The Program

THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA-LEGON
The University was founded in 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast and operated as an affiliate college of the University of London, which supervised its academic programs and awarded degrees. The institution was awarded full university status in 1961. It is the largest of the four universities in Ghana and currently enrolls nearly 7,000 students.

The campus is located approximately 8 miles northeast of Accra, the capital of Ghana. University Avenue extends from the main gate to Legon Hill, where Commonwealth Hall, convocation buildings, an open-air theatre, the Great Hall and a tower donated by the Government of Ghana to commemorate Ghana's independence may be found.

UW-Eau Claire is part of the ISEP-Direct network that gives our students access to universities worldwide. As an ISEP student, you have the benefit of an on-site resident director who has lived in Ghana for more than 20 years. She will arrange for you to be met at the airport upon arrival, provide a comprehensive orientation program, including cultural and academic information, safety, course registration, campus & Accra city tour, shopping excursions, and visits to local areas of interest (Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, W.E.B. DuBois Center, Nyaho Clinic). ISEP-Ghana also arranges an optional group flight.

Location

If you're looking for a country with a stunning natural setting, welcoming people, rich history, and a diverse culture, Ghana is the place for you. Located in Western Africa, Ghana is bordered by Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Togo. With the Gulf of Guinea to the south, Ghana has a tropical climate that ranges from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some organized excursions are included with ISEP benefits. Past trips have gone to Cape Coast Castle, once a major slave trading post and now a museum memorializing the horrors of the slave trade, Kakum National Park, where you can take a canopy tour through this tropical rainforest; Kumasi, the center of the Ashanti Region, or Lake Volta, the largest man-made reservoir in the world that provides electricity for most of Ghana and some of the surrounding region.

Courses

The University of Ghana is a comprehensive university; you can choose from classes in the Schools of Arts; Science; Social Studies; Administration and African Studies. You can find course descriptions at http://www.ug.edu.gh/faculties.php

In addition to classes, you will have the opportunity to volunteer with community organizations. Past students have volunteered in orphanages, schools, literacy organizations, hospitals, and many more. If you complete the appropriate requirements, you may be able to fulfill part or all of your UW-Eau Claire service-learning requirement.

Accommodations

You'll live in double rooms in one of two on-campus International Student Hostels and may request a Ghanaian roommate. Each floor has a laundry room, 2 kitchenettes and a TV lounge. The ground floor includes 2 reading rooms, a small cafeteria, a small convenience store, internet cafe and a laundromat. A free evening shuttle service takes students to other major buildings, such as the library and main cafeteria. For more information, go to http://www.ug.edu.gh/ip/accommodation.html#ISH

Academic Calendar

You can study in Ghana for either semester or the full academic year. Fall semester runs from late August to December; spring from mid-January to May. You will receive exact dates from ISEP a few months prior to departure.

Expenses

The estimated Wisconsin resident program cost for Fall 2008 is $8,315. This includes full-time tuition, a double room in the university residence halls, a stipend for meals, on-site orientation and resident director, and ISEP and UW-Eau Claire administrative fees. Minnesota residents may apply for reciprocity; residents of other states add $900. Additional costs include: a passport, a $500 ISEP program deposit, mandatory ISEP insurance, roundtrip transportation, books, and personal expenses. Estimate an additional $3,500-$4,000 for these expenses. Total Wisconsin resident cost estimate: $11,815-12,315. Cost estimates may change at any time.

Financial Aid/Scholarships

If you qualify for financial aid, you can apply your aid to program costs.  Your financial aid package will be based on actual costs of the program, including round-trip airfare.   You may apply for a study abroad grant through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation; the CIE will provide this application when available. A Wisconsin Grant for Study Abroad may be available to undergraduate Wisconsin residents who receive financial aid, if funding is approved by the legislature; no further application is required. Information on scholarships for specific majors and national study abroad scholarships is available at http://uwec.edu/CIE/sac/finaid.htm.

Eligibility

To apply you must be a currently-enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduate UW-Eau Claire student. You must be in good academic standing, and have minimum cumulative resident GPA of 3.0. You may apply as a freshman but must have sophomore standing when the program begins.

Application Deadline

Applications for Fall 2008/Academic Year 2008-2009 are accepted beginning September 4, 2007.  The priority application deadline for Fall 2008 is November 15, 2007.

Applications for Spring 2009 are accepted beginning January 15, 2008.  The application deadline for Spring 2009 is April 1, 2008. 

Complete applications will be reviewed after these dates. Late applications will be considered if space is still available. Please contact the Center for International Education to find out if spaces are available before submitting a late application. No applications will be accepted after January 15, 2008 for Fall 2008/Academic Year 2008-2009 or after May 1, 2008 for Spring 2009.

You can download an application at online applications, or stop by to pick up an application in the Center for International Education.

Additional Information

For more information and an application, contact:

Center for International Education
Schofield 111
UW-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI  54702-4004

Phone: (715) 836-4411
Fax: (715) 836-4948
Email: studyabroad@uwec.edu