PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

In the contemporary scenario, India's interest in the world as well as the world's interest in India is visibly at its highest. Therefore, it becomes imperative that the Indian scholarship on global issues should respond to the opportunities that this presents. To this end, the Symbiosis School of International Studies (SSIS) endeavours to provide a platform for teaching and research in international relations, with an emphasis on India and its role in global affairs. Set up in consonance with the broader vision of Symbiosis Society, which is "to integrate with the world", SSIS strives to constantly engage in scholarly pursuits in an environment of intellectual fellowship, aimed at the academic enrichment of the entire community.

The discipline of International Studies (IS) positions itself at the cross-roads where the dominant cultural, economic, political and social issues that exercise an influence on the national, regional and international agenda converge. A Master's programme in International Studies encourages students to relate theoretical concepts to specific, relevant world issues and challenges in international affairs today. The holistic nature of courses offered under the M.A. (International Studies) programme provides students with the lens to critically examine, analyze and understand contemporary issues based on a multi-disciplinary approach. The specialization offered under the course on Area Studies fosters scholarship of the region informed by a deeper understanding of an interconnected and interdependent world. The choice of regions offered includes - Europe/North America and Asia. The students are also offered a choice of foreign language as part of Area Studies course (Arabic/ French/ Spanish/ Chinese). Our faculty members are a good blend of prominent academicians, active researchers and practitioners, attesting to the belief that the best pedagogy comes from a mix of theory and praxis. Apart from the teaching vertical, we also run the flagship annual International Relations Conference (IRC) and an online research portal - Indian Review of Global Affairs (IRGA).

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Batch 2024-26

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Batch 2023-25

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Batch 2022-24

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Batch 2021-23

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Batch 2020-22

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Batch 2019-21

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Batch 2018-20

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Batch 2017-19

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Orientation and Pedagogy

Faculty is encouraged to employ a number of methods of instruction. Consistent with the University's quality assurance and enhancement practices, each method is designed to ensure that the students derive maximum benefit from the lectures and seminars, and that they use the self - study time to its full advantage.

Given the diversity of the subject, the programme is taught through a mixed pedagogical approach, combining exposure to both IR theory and praxis. Emphasis is laid on hands-on training in the workings of contemporary diplomacy and international negotiations through simulations, case studies and audio visuals. The courses are designed to nurture critical analysis skills (written and oral), soft skills, intercultural skills and e- competencies in the students to enable them to play professional, constructive or leadership roles at the national, regional and international level.

The pedagogy is by lecture/seminar format, small group work, and simulations as appropriate. For each course, the formal lectures are intended to provide students with – right from an introduction to a particular theme or topic, to making them aware of main issues through a structured summary of the current state of debate on a topic, and to provide them with navigation points through the main literature. The seminar format is intended to provide students with the opportunity to engage in discussion with other students and with the course convenor for a structured discussion of substantive issues.

Students are encouraged to work both independently, and as part of a group. Independent study is vital to develop research skills: for the preparation of essays, book reviews and the final year dissertation. All of this written work is designed to help hone the skills necessary to filter complex arguments and issues to their essential elements, and to express your own critical ideas succinctly, clearly, and in an organised manner. Students are also encouraged to work independently on presentations to develop oral communication skills. This helps to develop the ability to organise and to think quickly about complex issues, and to develop skills necessary for reasoned argumentation. Students are also encouraged to work in groups for simulation projects to develop skills necessary for cooperation in group project work, as well as to develop leadership qualities.

The programme also allows students to manage an online research portal, Indian Review of Global Affairs, which will become a base of mid-to-long range policy- relevant issues and challenges. This will further hone skills and encourage the participation of youth in new age research via the use of new media such as podcasts, photo-essays/ photo- journalism, interviews and video- series.

*Please note that the academic calendar is tentative and subject to change; information related to conduct of CEs will be shared by course in charges/ coordinators. Any changes will be duly notified.

Please read this Application Guide to entry in 2024 carefully to ensure that you provide the correct documents and information. For any further queries do write in to - admissions@ssispune.edu.in with the subject line Admission 2024 Query.

Kindly also note the Admission related contact numbers
Telephone: 020 - 26551231, 26551230; Mobile No.: 09075022773
Office Hours- 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.(except on Sundays and Holidays)

• In case the landline is not reachable please call on the mobile number / leave a message or email us your queries.

