Study in Yaounde, Cameroon: a unique city affected by German, Belgian, and French influences which now stands as the country’s commercial and communications hub. Students examine the development, changing cultures, politics, and economy of Cameroon and explore the immigrant experience of Cameroonians in France by spending a week in Paris. 

Type of Program: Provider (SIT)

Eligibility:

• Are at least 18 years old 

• Enrolled in a university degree-seeking program 

• Minimum GPA: 2.5  

• In good academic, disciplinary, and community standing.

• Meet any additional pre-requisites of the specific program

Deadlines

November 1: Application Deadline (Spring)

May 15: Application Deadline (Fall)

Accommodations

Homestay: 

Yaounde: You’ll live with a Cameroonian family in the bustling capital Yaoundé. Your homestay family will have an understanding of life in the West through children or close relatives who live in Europe or the United States, or having experienced it themselves. You’ll see how this connection has affected their economic status and way of thinking. This experience will give you an opportunity to further explore program themes in a relaxed and informal setting.

Batoufam: In this rural community, you will be placed with a Bamiléké family and experience their culture, traditions, and arts. You’ll be immersed in your host family’s daily activities. Discussions at mealtime and other activities will illuminate lectures and field visits. You will appreciate an ethnic group that maintains strong ties to its culture despite the pressures of globalization.

Courses:

Students may choose an Intensive French-language track or an English-language program track with no language pre-requisites.

The English track is best for students who are interested in taking the following (16 credits): 

• Modernization and Social Change in Cameroon

• Development Studies

• Beginning French: French in Cameroonian Contexts

• Research Methods and Ethics

• Students choose EITHER Internship and Seminar or Independent Study Project.

The Intensive French track is best for students who are interested in taking the following (16 credits): 

• Modernization and Social Change in Cameroon

• Research Methods and Ethics

• Development Studies

• Students choose EITHER Internship and Seminar or Independent Study Project.

• Depending on French level, students will enroll in ONE of the following courses:

  • French for Development Studies (based on an in-country evaluation of French proficiency, students will be placed at the appropriate level; see course description for levels)

  • Cameroonian Literature

Required Documents

Passport: 

To study abroad, you must have a signed, valid passport from your country of citizenship that will not expire for a minimum of six months after your planned return date. If you do not have a passport, or it's about to expire, make sure you apply or renew as soon as possible! U.S. Citizens can refer to the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information about passports and processing time. 

Visa: 

For this program, students with US passports will need a six-month multiple entry visa. Processing time for this visa is around two weeks. Further information about visa application processes, if applicable, will be sent by e-mail from your admissions counselor. DO NOT apply for any visas until you receive this information.  

Further information will be posted to your USAC Student Gateway account in the Visa Guide, which you will receive about four months prior to the program start. Program Advisors in the Central Office are also available to answer any visa questions you may have.

All costs related to obtaining a visa, including travel, are student's responsibility.

• Cameroon Embassy USA

Study in Accra, Ghana and redefine the way we think about Africa in modern social, political, and economic contexts.

The SIT Ghana: Globalization, Cultural Legacies & the Afro-Chic program is based in the Ghanaian capital city of Accra, the third-largest city in West Africa. Experience Ghana as an ideal area to live and study as you develop a critical perspective on mainstream representations of African societies. Explore museums, Parliament, private start-ups, and think-tanks such as the Center for Democratic Development. Experience a traditional Ghanaian market. Walk along the treetops of Kakum National Park and spot endangered mammals such as forest elephants, bongo antelopes, and the Diana monkey.

Type of Program: Provider (SIT)

Eligibility:

• Are at least 18 years old 

• Enrolled in a university degree-seeking program 

• Minimum GPA: 2.5  

• In good academic, disciplinary, and community standing.

• Meet any additional pre-requisites of the specific program

Deadlines

November 1st: Application Deadline (Spring)

May 15: Application Deadline (Fall)

Accommodations

Homestay: You will live with a host family in Accra and experience the daily flow of life. Your homestay is a powerful immersive learning experience during which you’ll explore dynamics such as family structure, gender roles, food customs, household chores, concepts of space and belonging, and education of children. You’ll have a front-row seat to celebrations and rituals. You’ll gain confidence practicing Asante-Twi with your host family and through the connection of language get to know your host family on a deeper level.

Your homestay family will live in the West Legon, North Legon, Madina, or Adenta residential areas, typically within 30 minutes’ walking distance to the SIT program center in the bustling Accra suburb of North Legon, also known as Haatso. The area, strategically located near a number of universities, has become a hub for middle-class families. Your urban homestay begins after orientation and lasts throughout the program, in between various excursions and during the final week of the program. You may also choose to stay with your host family during the Independent Study Project or internship.

