UCU_East_Africa_Applications_2025

UCU East Africa Program 2025

The UCU East Africa Program is an interdisciplinary academic program open to students from all departments who have completed the UCU breadth requirements. While first year students are welcome to apply, preference is given to third and second year students.
The program consists of 3 components:

Part I: Preparatory Learning & self-reflexivity

All students are invited and encouraged to complete the preparatory course at UCU campus, UCINTDEV21 Theory and Practice of Inernational Development. Contact the program administrator if you are interested and think this is feasible for you. Joining this class does require your physical presence on campus every Wednesday and Friday afternoons (15:45-17:30 and 13:45-15:30 respectively).

Given geographical barriers and limitations, the UCU East Africa program waives the DEV21 requirement for visiting, non-UCU students. As an alternative, a list of independent reading and journaling activities will be designated by the program Director. These will be completed on a voluntary basis. Additionally, students will be expected to join a few virtual meetings with the Director in February and April each year. All students must submit a final reflection paper in May, prior to joining the field course. Sadly, none of this work will be formally registered or accredited. Nevertheless, the importance of it, in relation to the ethics and values of the East Africa program, are essential.

Part II: UCINTDEV31 (aka. "the field course in East Africa")

At the beginning of June each year (e.g. usually by June 4 or thereabouts), all the program students meet in Nairobi, Kenya to begin a four-week learning journey through Kenya and Tanzania. All the students are registered in UCINTDEV31, Topics and Methods in Development Research in East Africa (7.5 ECTS).

For this part of the program vsiting students will be formally registered at UCU and receive 7.5 ECTS for completion of the field course. UCU will issue visiting students official transcripts reflecting this achievement. If any visiting students want to officially transfer these credits, this is the sole responsibility of the student to organize and coordinate.

UCSSCINT21 (optional)

The internship is mandatory for UCU students but is optional for visiting students. Nevertheless, visiting students are encouraged to consider this component, which enriches students’ learning and experience. Visiting students will be required to identify their interest in the internship component in their application to the program in November.

Visiting students will be formally registered at UCU for the internship and receive 7.5 ECTS for completion of the field course. UCU will issue visiting students official transcripts reflecting this achievement. If any visiting students want to officially transfer these credits, this is the sole responsibility of the student to organize and coordinate.

Please fill out this Application Form and send it in before 15 November 2024.

First name: *

Last name: *

Student ID: *

E-mail: *

What is your home university? (eg. UCR, UU or other)

What semester and/or year are you currently in? *

What are your main academic tracks of study? *

Is there an academic supervisor that we should contact regarding your participation? For example, at UCU, tutors have to give permission to students who apply to the East Africa Program. If this applies to you, please add the name and email of your academic supervisor below.

Please provide us an academic reference below, who can tell us more about yourself, your hisory, your academic performance, etc - e.g. a name of a teacher, tutor or supervisor. Provide name, position and email contact. (Note: we do not contact all references but will sometimes reach out to them, if deemed helpful, during the selection process) *

Nationality(ies): *

Passport Number:

Specific Health Issues (which may inhibit your participation):

Past international experiences (Countries/Regions/type of experience): *

Will you be able to cover the costs of the Field Program, as outlined on the UCU East Africa website? (e.g. 2500€* + flights + living costs during internship): *

Yes

If NO please comment on how you will obtain the required funds:

Are you planning to take part in the UCINTDEV21 course? (If yes, then this indicates that you will be physically present at the UCU campus on Wednesday and Friday afternoons through the Spring Semester) *

yes

no (please answer question below)

If no in the above question (i.e. you are unable to join UCINTDEV21), do you commit to independently completing preparatory readings, as designated by the Program Director? Please see UCU East Africa website for more information about this independent study requirement.

Yes

Would you like to complete the academic internship in July- August (UCSSCINT21) *

yes

I don't know yet (please explain below)

Are there any additional comments?

Please attach the following attachments:
1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Grade list (aka. current transcript)
3. Letter of Motivation (max 500 words):
- Reason for wanting to join the program
- Previous relevant experience, including international
- Your interest in international development issues and/or global inequality
- How the program contributes to personal career or academic trajectories

Attachment 1: *

Attachment 2: *

Attachment 3: *

Any other comments (optional):

* = Input is required