When to apply

The Symbiosis School of International Studies uses application deadlines and you need to ensure that your application and all supporting documents (if required), are received by 12 noon Indian Standard Time on the deadline date for your application to be considered. The standard application deadlines for entry in M.A(IS) programme of 2024 are as follows:

* Dates are tentative

Fee structure 2024

Symbiosis School of International Studies, Pune

Approved Fee Structure for Batch 2024-2026 in the Academic Year 2024-2025-INDIAN STUDENTS

(Annexure I)

**Hostel and Mess Fees for the subsequent year would be communicated before commencement of the next academic year.

@ Hostel and Mess Fees can be increased up to 10% each year. Government taxes would be additional as and when applicable.

Symbiosis School of International Studies, Pune

Approved Fee Structure for Batch 2024-2026 in the Academic Year 2024-2025-INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Note: International students are admitted from two categories and the fees for each are given below

(a) NRI, PIO, OCI Category

(b) Forgin National Category

(Annexure II)

**Hostel and Mess Fees for the subsequent year would be communicated before commencement of the next academic year.

@ Hostel and Mess Fees can be increased up to 10% each year. Government taxes would be additional as and when applicable.

Note:

# ONLY Foreign National Students taking Admission in the year 2024 for the Batch 2024-2026, will be eligible for the Symbiosis Goden Jubilee Scholarship. Designed to celebrate 50 glorious years of Symbiosis being established to offer quality education to foreign students, these include:

(1) 100 Symbiosis Golden Jubilee Academic Scholarships with need-based reduced hostel fees for foreign national students from developing African-Asian countires.

(2) 100 Golden Jubilee Free-ships for academiclly and financially deserving foreign national students from conflict ridden/war affected regions by giving them an opportunity to study at SIU by covering not only the cost of all academic fees but also the hostel and mess/food fees (lodging and boarding).

(3) Concessional Hostel fees are applicable to Foreign National students @ 650$ per annum.

(4) Concessional Mess fees are applicable to Foreign National students @50% as mentioned above.

**Hostel and Mess ees for the susbsequent year would be communicated before commencement of the next academic year.

@ Hostel and Mess Fees can be increased up to 10% each year.Government taxes would be additional as and when applicable.

# # 50% Concession wil be given only to the Foreign National students on Administrative Fees.

ENTRANCE TEST: PI

As a non – SNAP institute, Personal Interaction (PI) is the activity of selection process for the M.A. (International Studies) course offered by Symbiosis School of International Studies (SSIS). After successful online registration and payment of fee, subject to fulfilment of admission criteria, shortlisted candidates would be notified of the call for PI via email. They would need to select the preferred slot, as mentioned in the communication and follow the instructions provided in the call letter.

The PI will be conducted online. The link will be shared with candidates prior to the PI depending on the slot booked.

• Personal Interaction (PI)
• The applicant will be facing an interview conducted by a panel that consists of at least two members. The interview would cover general awareness, clarity of thought and articulation, logical reasoning, learning orientation, motivation, extracurricular activities, specific field of interest, communication and soft skills and over all personality.
• Maximum Score
• Maximum score for PI will be 100 marks.
• PI Centre
  For 2023 Admissions, the entrance test is online PI. Candidates are not required to report to campus for entrance test.
• The candidates would need to report on time for the Online PI and scan and email to the SSIS Admissions Team, the essential documents for eligibility verification. The documents include:
  • PI Call Letter
  • Self-Attested Copy of Photo identity (Std. XII Admit Card/ Driving license/Passport)
  • Self-Attested Copy of Category certificate (Caste, Differently Abled, Kashmiri migrants) (If Applicable)
  • Self-Attested Copy of Std. X Mark sheet.
  • Self-Attested Copy of Std. XII Mark sheet.
  • Self-Attested Copy of Graduation Mark sheet. (If available)
  • Other certificates for extracurricular activities (to be shown during PI, if required)
• Admission Feedback Form
• Candidates would need to fill up the feedback form, which will be shared online, post the PI.
• General Information
• • Please test the connection and mic.s etc to ensure a seamless online PI.
  • The decision of the panel is final and binding and no enquiries will be entertained.

International Students

Symbiosis Centre for International Education (SCIE) handles all subject matters relating to admissions of International Students to the constituent institutes of Symbiosis International (Deemed University). Categories listed under International Students Admissions are as follows:

Foreign National (FN):

A student is eligible to apply as a Foreign National (FN) if he/she holds a foreign passport.

Person of Indian Origin (PIO):

A student is eligible to apply as a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) if he/she has a PIO card and is a citizen of a country other than India.

