Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a relatively small landlocked country located in western Africa. It occupies an extensive plateau with the terrain consisting of a grassy savanna which gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. The country itself shares its border with sovereign states such as Mali, Niger, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. The name of the country was adopted in 1984 as a replacement for the previous name of Upper Volta. Originally, the sovereign state was a French colony, but in 1960 it gained its independence. The capital, Ouagadougou, lies about 500 miles from the Atlantic Ocean in the center of the country.

Although Burkina Faso has a limited number of available universities, it should not be overlooked as a location to study abroad. This is due to the limited institutes of higher education providing a rather comprehensive list of subjects which can be studied with the tuition fees being quite inexpensive. Examples of subjects which can be studied include Management, Economics, Technology, Computer Science, Humanities, Law & Jurisprudence, Health, and Agriculture. Apart from the broad range of available fields of expertise and the low costs both for living expenses and fees, there are also many opportunities to participate in volunteer work as a means of gaining essential experience and skills. Such include teaching, arranging recreational activities, supporting childcare projects, assisting with women empowerment programs or ones related to renovations/building or helping with healthcare services programs for nursing/dental/medical professionals. As a result, as a student will be able to acquire both a valuable understanding regarding Africa and its various living conditions. Furthermore, students can practice French which is widely spoken in the country, especially as a language for both government and training.