Fast Facts
APA’s flagship Multi-Country: France | Morocco | Senegal itinerary moves your cohort through Paris, Rabat, and Dakar in one immersive 18-week semester or an extended gap-year track. Students earn 16 U.S. credits, complete capstone research, and live with three different host families—tripling their cultural insight and French exposure.
Why Combine Three Cultures?
Comparative study sharpens critical thinking, cross-cultural agility, and adaptability—skills employers and graduate programs prize in globally minded applicants. According to the Gap Year Association, 55% of gap-year alumni report higher cultural awareness and 48% stronger communication skills after an international experience.
Month-by-Month Itinerary
Phase 1: Paris (Weeks 1–6)
• Orientation and seminars along with French evaluation and intensive language support.
• Spring weekend in Marseille offers a unique window into France’s multi-cultural colonial past and today’s vibrant debates on immigration, religion, and the enduring ties between France and Africa.
Phase 2: Rabat (Weeks 7–12)
• Continue cross-cutting coursework through a new lens while adding Darija (Moroccan Arabic) and calligraphy workshops.
• Field visits to NGOs and Parliament, plus shadow-days exploring migration policy and women’s entrepreneurship in the Maghreb.
Phase 3: Dakar (Weeks 13–18)
• Complete the final layer of understanding—like a cross-thatch of perspectives—while deepening your grasp of urban studies, Islam, literature, and colonial/decolonial topics.
• Take part in activities with our university partners and the Soft Skills Academy, and perfect your basic Wolof skills before returning home.
Gap Year Flexibility
Whether you choose a semester or a longer gap-year format, this program gives you the chance to gain experience in multiple countries, advance your French and Arabic language skills, and build confidence navigating new environments. Many students return to college ready to place out of language requirements and hit the ground running on future study abroad and international internships. A structured, transformative year abroad can give you a powerful head start on your college experience and career goals.
Admissions & Cost
Applications are accepted on a set timeline to ensure cohorts meet the minimum size needed for this multi-country experience to run successfully. Intermediate French (B1) is required. We strongly recommend applying early to secure your place and take advantage of pre-application interviews, which help confirm your language level and ensure the program is a great fit. Tuition includes inter-country flights, all excursions, intensive language support, and courses taught by distinguished professors in each country collaborating on a unified syllabus across three regions and cultures.
Why It’s Ideal for College Students
This immersive multi-country experience isn’t only for gap-year students—it’s also a powerful academic and professional boost for undergraduates eager to distinguish themselves. Studying in three Francophone countries helps you develop cultural fluency, resilience, and adaptability that translate directly to careers in international relations, foreign service, NGOs, and doctoral research. For a first-hand perspective, see this student review of APA’s Multi-Country: France, Morocco & Senegal program. It offers a helpful snapshot of what academics, cultural immersion, and day-to-day life look like across the three sites As Forbes notes, “The global perspective a student gains while studying in another country prepares them to compete in an international marketplace that values familiarity with other countries, cultures and languages.” Read more
