Contributing to India’s existing and emerging needs, we provide MIT students and faculty an opportunity to be at the forefront of India’s research, technology, and innovation activities. By conducting research and participating in internships and workshops at India’s world-class companies, universities, research centers, startups and NGOs, MISTI India cultivates opportunities to learn through impact.

2022: A Year in Review with MISTI South Asia

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Program Offerings

Internships

A one-of-a kind, world-class experience to gain real-life work experience in India in leading companies, universities, research centers, start-ups and non-profits in environmental sciences & energy; research institute & public health; software development and solutions; urban planning & architecture; socioeconomic development and change

  • GPA 4.0 or higher
  • No language requirement

To make the most of your summer internship in India, consider these recommended MIT courses that will help build your foundational knowledge in the region's culture, development, challenges and opportunities. 

Fall Courses:

  • 1.813J/11.466/15.657/IDS.437J - Technology, Globalization and Sustainable Development
  • 2.76/2.760 - Global Engineering: Green Machines
  • 11.493 Property and Land Use Law for Planners
  • 14.73 The Challenge of World Poverty
  • 14.74 Foundations of Development Policy
  • 17.524 State, Society, and Political Behavior in Developing Contexts
  • EC.729 / 2.729 / EC.797 / 2.789- Design for Scale
  • 2.652 / EC.712 / EC.782 (G)- Applications of Energy in Global Development
  • MAD.712[J] Applications of Energy in Global Development
  • 11.025 / 11.472 / EC.701 / EC.781- D-Lab: Development
  • EC.718 / EC.798 / WGS.277- D-Lab: Gender & Development
  • STS.023/WGS.226 - Science, Gender and Social Inequality in the Developing World
  • WGS.101 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
  • WGS.226[J]/  STS.023[J]- Science, Gender and Social Inequality in the Developing World

Spring Courses: 

  • 17.53 - The Rise of Asia
  • 2.651/EC.711 - Introduction to Energy in Global Development
  • 2.75J/2.750J/6.025J/6.525J/HST.552J - Medical Device Design
  • 11.005 - Introduction to International Development
  • 11.140 Urbanization and Development
  • 11.167(J)/14.47/15.219/17.399 - Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy
  • 11.474 D-Lab: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
  • 17.581 Riots, Rebellions, Revolutions
  • 21A.410 Environmental Struggles
  • 21G.011 Topics in Indian Popular Culture
  • 21G.022[J] International Women's Voices
  • 21H.009 World History and Its Fault Lines Since 1800
  • 21H.157[J] Modern South Asia
  • 21H.357 South Asian Migrations
  • 21H.358/21H.958 - Colonialism in South Asia and Africa: Race, Gender, Resistance
  • 21H.S04 MIT South Asian Oral History
  • WGS.145[J] Globalization: The Good, the Bad and the In-Between
  • 21M.291 Music of India
  • 21W.788[J] South Asian America: Transnational Media, Culture, and History
  • EC.750 / EC.785 (G)- D-Lab: Humanitarian Innovation
  • 2.651 / EC.711 / EC.791 (G)- D-Lab: Introduction to Energy in Global Development
  • 2.722J / EC.720- D-Lab: Design
  • 11.474 (G) / EC.715- D-Lab: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
  • WGS.101 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
  • WGS.109 Women and Global Activism in Media and Politics

Courses offered through MIT Open Courseware: 

  • 11.S940 - Development, Planning, and Implementation: The Dialectic of Theory and Practice
  • 12.348[J]/15.026- Global Climate Change: Economics, Science, and Policy
  • 15.218 Global Economic Challenges and Opportunities
  • 15.227 - 15.229 Seminar in International Management
  • 21G.040 A Passage to India: Introduction to Modern Indian Culture and Society

Deadline - February 15

Rolling Deadline (for some opportunities)- March 27

How to Apply

Our summer internship and research opportunities in India are listed on Handshake. Go to our employer page here.

Be sure to check back frequently as we update with more opportunities in India!

Global Classroom

MISTI-Global Classroom is a short, 2-3 week experiential learning program where MIT students travel abroad with faculty to explore and understand a subject through hands-on, immersive, on-the-ground learning.

Global Classrooms take place over IAP or summer, and may be credit-bearing or non-credit-bearing. Some Global Classrooms focus on grand challenges such as climate, sustainability and health, while others explore culture and society. In all cases, the location is critical to the learning experience.

No Global Classrooms are offered for IAP 2027. 

Read about MISTI-India Global Classroom IAP 2026 here. 

Global Teaching Labs (GTL)

GTL is MISTI’s groundbreaking and high-impact teaching program that recruits and sends talented MIT students abroad to teach STEM subjects to high school or university students. This popular program attracts hundreds of MIT students each year and enables the institute to promote its hands-on, experiential approaches to learning.

MISTI- South Asia has GTL programs in India and Bhutan for IAP 2027! See details below. 

India GTL 

Teach STEM across India this IAP! From bustling tech hubs to underserved communities. Sharpen your knowledge, bridge cultures, and inspire the next generation of leaders. Apply to GTL India and learn by teaching.                                                                                               

  • Subjects and thematic areas: Astronomy, AI, Embedded Systems/IoT, Security, Smart Materials, Management, Robotics, all STEM, tinkering labs (design and fabrication of STEM learning kits)
  • Locations: Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kerala and Punjab
  • Dates: Jan 4-29
  • Host type: International schools, NGOs, start-ups
  • Open to: All class levels
  • Teaching format: one-to-one, workshops, hackathons
  • Travel in pairs or small groups
  • Fully funded, housing provided

Find more information on specific India GTL programs here.  

                                      

MIT students with Indian highschoolers

 

Bhutan GTL 

Sponsored by the Bhutanese Ministry of Education, this GTL brings talented MIT Math majors to Bhutan to coach a select group of Bhuanese highschoolers in International Math Olympiad (IMO). Bridge math and culture, mentor future champions, and grow through teaching in the Himalayas. Apply to GTL Bhutan and learn by teaching.  

  • Subjects: Competition math/IMO coaching
  • Teaching format: Bootcamp style intensive coaching for a select group of prospective IMO (International Math Olympiad) participants.
  • Host type: Government
  • Travel in pairs or small groups
  • Fully funded, housing provided
  • Prerequisites: IMO participation
Bhutan photos
 

Areas of Research and Internships

Environmental Science and Energy

Environmental Science and Energy

Research and Public Health

Research Institutes and Public Health

Software Development and Solutions

Software Development and Solutions

Urban Planning and Architecture

Urban Planning and Architecture

Socioeconomic Development and Change

Socioeconomic Development and Change

India Map

Internships and Research at MISTI India

Meet Your Program Manager

Megha Hegde headshot with a background luscious green bush

Get in touch with Megha Hegde, Program Manager for MIT-South Asia via email mit-southasia [at] mit.edu

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