FAQs for International Students

Where is MICA located?
MICA is located on the outskirts of the beautiful city of Ahmedabad. The location is ideal, as it gives the campus an atmosphere of serenity away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and yet is close enough to the city to reap its benefits.

What travel arrangements are available to MICA?
Ahmedabad city is connected by air, rail and road to all major Indian cities. Ahmedabad has an international airport (www.ahmedabadairport.com) connecting it directly to international destinations like London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Paris, Chicago, Sharjah and Singapore.

There are also a number of daily flights by various airline operators connecting Ahmedabad to the major metros of the country like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Calcutta, Pune and Delhi. India is very well connected through railways, which link all parts of the country. Trains to Ahmedabad are available regularly from both Delhi and Mumbai. Information on rail travel is available on the Internet - visit www.indianrail.gov.in.

From both the airport and the railway station public transport such as taxis and automated rickshaws can be used to reach MICA. For transport arrangements international students can contact MICA's administration at globaladmit@mica.ac.in.

Where will I stay?
International students take up residence at Silver Oak, the international hostel. The double occupancy rooms are air-conditioned, and the hostel has arrangements for:

24x7 internet connectivity, and Wi-Fi access (which runs through the entire campus)
Self-service kitchen area with full facilities for cooking
Storage areas including pull-out bed cabinets and wardrobes
Land phone line with easy dialling to all important services like security and IT
Housekeeping
A gymnasium
Laundromat facilities are also available.

What are the prerequisites for admission?
International students need to return a completed application form (US$35, non-refundable) along with original or attested copies of all academic qualifications and documents well in advance. If these are not in English, official translations will have to be obtained.

Candidates with GMAT scores of 600 and above are considered for admission. In the recent past candidates admitted to MICA have had GMAT scores in the region of 650.

Students whose primary education has not been in the English language will need to take either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to demonstrate proficiency with the English language (For further information on this, visit www.ielts.org or www.toefl.org).

As with all international visitors to India, visa requirements will have to be complied with (For more information on this visit www.indianembassy.org). MICA will support students in complying with visa requirements by sending students formal admission letters and a copy of the Government of India's official recognition of MICA as an institution approved by the All India Council of Technical Education. Students will also need the mandatory medical clearance before entering India.

How much will studying at MICA cost?
The programme cost for one academic year is in the region of US$10,000 (approximately 8,330 Euros). This includes the cost of boarding and lodging, library charges, study materials, 24X7 Internet connectivity charges, and the costs of academic field trips, co-curricular and extracurricular activities.

There is also a caution deposit of US$500 (approximately 420 Euros), refunded on completion of the course. An affidavit of support, proving that a student has sufficient finances for the entire period of their stay at MICA will have to be provided before an acceptance letter is sent.

Fifty per cent of the cost, i.e. US$5,000 (approximately 4,165 Euros) will need to be paid on acceptance of admission.

What is the language of instruction of the courses?
All the courses taught on campus, as well as workshops, seminars and guest lectures, are conducted in English. Students who wish to receive additional English language training are offered a one-month orientation course prior to the start of the term.

Will I have any interaction with Indian industry?
MICA's curricula for all its programmes are designed in consultation with experts in industry. At MICA, emphasis is laid on industry interaction, which happens throughout the year not only through expert visiting faculty, but also through the MICA Lecture Series , under the aegis of which, eminent industry professionals visit MICA to share their experience.

Students of the two-year Post Graduate Programme in Communications Management (PGPCM) are required to complete an 8-10 week industry internship at the end of their first year. Students also take on consultancy projects for industry with faculty guidance through the MICAMINDS programme.

Students also gain direct business exposure and are encouraged to take entrepreneurial initiatives through the Model Service Centres run under the aegis of the Entrepreneurship Development Centre at MICA.

Apart from this, faculty members will announce openings for student assistantships for various projects through the year, for which students will receive stipends based on their contributions to these projects.

What extracurricular activities do students engage in?
At MICA, students are encouraged to pursue varied interests, both cultural and academic. Student life at MICA is busy, and the opportunities for extra-curricular activities are many and diverse, providing something for everyone.

MICA's annual business festival, MICANVAS is held in the month of October. Students from B-Schools all over the country and institutions around the world participate in this three-day festival. Students also participate in Sankalp , a theatre group started and continued as a student initiative, which hosts an annual production at Natarani, Ahmedabad's premier theatre.

MICAns also run MICAVAANI , a campus community radio station that broad-casts programming tailored to the needs of the neighbouring village areas. Students also publish their own magazine, Black Coffee , and run a film club, Trinetra . Other extracurricular student initiatives at MICA include a debating society, Crosstalk ; a crafts and fine arts society, MiCraffiti ; and a photography club, Snap . MICA also has its very own rock band, The Unlike No Ones .

