Summer 2010 not running

4 weeks (mid-July to mid-August)

Sponsored by The School of Hospitality Business in the Eli Broad College of Business

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This program presents a global perspective of the financing, development and management of the lodging business in an international setting.  The objectives of the program include:

• an appreciation of the challenges associated with developing and managing a business overseas
• exposure to the impact of societal and cultural issues on international businesses
• an introduction to the complexities associated with management in a diverse international environment

Located in Rajasthan (northwestern India), the Shiv Niwas Palace Hotel is the site for this program.  Constructed in the 1800’s, the hotel is part of the heritage hotels. The charm of the heritage hotels is their uniqueness, as each hotel represents history, tradition, art, hospitality, and cuisine reminiscent of a particular family or clan.  The group owns and operates 13 luxury heritage palaces, forts, and villas in Rajasthan. At its helm is Sriji Arvind Singh Mewar, a descendant of the 1400-year-old Sisodia clan of Udaipur.

While the program travels to various cities in India, students will also visit Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Bangkok in Thailand.

Where does it take place?

India is a land of geographical diversity ranging from snow covered mountains in the north to lush forests in the east, coastal regions in the south and arid deserts of Rajasthan (the state where the program will be conducted). Tourism in India is one of the most important industries generating about $2.9 billion in annual revenues and providing direct and indirect employment to more than 30 million people. Since 1991, the government of India opened up the economy to foreign investment and has since placed heavy emphasis on infrastructure development and the services sector.

Rajasthan, a state located in the Northwest part of India, has emerged as the number one tourism state in India. Primarily known for its forts, palaces, and ancient villas (havelis), over seven million tourists visited Rajasthan last year.  In post independence democratic India, the former princely families of Rajasthan lost their means of subsistence, yet they had large palaces, forts, and mansions to maintain. Many of them were abandoned and wealthy merchants bought some. A few progressive princely families felt that the only way to maintain these grand monuments was to convert them into hotels. While they were not familiar with the intricacies of the business of hotels, as former royalty they had a lot of experience in hosting international guests, heads of state and organizing lavish parties. As such, they had offered traditional hospitality for many years.

What started as a few individual families is now a full-fledged Heritage movement. The primary mission of the movement, represented by the Heritage Hotels Association of India is to preserve the culture and traditions of a bygone era. Hotels are the commercial vehicle through which this is possible. The charm of the heritage hotels is their uniqueness, as each hotel represents history, tradition, art, hospitality, and cuisine reminiscent of a particular family or clan.

The Shiv Niwas Palace Hotel constructed in the 1800’s is the site for this program and part of the heritage hotels. The group owns and operates 13 luxury heritage palaces, forts, and villas in Rajasthan. At its helm is Sriji Arvind Singh Mewar, a descendant of the 1400-year-old Sisodia clan of Udaipur.

What can I study?

Students have the option of enrolling in the minimum of six (6) credits or the maximum of nine (9) credits from the following list of courses. 

Courses will be a combination of instructor-led lectures, field trips, and discussions with regional experts.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Applicants may also be asked to participate in a selection interview.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

While the program required traveling to various cities in India, the major portion of the program is based in the city of Udaipur.  The accommodations will be at the Shiv Niwas Palace Complex, a five-star deluxe hotel that caters to international guests.  The palace complex is spread over three kilometers and is a self-contained “city within a city.” 

Students will be housed in either double or single rooms, each with a telephone, international cable television, queen and king size beds, and Internet access. As an operating hotel, the bathrooms have hot and cold running water, and daily housekeeping service. Complementary newspapers are delivered to the room each morning with a choice of tea or coffee. The hotel provides daily laundry and dry cleaning, with a specially negotiated rate for the students. Each room is provided with an in-room safe for student cash, valuables, and other documents, and is equipped with a working size desk, chair, and lamp for studies.

While students will spend most of their time in the complex, travel into the city can be arranged by the hotel’s travel desk, including bus tours, individual taxis and other excursions. In some ways, student mobility is restricted because the palace complex is a bit removed from the main city.

Postal and package service, business center, styling salon, restaurants, fitness center, jogging trail and other facilities are all available in the palace complex.

Entrance into the palace complex is restricted, where only registered guests (and invited visitors) of the hotel are admitted. While on the complex, guests are issued a personal identification card, which gives them access to all the palace complex facilities.

In Dubai, students are housed in single-room accommodations at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management.

Who can tell me more about this program?

A.J. Singh
The School of Hospitality Business
242 Eppley Center
Phone: (517) 353-9211

Do I need a passport or visa?

A valid passport and visa are required for entry into India.  Students can obtain their visa by applying directly with the Indian Embassy in Chicago or working with a travel agent who can process it for them.  Upon acceptance into the program, students will be informed of all requirements need to obtain their visa.

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.  It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

Students participating in this program are strongly encouraged to receive a series of immunizations specific for travel within Asia.  Students should schedule an appointment to be seen at a travel clinic at least 4-8 weeks before the program to inquire about the recommended and/or required vaccines you may want to consider before departure.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee in 2008 was $3,280 and included the following:

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs were estimated at $2,425 for 2008.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are February 1st for spring break programs, March 1st for summer, academic year and fall semester programs, and October 15th for winter break and spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

Hospitality Business majors participating in a study abroad program will receive a $600 scholarship. 

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.