Courses

This program is best for students who are interested in taking the following (16 credits): 

• Sankofa: Cultural Legacies and Afro-Futures

• Urban Cultures, Social Innovation, and the Afro-Chic

• Asante Twi

• Research Methods and Ethics

• Students choose EITHER Internship and Seminar or Independent Study Project.

Required Documents

Passport: 

To study abroad, you must have a signed, valid passport from your country of citizenship that will not expire for a minimum of six months after your planned return date. If you do not have a passport, or it's about to expire, make sure you apply or renew as soon as possible! U.S. Citizens can refer to the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information about passports and processing time. 

Visa: 

For this program, students with US passports will need a three-month, single entry visa which will be extended in Ghana.  Please read the visa instructions from your admissions counselor very carefully. You will need to begin the visa process at least one month before the start of the program ensure your visa is received in time for the program start date. 

Consulate General of Ghana in New York - Passport & Visa Application

Study in Kisumu, Kenya: A Kenyan port city on Lake Victoria and home to the largest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention facility outside North America.

Understand some of Kenya’s most pressing contemporary and societal challenges, including rapid urbanization, access to healthcare, and human rights. Learn research protocol and how to gather and analyze data from experts developing improved delivery of treatments and vaccines for infectious diseases and translating findings into policy recommendations. As part of the program, you will also travel to Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi, a center for relief, health, and human rights organizations, and to Rwanda, where you will survey its significantly lower rates of HIV and malaria.

Type of Program: Provider (SIT)

Eligibility:

• Are at least 18 years old 

• Enrolled in a university degree-seeking program 

• Minimum GPA: 2.5  

• In good academic, disciplinary, and community standing.

• Meet any additional pre-requisites of the specific program

Deadlines

November 1st: Application Deadline (Spring)

May 15: Application Deadline (Fall)

Accommodations

Homestay: On the relaxed and sloping shores of Lake Victoria, Kisumu is Kenya’s third largest city and your main homestay. Live with a local family for a combined total of five weeks. Kisumu is a major port and trading hub at the crossroads of East Africa and Central Africa, playing a key role in the country’s modern history. Its fisheries and agriculture are important contributors to the local, national, and regional economy. Most homestays will be within walking distance of SIT’s program office.

Accommodation in Nairobi, Kwale, Tanga, Mombasa and Maasai Mara may include hostels, guesthouses, tented camps, small hotels, and private homes. Some may be shared rooms but individual beds and others independent rooms. The accommodation provided per location will be communicated prior to departures for excursions.

Courses

This program is best for students who are interested in taking the following (16 credits): 

• Kiswahili

• Comparative Healthcare Systems

• Health and Human Rights in Kenya or Epidemiology in Kenya

• Research Methods and Ethics

• Students choose EITHER Internship and Seminar or Independent Study Project.

Required Documents

Passport: 

To study abroad, you must have a signed, valid passport from your country of citizenship that will not expire for a minimum of six months after your planned return date. If you do not have a passport, or it's about to expire, make sure you apply or renew as soon as possible! U.S. Citizens can refer to the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information about passports and processing time. 

Visa: 

For this program, we recommend students with US passports to obtain a 90-day Single Entry e- visa through the following website: http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html. Do not apply online or purchase at the airport an East African visa, which has a time limit and cannot be extended. Your admissions counselor will assist you with preparing the appropriate documentation to present to immigration officers upon arrival. After your arrival the program will proceed with the pupil pass endorsement and alien registration that will validate your stay to the end of the program. 

Students will purchase their own Rwandan and Ugandan visas during the semester. A Rwandan visa costs $30 and a Ugandan visa costs $50, so students should plan their spending accordingly to accommodate these costs in the middle and at the end of the semester. 

Explore rainforests, mangroves, coral reefs, and the environmental challenges of Madagascar, isolated from neighboring land masses for more than 100 million years.

SIT Madagascar: Biodiversity and National Resource Management is based in Antananarivo. Explore the luxuriant vegetation and fauna of the Ankafobe forest in the central highland. Observe the island’s rare and charismatic baobab, herpetofauna, and lemur species, trek the rainforest of Andasibe, and the spiny forest in Tulear. Build your résumé and skills with an internship or Independent Study Project.

Type of Program: Provider (SIT)

Eligibility:

• Are at least 18 years old 

• Enrolled in a university degree-seeking program 

• GPA of 2.5 or higher 

• In good academic, disciplinary, and community standing.

• Previous college-level coursework in environmental studies, ecology, biology, or related fields.

*Previous college-level coursework in environmental studies, ecology, biology, or related fields. Three recent semesters of college-level French or equivalent, and the ability to follow coursework in French, as assessed by SIT.*

Program Dates

Spring 2026: February 1 - May 16

Fall 2025: September 7 - December 20

Deadlines

November 1st: Application Deadline (Spring)

May 15: Application Deadline (Fall)

Accommodations

Homestay: Your home base will be with a host family in the capital city Antananarivo, often referred to as Tana, a beautiful city built on hills, with buzzing open-air markets, and distinct neighborhoods reflecting a mix of 19th century Malagasy and more recent European influences. Your family will introduce you to the warmth and generosity of Malagasy life. Here, you will learn from academics and experts in the field of biodiversity and conversation management in preparation for field studies and excursions to nature reserves and historic sites.