Non Resident Indian (NRI):

(At Postgraduate Level)
A student is eligible to apply as a Non Resident Indian (NRI) if he/she has appeared either for the 10+2 examination (equivalent to the Indian 12th) or Graduation outside India. It is mandatory for one of the two qualifying examinations to be given outside India. International students are able to apply online and need only come to India when his/her application is shortlisted for the chosen programme. The application procedure consists of 15 simple steps; it begins with a basic eligibility check of important documents to be submitted and concludes with the final payment confirming admission.

For detailed information and online registration, please visit www.scie.ac.in

Symbiosis Centre for International Education (SCIE)

• Senapati Bapat Road, Pune - 411004 
• Maharashtra, India.
• Tel. : +91 20 25671905 (Ext 311/150)
• Fax : +91 20 25673854
• E-mail : intadmissions@symbiosis.ac.in Or rupali@symbiosis.ac.in 

International Initiatives:

• Tel. : +91 20 25652444 (Ext: 260 / 267)
• Fax. : +91 20 25673854
• Email : int.initiatives@symbiosis.ac.in 

Payments:

• Tel. : +91 20 25671905 (Ext: 266)
• Fax : +91 20 25673854
• Email :  accounts@scie.ac.in

The hostel seats at Symbiosis Hostel (VimanNagar - old and new campus), are limited in number and are allotted on first come- first serve basis. There is a strict code of conduct practised at all Symbiosis Hostels. Students wishing to stay in any wing of Symbiosis Hostel, Viman nagar will have to abide by the code of conduct.

Contact details for Hostel related queries:
Col C V Mohan (Retd) , Senior Campus Administrator, SVC, E-mail id: admin.svc@symbiosis.ac.in
Mr. Samir Pawar, Hostel I/C Accounts SVC, Accounts Assistant, SVC Main campus: Ph. 020-26557162/163/164/165/155 & 020-26551302/03/04 for F wing only, E-mail id: samir.pawar@symbiosis.ac.in

Queries can be raised on phones as under:
020-26557164/162/163/165/155 or 0-8087085044/45

Health Center

New Symbiosis Viman Nagar Campus (SVC) Office

Symbiosis Viman Nagar Campus (SVC) Office

SVC Office Helpline

Examination

Choice Based Credit System

SSIS is guided by the SIU examination policy and rules in the conduct of examination.

CBCS: Choice Based Credit System.As per the CBCS, grade point will be allotted to each letter grade on a 10 point grade scale with grades denoted by letters O, A+, A, B+, B, C, P, F and AB.

Examination: It is the entire session of assessment carried at SSIS and the university level which includes both continuous and term-end evaluation

Examination Session: It is the time slot assigned for a particular examination. Generally there shall be two sessions per day , however additional sessions might be conducted with prior permission.

Examination Season : The academic year is divided into two examination seasons – October Season and April Season. All examinations held between September to December will be counted as held in October Season. All examinations held between January to June will be counted as held in April Season.

Evaluation: The evaluation includes continuous and term end evaluations. The term end evaluation, summative in nature, is conducted by the University at the end of every term. The continuous evaluation pattern, formative in nature, aims at multi- level assessment and is spread across the term. Passing in a course means securing 40% of absolute marks in each of the heads of Continuous evaluation and Term end examination.

Term Not Granted (TNG): Minimum 75% attendance in aggregate is mandatory for all the students to be eligible to appear for the term end examination of all courses of the term. If the aggregate attendance and attendance in each and every course is below 75% then the student will not be granted the permission to appear for the term-end examination. (Please refer to section III-1.1 A)

Course Not Granted (CNG): If a student falls in TNG category (i.e. aggregate attendance is less than 75%), then the CNG rule is applied, by checking course wise attendance. In the course/ s where the student has more than 75% attendance, he/ she may be allowed to appear for the examination and the remaining courses are termed as ‘Course Not granted’. (Please refer to section III-1.1 A).

ATKT ( Allowed to keep Term ) Rules: A student cannot appear for end Semester 3 exams if he/ she has CGPA less than 4.00 up to Semester -1 irrespective of number of backlogs in Semester I. He/she cannot appear for end Semester 4 exams if he/ she has CGPA less than 4.00 up to Semester -2 irrespective of number of backlogs in Semester II.

Validity of terms: The students admitted to all post graduate programmes of the University, will be allowed to keep terms for a period of one year from the date of admission beyond the normal period of the programme, i.e. the students joining a two years programme must complete the programme in three years from the date of admission.

You can download the Examination Department PDF here for more information.

For further details visit SIU website