SUMMER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

GLOBAL HEALTH (RWANDA)

GEI MICROCERTIFICATE IN GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

An 8-credit microcertificate program to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding that prepare you for leadership and engagement in our global society.

AT A GLANCE

  • Microcertificate in Global Engagement Program
  • Disciplinary Track: Global Health
  • Study Abroad Destination: Rwanda
  • 2026 Dates: June 1-July 24 (8 weeks)
  • Credit: 8 U.S. credit hours (~ 16 ECTS credits) for eligible university students
  • Eligibility: Any field and level of study

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Engage with global health challenges in Rwanda
This intensive 8‑week, 8‑credit microcertificate balances academic rigor with immersive field engagement in Rwanda - widely regarded as a global leader in public health innovation. Through two integrated courses, students explore global health challenges - such as burden of disease, health systems, governance, infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and mental health - while applying insights in local settings.

Participants collaborate with Rwandan clinics, NGOs, research institutions, and community groups to tackle health challenges and build sustainable solutions. Weekly colloquia, mentorship, and a digital portfolio synthesis guide students to apply theory, develop leadership as global change agents, and make meaningful contributions at community scale.
Program Highlights
  • Comprehensive 8-week microcertificate featuring progressive field learning
  • Collaborative placements with leading Rwandan health organizations
  • Interdisciplinary coursework and packed field excursions
  • Professional mentorship, peer reflection, and digital portfolio capstone

ACADEMICS

Program Structure
The Global Health track of the Microcertificate in Global Engagement is an intensive, 8-credit program spanning eight weeks over a summer. Students undergo a transformative learning journey, engaging with critical global issues through an interdisciplinary approach. The program structure includes two main courses, both in Rwanda, and a capstone project, delivered in a sequence that builds from theoretical understanding to practical, hands-on experience. This progression ensures that students not only learn about global issues but also apply their knowledge in real-world settings.
Learning Outcomes
By program's end, students will:
  • Demonstrate deep understanding of global and local health challenges - such as disease burden, systems, and governance
  • Apply interdisciplinary frameworks and practical skills to real-world health settings
  • Develop cultural competence and ethical awareness within Rwandan health contexts
  • Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary and community-based partners
  • Present a polished digital portfolio illustrating their professional and academic progression
Further Details
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YOUR DESTINATION: RWANDA

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.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Hands-on fieldwork in Rwanda’s health ecosystem
Students engage directly with Rwandan healthcare systems - visiting hospitals, local clinics, health innovators (like Zipline Rwanda), and NGOs working in maternal-child health, nutrition, infectious disease, or mental health - seeing firsthand how policies become practice.

Community-engaged capstone project
Collaborative, team-based work with community partners allows students to design and implement a tangible health intervention or policy recommendation, ensuring real impact and deep immersion.
Mentored reflection & peer learning
Weekly colloquia led by GEI faculty and local facilitators guide students through critical reflection on ethics, cross-cultural engagement, and systems thinking. This structured dialogue supports growth as global health leaders.

Cultural immersion & weekend exploration
Daily life is woven into learning - students sample local cuisine, visit vibrant markets, and engage with Rwandan culture through dance, drumming, and Kinyarwanda practice. Organized excursions connect them with Rwanda’s rich history (e.g. Kigali Genocide Memorial) and biodiversity (e.g. Nyungwe Forest, gorilla treks, safaris).
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HOUSING & MEALS

The program includes 8 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.

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Program Dates

Application Due Date

Fees

Summer 2026 (8 weeks): June 1-July 24

April 1, 2026

Summer 2026: US $7,950 (8 weeks)

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.

RWANDA

STAFF

All of our staff are highly experienced and resourceful professionals.
Yvan Rubengebenge
Center Director
Francoise Uzamukunda, MA
Academic Coordinator
Denyse Iradukunda, BA
Program & Student Services Coordinator
Rachel Irakoze, BA
Program & Student Services Coordinator
Janvier Muhire, MSc
Student Life Coordinator
Kelly Uwase
Student Life Coordinator

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