The International Summer School for Jain Studies (ISSJS) is an annual academic summer program that began in 2005. The program is intended to provide students and scholars with the opportunity to pursue Jain studies in India from June 1st to July 31st.

During the nearly seven week period, ISSJS students will spend most of their time studying in the North Indian cities of New Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi and other cities of importance for Jainism.

Below you will find the ISSJS expected Itinerary (subject to change) and Daily Schedule for the 2009 summer program. ISSJS organizers provide a substantial financial package.Click here to download Itinerary/Daily Schedule


Lectures and Courses

ISSJS academic lectures will be delivered by notable Indian scholars and will cover a wide range of topics from Jain history and philosophy to ritual practice and contemporary Jain life. Topics in Jain ritual and practices will be delivered by scholars as well as Jain community members. The finalized list of speakers and lecturers, as well as the final daily lecture schedule will be distributed upon arrival in India. Please follow the highlighted links to view the tentative two-month course program details and reading list.


Community Interaction

An integral part of this program is the opportunity to conceptualize what is learned in the classroom by visiting academic and historical places of interest and interacting with Jain community. On evenings and weekends, students will have the opportunity to meet Jain families, observe temple rituals and festivals. Since we will be traveling to a number of different locations in India, this course of study will vary and our program participants will have the opportunity to experience Jain communities in diverse locations and environments. Please take the time to review our ISSJS IN INDIA SLIDE SHOW* for a chance to see such varying aspects of the program.


After and during the lectures, we plan time for group interaction. ISSJS participants will have the unique opportunity to speak with members of the Jain community including scholars, government officials, practitioners and ascetics. In past years, our students have found that this time is particularly helpful for networking and establishing connections that may support further academic research and fieldwork.


Independent Study/Research Project

Throughout the ISSJS program, participants will be expected to engage in independent research that will result in the composition of a final research paper. The topic of this paper is flexible as long as it corresponds to the course materials or community interaction (you will have the opportunity to discuss your topics with ISSJS staff and guest lecturers). Please see a list of paper topics by past students . A copy of your composition must be submitted to the directors of ISSJS in India prior to leaving India.


Indian Language Tutorials

In addition to the daily lecture schedules, community interaction and independent study projects, the ISSJS will provide language tutorials for students already engaged in the study of Hindi/Sanskrit/Prakrit. Tutorials will be based on student requests for five out of the seven weeks of the program. If you are interested in a language tutorial make sure that you have noted this on your application. Tutorials will be arranged to meet the needs of individual students at their own cost (subsidized by ISSJS also). Please contact us at info@jainstudies.org for further information.