Global Health - GEI Study Abroad in Rwanda

A 16-credit certificate program to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding that prepare you for leadership and engagement in our global society.

Certificate in Global Engagement Program
Disciplinary Track: Global Health
Study Abroad Destination: Rwanda
Fall Semester Dates: Sep 1-Dec 13, 2025 (15 weeks)
Spring Semester Dates: Feb 2-May 16, 2026 (15 weeks)
Fall Semester Dates: Aug 31-Dec 12, 2026 (15 weeks)
Credit: 16 U.S. credit hours (~ 32 ECTS credits) for eligible university students
Eligibility: Any field and level of study

This interdisciplinary 15-week semester program offers students a transformative opportunity to engage with one of Africa’s most dynamic and equitable public health systems. Through a structured sequence of classroom learning, field immersion, and hands-on practicum, students develop the skills and perspectives to become ethical and effective global health practitioners.

Based in Kigali, Rwanda’s vibrant capital, students engage in site visits, research, and team-based projects with a variety of healthcare providers, NGOs, and community organizations. Each phase of the program builds upon the last - from critical frameworks and cross-cultural foundations to applied field engagement and a culminating practicum.

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The semester is structured to provide a progressive, immersive learning experience that integrates academic rigor with real-world engagement. Students begin with a hybrid seminar that lays the theoretical and intercultural foundation for ethical global health practice. This is followed by an intensive field engagement course and a hands-on practicum with a local health partner. Complemented by Kinyarwanda language instruction, the program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and cultural fluency needed to navigate and contribute meaningfully to Rwanda’s dynamic health landscape.

This hybrid seminar establishes the theoretical, cultural, and ethical foundation for the semester's global health immersion. Conducted through a blend of online modules and in-person facilitation in Rwanda, the course equips students with essential interdisciplinary frameworks, including systems thinking, structural competency, and ethical global engagement.

Throughout the course, students engage in team-based projects, case studies, and interactive activities that deepen their understanding of global health inequities and foster the skills necessary for effective cross-cultural collaboration. Emphasis is placed on developing personal leadership, reflexivity, and the ability to navigate complex sociocultural dynamics in global health contexts. The seminar is guided by a GEI facilitator who supports collaborative learning and real-time application of course concepts in the local Rwandan setting.

This intensive course offers students a solid foundation in Kinyarwanda, the national language of Rwanda, and is designed to support effective communication and cultural immersion during the semester. The course focuses on practical language skills needed for everyday interactions, academic fieldwork, and community engagement.

Emphasizing both linguistic and cultural fluency, students learn basic grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary while gaining insight into Rwandan norms, values, and social dynamics. Instruction is delivered in an interactive, student-centered format with native-speaking instructors and includes role-plays, dialogues, and community-based practice sessions. By the end of the course, students are prepared to navigate daily life in Rwanda with confidence and cultural sensitivity.

This 3-week course bridges classroom theory with immersive, on-the-ground experience in Rwanda’s public health landscape. Through structured field visits, community interactions, and interviews with key stakeholders, students explore how national policies and grassroots efforts intersect to shape health outcomes.

Working in interdisciplinary teams, students critically analyze health systems, community dynamics, and intervention strategies, guided by faculty and local professionals. Weekly colloquia provide a space for synthesis, ethical reflection, and collaborative problem-solving. The course culminates in a field-based group project that investigates a specific public health challenge within the local context.

In this final, four-week practicum, students apply their accumulated learning in a high-impact, team-based placement with a local health organization. Under faculty guidance and mentorship from Rwandan professionals, students design and implement an intervention that addresses a real-world health challenge - ranging from health promotion campaigns to service delivery innovations.

Weekly colloquia continue to anchor the experience, fostering reflective practice, systems thinking, and ethical engagement. The practicum concludes with a public project presentation and submission of a comprehensive digital portfolio that documents the student’s contribution, learning outcomes, and professional development.

As capstone project, students create a digital portfolio that serves as a comprehensive record of the students’ achievements and learning throughout the program. Students gather artifacts from their coursework and field experiences to showcase their development and mastery of skills. The portfolio culminates in a reflective essay and a presentation, promoting self-assessment and continuous learning.

By the end of the semester, students will be able to:

Apply interdisciplinary global health frameworks, including systems thinking and structural competency, to analyze health challenges in low-resource settings
Demonstrate intercultural competence through meaningful engagement with Rwandan communities, health professionals, and language
Collaborate ethically and effectively with local partners to co-design and implement health interventions grounded in community priorities
Reflect critically on power dynamics, positionality, and the ethics of global health practice in diverse contexts
Communicate academic, field-based, and cultural learning through a professional digital portfolio that integrates research, project work, and personal growth

There are no specific prerequisites or requirements. Students can be enrolled in any major or minor and can be at any level of university study. While we try to always place students in cohorts with similar levels of study, please understand that this may not always be possible.