Village Stay: Stay in a rural village for more than a week in the Alaotra-Mangoro region of eastern Madagascar. Conditions will be basic, with limited electricity or running water. Learn from your host family about Bezanozano culture and the lifestyle of Malagasy farmers, including songs, dances, and food of the region. Study alongside Malagasy students during field courses in the Analamazaotra, VOI.MA and Mantadia forest around Andasibe. Biodiversity and natural resource management study combined with cultural exchange will make your stay in Andasibe unforgettable.

Courses

This program is best for students who are interested in taking the following (16 credits): 

• Biodiversity and Conservation

• Natural Resource Management Seminar

• Language Study — Malagasy or French

• Environmental Research Methods and Ethics

• Students choose EITHER Internship and Seminar or Independent Study Project.

Required Documents

Passport: 

To study abroad, you must have a signed, valid passport from your country of citizenship that will not expire for a minimum of six months after your planned return date. If you do not have a passport, or it's about to expire, make sure you apply or renew as soon as possible! U.S. Citizens can refer to the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information about passports and processing time. 

Visa: 

A visa is required to go on this program. Further information about visa application processes will be sent by e-mail from your admissions counselor. DO NOT apply for any visas until you receive this information.

Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar - Visa & Consular Services

Non-U.S. citizens

Students without a US passport may be subject to additional or different requirements for obtaining a visa or meeting other conditions of entry into the country or countries listed above. Many countries require individuals to apply for visas in person at the relevant embassy or consulate located in their country of citizenship. We strongly recommend that you contact the embassy of each country the program will be traveling to very early in the process to confirm visa and/or entry requirements applicable to your country of citizenship and determine next steps while allowing plenty of time to apply. If the foreign consulate permits non-US passport holders to apply for the required visa from within the United States, applicants are encouraged to contact Travisa Visa Services. As an experienced visa agent working closely with a number of SIT programs, Travisa may be able to assist you in your visa application process. A service discount is available by entering “SIT” as the corporate code in your Travisa online application. It is your responsibility to confirm and complete the visa application process particular to your situation, and to keep your admissions counselor informed. 

Study in Cape Town and explore an eclectic mix of cultures and identities while living in one of Africa's most famous and diverse cities.

The SIT South Africa: Multiculturalism and Human Rights program is based in Cape Town but travels widely across the nation to explore historical and contemporary multiculturalism, ethnicity, and identity in the South African context. Students experience an important time in the nation's history as South Africans continue to address the legacy of apartheid alongside contemporary human rights issues. Students will also experience four homestays with isiXhosa- and Afrikaans-speaking families.

Type of Program: Provider (SIT)

Eligibility:

• Are at least 18 years old 

• Enrolled in a university degree-seeking program 

• Minimum GPA: 2.5  

• In good academic, disciplinary, and community standing.

• Meet any additional pre-requisites of the specific program

Deadlines

November 1: Application Deadline (Spring)

May 15: Application Deadline (Fall)

Accommodations

Homestay

Langa: Live for three weeks with isiXhosa-speaking families in a vital community that values education, sports, and a strong Christian identity. Attend classes in Rondebosch on weekdays and spend weekends with your host family.

Bo Kaap: Stay for a week with a bilingual Afrikaans- and English-speaking family in Bo Kaap, one of the most photographed areas of Cape Town, known for its rich history, cultural heritage, Georgian architecture, and brightly colored houses.

Tshabo: Live with a family for a week in the rural village of Tshabo, near King William’s Town, capital of the Eastern Cape Province. Experience rural life, and practice isiXhosa.

Stellenbosch: Spend a week with a bilingual Afrikaans- and English-speaking family. Attend classes in Stellenbosch and go on excursions to the Paardenkloof Wine and Ecology Estate and Afrikaans Language Monument in Paarl.

Courses

This program is best for students who are interested in taking the following (16 credits): 

• Multiculturalism and Human Rights in South Africa

• Narratives of Identity and Social Change

• isiXhosa

• Research Methods and Ethics

• Students choose EITHER Internship and Seminar or Independent Study Project.

Required Documents

Passport: 

To study abroad, you must have a signed, valid passport from your country of citizenship that will not expire for a minimum of six months after your planned return date. If you do not have a passport, or it's about to expire, make sure you apply or renew as soon as possible! U.S. Citizens can refer to the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information about passports and processing time. 

Visa: 

A visa is required to go on this program. Further information about visa application processes will be sent by e-mail from your admissions counselor. DO NOT apply for any visas until you receive this information.