Are there any international exchange programmes currently active?
MICA has Memoranda of Understanding with several international institutions— ESCEM, School of Business and Management, France; Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; University of Central England, Birmingham, UK; Florida State University, USA; London College of Communication, UK; University of Texas, USA; University of Southampton, UK; University of Asia and the Pacific, Manila, Philippines, and; Vietnam Marcom, HCM City, Vietnam. MICA is also a Fulbright Affiliate Institute as well as an approved and accredited partner of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK.

These memoranda provide for student exchange programmes, a number of which are currently active, 26 MICA Handbook 2006 with international students on campus, and a number of MICA's students abroad in these institutes.

Also, graduate and undergraduate students from the Department of Communication, University of Texas spent their summer programme in MICA through June–July 2005. They took courses in photography, and culture and communication. They also undertook study tours in the picturesque and historic state of Rajasthan and in the city of Mumbai, the commercial hub of the country.

Does MICA have international visiting faculty?
Yes. In addition to Indian academic and industry experts, MICA does have international visiting faculty from both academia and industry, from countries like France, UK, USA, Singapore and Ireland. Some of the academic institutions from which our visiting faculty are drawn include ESCEM Business School, France; University of Florida, USA; University of California, USA; University of Chicago, USA; University of Southamptom, UK; University of Luton, UK; London School of Communication, UK and the Limerick School of Art and Design, Ireland.

What about placements—what kinds of companies recruit from MICA?
MICA has a 100 per cent success record in placements since its inception, underscoring the strong industry endorsement of MICA's curriculum. We have had both domestic and international recruiters on campus. Our list of recruiters is extensive and includes well-known names like L'Oreal, Motorola, Hutch, Euro RSCG, Ernst & Young, Disney Channel, Hewlett Packard, GE Analytics, Procter & Gamble, Citi Financial, Prudential, Siemens, Insight Asia (Singapore), Super-Max (Dubai), Castrol, Ogilvy & Mather, JWT, Research International, AC Nielsen, Leo Burnett, Starcom, Group M, Madison, Zee TV, Sony Entertainment and Star TV.

Will I need medical insurance? What medical facilities will be available?
All students are advised to have appropriate medical insurance from their host country. However, students have the option of getting medical insurance while at MICA.

A doctor visits the campus thrice a week, and arrangements are in place with a high-quality hospital for the provision of medical facilities to our students when required.

What about money?
Ahmedabad has a host of international banks that exchange foreign currency. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs; Distributeur Automatique de Billets ) are located at convenient locations throughout the city. Students can also use international credit cards to make purchases in the city. MICA's principal bankers conduct banking services on the campus twice a week.

What about connectivity?
The campus has 24x7 internet connectivity via LAN, and also has Wi-Fi access. International telecom facilities are available just outside the main gate. All GSM mobile phones are compatible with local telecom operators, and students are encouraged to bring their cell phones with international roaming SIM cards.

MICA's administration provides support for postal services and couriers. MICA recommends DHL/Fedex as the international couriers of choice, as they have corresponding arrangements with couriers in India to deliver directly to the MICA campus.

Will I need to buy bottled drinking water?
No. There is no need to purchase bottled drinking water, as arrangements for filtered drinking water are available all over the campus. The necessary RO (reverse osmosis) fixtures are placed in centralized locations in each hostel.

However, off-campus, students are recommended to use branded bottled drinking water purchased from organized retail outlets.

Will I need a computer?
Every student is required to have a personal laptop computer. Students are advised to bring their own laptops. Compatible plug adaptors are available on campus. The institute also arranges for laptops to be made available to students on lease.

What is the weather like in Ahmedabad?
The minimum temperatures in Ahmedabad through the months of January to March range from 11.7°C to 18.8°C, while the maximum temperatures range from 28.4°C to 36°C.

From April to June the minimum temperature is around 23.4°C to 27°C, and the maximum from 39.9°C to 41.8°C.

From July to September, the minimum temperature varies from 24.1°C to 25.7°C, and the maximum from 31.9°C to 33.4°C.

From October to December, minimum temperatures range from 13.0°C to 20.9°C, and the maximum from 29.8°C to 35.8°C (www.worldweather.org).

What is the cultural life of Ahmedabad like?
Ahmedabad, as indeed the entire state of Gujarat, has a rich and vibrant cultural life. In addition to a number of beautiful historic monuments that are always worth a visit, a variety of festivals are celebrated the year round, from the kite-flying festival of Uttarayan in January, to the festival of colours, Holi in March–April, to Rakshabandhan in August, to the festival of lights,Diwali and Id-ul-Fitr in October. Besides these are the various smaller festivals, and the uniquely Gujarati celebration of the nine nights of Navaratri in September, when the city of Ahmedabad comes alive each night with garbas danced all over the city. In addition, the city frequently hosts handicraft exhibitions and fairs with exhibits and products from all over the country.

