FAQ
How does the program work?
Students from AUA apply to a competitive process to take part in the IQP. Successful applicants travel to WPI from January to early March. In Worcester AUA students are introduced to WPI students, and mixed teams with both AUA and WPI students are formed. These teams then participate in the course that prepares students for the IQP (ID2050). Students also take other courses during this time. In the middle of March, the WPI and AUA students travel to Yerevan where they work on the IQP full time from March to May.
Are Worcester and Yerevan safe for students?
Safety in Worcester, as in many small American cities, varies depending on exact location. The WPI campus is generally fairly safe; students should generally avoid neighborhoods such as Main South, particularly at night. Yerevan, on the other hand, routinely ranks as one of the safest cities in the world, with violent crime almost unknown. Armenians are well known, generally speaking, for their hospitality and respect for guests. In either location, common sense is an individual’s best tool to remain safe.
What language is spoken, and will I be able to get around?
In Worcester and at AUA, the language of instruction is English. Worcester does, however, have a large Armenian population and the first Armenia Church consecrated in the United States is across the street from WPI’s campus. In Armenia, the most common language is, of course, Armenian – a member of the Indo-European language unrelated to any other existing language. Many older Armenians speak Russian due to Armenia having been a part of the Soviet Union, and many younger Armenians speak English. Yerevan is a very cosmopolitan city, and it is not hard to get around speaking only English, although students are encouraged to learn a few polite phrases. There are a variety of rideshare apps available in both locations, and Yerevan has an efficient Metro system.
What is the cost of living like?
In both Worcester and Yerevan the cost of living is mainly determined by the lifestyle an individual chooses to lead. Each city has its share of expensive fine dining restaurants and pricey tourist activities; each city also has its share of modest eateries and activities that can be enjoyed for free. Generally speaking, prices for the necessities of life are much cheaper in Yerevan than in Worcester.
What is there to do in Worcester and Yerevan?
Worcester is a relatively small town that is experiencing something of a rebirth after years of decline. It boasts an excellent art museum and hiking/skiing/nature sites, as well as restaurants and nightlife, and weekend trips to other destinations (Boston, New York City, etc.) are possible.
Yerevan is much more cosmopolitan, with numerous excellent museums, a top-notch Opera House, and smaller venues such as the Hin Areni Music Hall and the Armenian Music Society Concert hall, which hosts exceptional groups such as the Armenian Song and Dance State Ensembled. Further, numerous tour companies operate tours to unique world heritage sites such as Garni, Geghard, and Khor Virap.
WPI students are encouraged (but not required) to arrange tourist activities through Hyur Services, the company through which student accommodation is booked. WPI students must remain in Armenia for the duration of D term.
How’s the weather?
From January to March, when the AUA and WPI students are preparing for the IQP, Worcester experiences classic New England weather with short days, long nights, bitter cold, and snow more often than not. From March to May in Yerevan, on the other hand, the weather is cool and sometimes cloudy, with dry air and lengthening days as the spring begins to warm up. Yerevan is at an elevation of 4,500 feet above sea level and the air is, generally speaking, quite dry.