venice, Rome, Florence and Pisa and unforgettable experiences in Budapest and Prague, known for their vibrant party culture. Even within Poland, cities like Kraków and Gdańsk stood out for their charm. Meeting fellow travelers at dormitories during these trips added to the richness of the experience.
Old Town Center, Warsaw. PC: Khadyot.
Chetan’s approach to leisure was more balanced, blending travel with local activities. “With an average of just two hours of classes daily, I could plan my schedule flexibly,” he explained. While weekends included necessary practicalities like grocery shopping and laundry, they were also filled with cultural and social events—field hockey tournaments, potluck dinners, and even Indian Independence Day celebrations. Friday nights, in particular, often featured lively parties hosted by the student community, making campus life equally engaging.
Lessons and Takeaways
The exchange program was a profound learning experience that shaped perspectives and values in unexpected ways. For Chetan, one of the biggest lessons was the ability to adapt. Navigating a completely new environment meant planning every aspect of life independently—academics, travel, and daily routines. This taught him invaluable time management skills and the importance of balancing responsibilities while also making the time to savour new experiences. Moreover, he said that interacting with people from diverse nationalities and backgrounds made him more open-minded and open-hearted as a whole.
He also observed a stark difference in student mindset. At IIT Madras, there’s often an intense focus on CGPA, internships, placements, and extracurriculars, leading to a high-pressure environment. In contrast, he found that students abroad didn’t seem to stress much over these metrics. As he reflected, “People there aren’t sulking about internships or placements—they just live life differently. It reminded me that there’s so much more to life than achievements and numbers.”
Anchit shared similar sentiments. “At IIT Madras, you end up defining yourself by things that aren’t truly you—your intern, your CGPA, your PoRs. But abroad, none of that matters,” he explained. He discovered that conversations overseas didn’t revolve around résumés or achievements. Instead, people were described by their individuality: where they were from, their interests, or what they studied. “When I came back,” Anchit reflected, “I realized how much we, as a culture, tie someone’s worth to their accomplishments. Over there, it’s not so much about what you’ve done, but who you are.”
Final Thoughts
Across the board, everyone who has participated in a SemEx seems to have the same advice: go for it if you can. As Khadyot put it, “Before deciding to go, I had spoken to at least 20–25 seniors who had gone for an exchange, and not a single person had told me that it wasn’t worth it.”
They also spoke of the way semester exchanges can shape one’s academic and career trajectory. For Chetan, his time at KTH was pivotal: “My interest in robotics, which eventually led to my decision to pursue a Master’s at Stanford in the same field, was sparked during my time at KTH. The courses I took there played a significant role in shaping my career.”
While cost remains a concern for many, Chetan noted, “You’re essentially getting a taste of life at a foreign university without paying their tuition fees or committing for masters. With proper planning, you can manage the extra costs of travel and living.” Beyond academics, the experience offers a large amount of flexibility, allowing students to explore new cultures and balance their time between travel, study, and relaxation.
For first and second-year students, it really helps to start planning early. “If you’re a dual degree student, you have ten semesters, so it’s easier to fit in a semester exchange. For B.Tech students, it’s more challenging, but with proper planning, it’s absolutely possible,” emphasised Chetan. Freshers and sophomores should map out their course load, PoRs, and internships to identify the best semester for an exchange. As Khadyot put it, “Have a rough plan for how to manage your PoRs, internships, and placements before you go. You don’t want to have a Europe vacation and come back without a placement.”
Anchit highlighted how spontaneity and stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to extraordinary growth. “SemEx wasn’t something I’d ever considered for myself, but I applied, went and it turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done. It widened my horizons more than anything else at IITM ever could have.”
For those still unsure, the advice is unanimous: seize the opportunity if it aligns with your plans. The stories and takeaways from students who have been on a SemEx make one thing clear—this is an experience you’ll carry with you long after your time at IITM. As Chetan concluded, “It’s an incredible opportunity that broadens your horizons in every way. If you get the chance, I’d strongly recommend going for it.”
It’s equally important to do your homework—speak to seniors who have been on exchange programs and thoroughly research universities, programs, and professors to ensure they align with your academic and personal goals. Planning ahead and gathering insights will help you make the most of this opportunity. But most importantly: don’t forget to have fun!