Does Ahmedabad have cultural institutions from other countries?
The Alliance Française has a centre in Ahmedabad and is involved in a lot of very popular cultural activity in Ahmedabad. Instructors from the Alliance Française also conduct French classes on the MICA campus for interested students.

The British Council Library is also an important centre in the cultural life of Ahmedabad, interacting with the community in a number of ways.

What are the other educational institutions of repute in Ahmedabad?
Ahmedabad is a hub of higher education, especially management studies. The city has a number of established reputed educational institutions, notably the globally acclaimed Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM–A) established in 1961.

Other world-class educational institutions include the National Institute of Design (NID) established in 1961, the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), the Nirma Institute of Management (NIM), the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) established in 1983, and the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA–IICT).

Other institutions of note include the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad Textile Industry Research Association (ATIRA), Darpana Academy of Performing Arts (which houses Ahmedabad's most famous theatre, Natarani) and the Centre for Environmental Education (CEE).

What are some of the major industries in Ahmedabad?
Ahmedabad is the seventh largest city in India and is the commercial capital of Gujarat. It is a major industrial and financial city contributing 14 per cent of the total stock exchanges in India and 60 per cent of the total productivity of the state. Ahmedabad has long been famous for its textile industry, and boasts of possibly the largest denim production in the world, producing over 230 million meters each year, and supplied to brands like Levi's, Lee, Wrangler, GAP and Ralph Lauren.

The city that was once called the Manchester of the East is now often referred to as the Denim Capital of the world. Other major industries include pharmaceuticals, chemicals and engineering ancillaries. Some of the biggest industries in and around the city include Arvind Textile Mills, Ashima Industries; Reliance Textiles; Torrent Pharmaceuticals; Core Healthcare; Cadila Pharmaceuticals; Zydus; Synterplast and the Nirma Group.

Are there places of interest in and around Ahmedabad I can visit on weekends and term breaks?
Ahmedabad has a number of tourist attractions. Chief among them is the Sabarmati Ashram, the headquarters of Mahatma Gandhi during India's Independence struggle.

The Calico Museum in Ahmedabad is one of the finest textile museums in the world, with a large collection of rare textiles. The museum itself has a peaceful evocative setting within a traditional Gujarati mansion surrounded by gardens, pools and fountains.

Another site of interest may be the Jama Masjid, a mosque built in 1423 by Ahmed Shah, and described often as the most beautiful mosque in India. The mosque of Sidi Saiyed is famed for its delicate stone tracery depicting the banyan tree, a motif that has come to represent the world-famous Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and indeed, the city itself.

The Swaminarayan Temple at Akshardham is a masterpiece of majestic stone architecture and beautiful gardens.

The Dada Hari ni Vav step well is considered a masterpiece in water architecture. The step well at Adalaj is ornately carved and is well known for its beauty.

The 15th century architectural complex of Sarkhej Roza, 8 kms from Ahmed-abad containing a mosque, the mausoleums of a Sufi saint and members of the royal family, including Sultan Mahmud Begada, the summer palace of the royal family and other features, is famous for its composite Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.

Students can also take a guided tour through interesting sites in Ahmedabad through the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation run Heritage walk.

Weekend trips can also easily be arranged to one of India's holiest temples, the famous shore temple of Somnath near the seaside town of Veraval, the hill stations of Saputara and Mt Abu, as well as to the historic and richly cultured Rajasthani city of Udaipur, known as the city of lakes. The Little Rann of Kutchh is only 70 kms from MICA.

Other places of interest nearby include the remains of the ancient Harappan civilization at Lothal dating back to the second millennium BCE, some 78 kms from Ahmedabad; the 11th century Modhera temple, 99kms from the city; one of the three largest dinosaur sites in the world at Balasinore 86 kms away; the 11th century Rani-ni-Vav step well 125 kms away in Patan, and; the medieval citadel of Champaner, 160 kms from Ahmedabad.

For those interested in wildlife, the state of Gujarat is home to a number of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, among others, the Gir National Park, the last home of the magnificent Asiatic lion, the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, the Black Buck National Park and in Kutchh, the Marine National Park, the Wild Ass Sanctuary and the Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.

For more information on Ahmedabad and Gujarat visit www.ahmedabad.com, www.ahmedabadcity.com, www.gujarattourism.com and www.vibrantgujarat.com.