Our programs are designed to follow U.S. academic standards and culture. The semester pace is intensive, with high expectations for academic performance, cultural engagement, and professional growth. The U.S. grading scale of A to F is used. Students will complete a variety of assignments, including six thematic group assignments, weekly reflective journaling or blogging, and a final analytical project paper (MED301); participation in a structured field placement, weekly reflective entries, and a final field report (MED302); a collaborative practicum project, a professional presentation, and a personal reflective essay (MED303); and engaged participation in intensive Kinyarwanda language instruction, with homework, a written final exam, and an oral proficiency test (LAN302). In addition, all students maintain a digital portfolio that tracks their academic and experiential progress and concludes with a capstone reflection and presentation.

16 U.S. credit hours (~ 32 ETCS credits) for eligible undergraduate students via our U.S. academic school of record. After successful completion of the program, you will receive a comprehensive GEI transcript as well as the GEI Certificate in Global Engagement. Please check with your academic advisor at your home institution to confirm how many credits can be accepted for your degree program.

The language of instruction is English.

One of today’s greatest development success stories, Rwanda is Africa’s prime study abroad jewel. The country underwent a breathtaking transformation since the 1994 genocide. A model for poverty reduction and economic growth, it accounts for the highest percentage of women in parliament anywhere in the world. And the streets of its modern green capital Kigali are clean, safe, and free of corruption.

Progressive health system access

students explore Rwanda’s renowned community-based health insurance model, primary care initiatives, and district health systems through field visits, interviews, and guided tours of clinics, hospitals, and policy institutions.

Collaborative community engagement

Through project-based learning and practicum placements, students build relationships with local health professionals and contribute to initiatives focused on maternal-child health, infectious disease, mental health, and more.

Cultural immersion and language learning

Living and learning in Kigali, students develop Kinyarwanda language skills and engage with Rwanda’s rich history and traditions. Cultural experiences include cooking classes, dance workshops, storytelling sessions, and guided visits to local markets, memorials, and community organizations.

Weekend exploration and ecological insight

Optional weekend trips to Lake Kivu, Nyungwe Forest, or Akagera National Park offer students the opportunity to experience Rwanda’s natural beauty and deepen their appreciation for environmental health intersections.

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The program includes a minimum of 15 weeks in Rwanda. For this time, GEI Rwanda offers different housing options that students can choose from, pending availability. These include:

Homestays: Typically single rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
Serviced apartments: Single or shared double rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
University residence halls at our local partner universities: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities
Simple guesthouses: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities

Homestay host families typically provide breakfast and dinner. Students in serviced apartments, university residence halls, or guesthouses are usually responsible for all meals outside of core course meals.

You can find additional information in the following blog post: Accommodation – What to expect.

Fall 2025 (15 weeks): Sep 1-Dec 13

Spring 2026 (15 weeks): Feb 2-May 16
Fall 2026 (15 weeks): Aug 31-Dec 12

Fall 2025: July 1

Spring 2026: Dec 1
Fall 2026: July 1

Fall 2025: US $17,450

Spring 2026: US $17,450
Fall 2026: US $17,450

At GEI, we strongly believe in equal access to academic opportunities in study abroad. In order to help eliminate financial barriers, we offer a variety of merit scholarships, trailblazer scholarships, and opportunity scholarships and grants, ranging from $500 to full tuition awards. Each year, GEI is awarding several hundred thousand dollars in scholarships. You can find further information as well as additional resources for external funding opportunities in the following blog post: Scholarships & Grants.

Included in your program fees

Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure advising
Optional onsite airport meet & greet
Orientation
Full-time local coordination and 24/7 onsite emergency support
Course-related activities and excursions, including transportation, selected meals, and guiding, during the Global Field Engagement Course and the Global Practicum
Optional events and cultural activities
Health insurance

Not included in your program fees

Transportation to/from the program location airport (including international airfare and taxes)
Visas
Immunizations
Housing beyond the 10 main onsite program weeks ($300/week extra)
Meals other than those included during the Global Field Engagement Course or the Global Practicum
General items and services of a personal nature
Medical expenses not covered by the health insurance provided
Other discretionary expenses

RWANDA

STAFF

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GLOBAL HEALTH (RWANDA)

GEI CERTIFICATE IN GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

AT A GLANCE

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

ACADEMICS

YOUR DESTINATION: RWANDA

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

HOUSING & MEALS

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Included in your program fees

Not included in your program fees

STAFF

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

GLOBAL HEALTH (RWANDA)

GEI CERTIFICATE IN GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

AT A GLANCE

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

ACADEMICS

YOUR DESTINATION: RWANDA

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

HOUSING & MEALS

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Included in your program fees

Not included in your program fees

STAFF

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

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