Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My experience with CFHI in New Delhi, India July 11, 2025

By (Global health, Clemson University) - abroad from 06/07/2025 to 07/05/2025 with

Child Family Health International (CFHI): Global Health in India

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to be a more ethical and inclusive medical student. What I learned and experienced in India is something I know I would never have been able to experience otherwise. This has without a doubt been one of the most formative experiences of my education thus far.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My experience with CFHI in Delhi has been the most formative of my education thus far. The rotation sites were well-rounded, with each serving a unique purpose in teaching about the healthcare system in India.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Our on-site coordinators were exceptional, ensuring we got to and from the airport safely and taking steps to protect our safety while traveling around Delhi.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was in an apartment with other CFHI students. The only issue with housing was due to the cost of electricity in India, the AC was only turned on between 10p-6a. In the summer months, this left the house extremely hot during the day.

* Food:

Food provided by our housing was good. Keep in mind most meals will be vegetarian.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt very safe throughout my time in Delhi, this was all due to the excellent coordination of our on site team, who communicated where we should and should not go.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I highly recommend this program to any student interested in global health, as I believe CFHI does an excellent job offering ethically sound programs. I also appreciated the option to complete a practicum, as I attended as a medical student. This was a great opportunity to contribute to a local organization while also challenging me further as a future healthcare professional. I can't speak highly enough about how wonderful the CFHI team was throughout my experience.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The on-site coordinators were excellent and professional
  • CFHI is very flexible and are more than willing to adjust a program according to a what a student needs.
* What could be improved?
  • Some of the sites felt redundant
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? As a medical student, I got more out of several program sites purely because I some (albeit, limited) medical knowledge. This is something I would consider if traveling as an undergrad.