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Studies & Degrees in Hindi

Hindi is the official language of the Union of India, written in the Devanagari script, as article 343 of the Indian Constitution states. It is used extensively in government, media, education and the entertainment industry, and it plays an important role in communication across northern and central India and in diaspora communities worldwide, according to the Critical Language Scholarship Program of the US Department of State. The University of Chicago introduces it to first-year students as the world's second most spoken language.

Studying Hindi at university means more than conversation classes. Students learn to read and write Devanagari, build grammar and vocabulary through reading, writing, listening and speaking, and move on to prose, poetry, film and media in Hindi. Hindi and Urdu share most of their grammar and everyday vocabulary, and some programmes teach both scripts: at Chicago the first-year sequence begins with Devanagari and then introduces the Urdu script. Degree programmes add the literature, history and societies of South Asia.

Qualifications and levels

How Hindi is studied depends on where you study it.

  • Language courses within a degree. Outside India, Hindi is usually taught as a sequence of language courses within a degree in South Asian or Asian studies. At The University of Chicago the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations offers a major leading to a BA; students need proficiency in at least one South Asian language equivalent to one year of study or more, and Hindi is one of seven languages they can choose. The catalogue lists first-year and second-year Hindi sequences; the second-year sequence requires substantial reading and translating of Hindi prose. At The University of Texas at Austin, Hindi is one of the languages taught by the Department of Asian Studies.
  • Degrees in Hindi. In India, universities have departments of Hindi that teach the language and its literature up to research level. The Department of Hindi of the University of Delhi has existed as an independent department since 1952. Besides its degree programmes it runs courses in translation and diploma and certificate courses for foreign students.
  • Courses for foreign learners. The Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (Central Institute of Hindi), established in 1960 by the Government of India and based in Agra, develops teaching material for Hindi as a second and foreign language and runs international Hindi teaching programmes.
  • Study abroad and summer programmes. Universities encourage a period in India. Chicago's catalogue includes elementary, intermediate and advanced Hindi courses taught in India and a civilisation sequence in Pune. The Critical Language Scholarship Program of the US Department of State includes Hindi among its languages.

Hindi courses do not follow a single international level scale in the way European languages follow the CEFR. Ask each school how its levels are defined, what certificate it awards and what recognition that certificate has.

Where to study Hindi

SpainExchange lists six active schools for Hindi, three in the United States and three in India. The US schools are The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In India the list includes the University of Delhi, the University of Calcutta in Kolkata and the University of Madras in Chennai.

The two settings suit different students. In the United States, Hindi is taught in English, starting from beginner level, as part of a broader degree. In India, degree programmes in Hindi are taught in Hindi and are designed for students who already know the language; foreign beginners normally start with a certificate or diploma course for foreigners. Delhi lies in the Hindi-speaking north. Kolkata and Chennai are in regions where Bengali and Tamil are the main languages, so daily life there offers less practice in Hindi.

Careers

Hindi is rarely a profession in itself; it is a skill that adds to another qualification. Graduates use it in translation and interpreting, teaching, journalism and media, diplomacy and international organisations, development work, tourism, and in companies that trade with India. A degree in South Asian studies with Hindi also prepares for postgraduate research.

For translators and interpreters, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that a bachelor's degree is typically needed, together with proficiency in English and at least one other language. It projects employment of interpreters and translators in the United States to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,000 openings each year. The BLS does not publish figures by language.

Frequently asked questions

Are Hindi and Urdu the same language?

They are very close in everyday speech but use different scripts: Hindi is written in Devanagari and Urdu in a script derived from Arabic. Some university courses, such as the first-year sequence at The University of Chicago, teach both scripts.

Can I study Hindi from beginner level at university?

Yes. Universities outside India normally start with a first-year course that teaches the Devanagari script from the beginning. In India, foreign beginners should look for certificate or diploma courses for foreign students, such as those of the Department of Hindi of the University of Delhi.

Do I need Hindi to study in India?

Not for every programme, but degree programmes in Hindi language and literature are taught in Hindi. For other subjects, ask the university about the language of instruction of the programme you want.