Botswana is one of Africa's most stable countries, and a multi-party democracy. It is unusual in that the majority of its population is from a single ethnic group, the Tswana. Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, has a population of over 250,000. It is one of Africa's fastest-growing cities and lies in southeastern Botswana, close to the border of South Africa. In addition to the main campus of the University of Botswana, Gaborone also hosts the headquarters of the 10 nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), which focuses on regional development, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. Botswana is known for its amazing biodiversity and diverse landscapes.

The University of Botswana (UB) was established in 1982, and currently has a student population of 15,000 which is served by a staff of over 2,000, including 800 academic staff. The University's vision is to be a leading academic center of excellence in Africa and the world; while its' mission is to advance the intellectual and human resource capacity of the nation and the international community. The University's values recognize a commitment to students, academic freedom, academic integrity, cultural authenticity, and internationalism. The University is comprised of six faculties, a School of Graduate Studies, and five academic centers.

The Academics

CIEE students enroll in a semester-long Setswana language course, a CIEE language and culture practicum, and four regular university courses at the University of Botswana (UB). Students are required to take at least one course that has a specific focus on Botswana or Southern Africa. Students may choose from courses in any faculties and departments for which they have the necessary prerequisites.

The CIEE Study Center follows the University of Botswana's calendar with an additional period of time for orientation at the beginning of the semester. The UB academic year is similar to the North American calendar; the fall semester runs from August to December and the spring from January to May. This differs from many other Southern African universities that operate on the Southern Hemisphere academic calendar. The system is geared toward the serious student who is motivated, self-sufficient, and deeply interested in the subject matter.

The goals of this program are to help students gain understanding of contemporary Botswana; to understand Botswana in the context of the Southern African region; and explore diverse African perspectives through direct matriculation in University of Botswana courses. In addition to coursework, the goals are met through a variety of community engagement and field-based research opportunities.

In order to earn credit at UConn for courses completed on this program, individual courses must be approved by a designated UConn course evaluator and assigned a UConn course number. Complete instructions for this process can be found under Getting Academic Credit on the navigation bar on the left of the Study Abroad Homepage.

To receive credit for an internship, the internship experience has to be part of a graded course listed on a transcript from the foreign institution; and before you leave UConn, you must have approval for the internship credit from am academic department faculty evaluator.

The Experience

Housing is included in the program fee. All CIEE students live in single rooms in self-catered residence halls and apartment-style residences on the university campus. Local and other international students live in these facilities, allowing for social interaction and cultural immersion.

Meals are not included in the program fee and are the responsibility of the student.
There are two dining halls on campus. Students can purchase a meal plan or individual meals. Additional food is available from local vendors who sell a variety of food just outside the university gates. Shared kitchen facilities are available in some of the apartment-style residences.

Click here for information on applying to a CIEE program.

For more information on exact program dates consult the CIEE website.