Academic Programs Abroad (APA): Dakar - Study in French or English in Senegal
Academic Programs Abroad (APA)
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Study in Dakar, Senegal’s vibrant coastal capital, through an immersive semester or academic year combining direct university enrollment, personalized academic options, language learning, and meaningful engagement with Senegalese culture. APA’s ... read more
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About
Study in Dakar, Senegal’s vibrant coastal capital, through an immersive semester or academic year combining direct university enrollment, personalized academic options, language learning, and meaningful engagement with Senegalese culture.
APA’s Dakar program welcomes students from a wide range of majors and academic disciplines, with course options spanning Political Science, International Relations, Business, Communications, Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM, and more. With courses available in both French and English, students can build an academic experience that matches their interests, field of study, and language level while experiencing university and everyday life in Francophone West Africa.
Academics
Students earn up to 16 U.S. credits and enroll in up to four courses through a combination of direct enrollment at Institut Supérieur de Management (ISM) and APA in-house courses.
At ISM, students may choose courses across three schools:
- Madiba Leadership Institute: Political Science, International Relations, Communications, Journalism, Cultural Management, and related fields
- School of Management: International Management, Marketing, International Trade, Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Agribusiness, and more
- School of Engineering: Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Software Engineering, Telecommunications, Digital Engineering, Technology, Transportation and Logistics, and more
Students may also complement their ISM coursework with APA in-house seminars, taught by faculty from ISM and Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD). These small, locally grounded courses explore subjects such as Anthropology, Sociology, Literature, and Wolof language and culture.
For additional academic flexibility, students may replace one course with an independent study or research project, allowing them to explore a particular academic interest in greater depth while drawing on the people, institutions, and resources available in Dakar.
Students also participate in ISM’s Soft Skills Academy, which connects classroom learning with projects focused on humanitarianism, the environment, sports, and creativity. During Entrepreneurship Week, regular classes pause as students collaborate with their ISM peers on hands-on projects.
Cultural Immersion
Learning in Dakar extends well beyond the classroom. APA combines university life with cultural activities, language learning, excursions, and opportunities to connect with the local community.
Program experiences include:
- A day trip to Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- A weekend excursion to the Sine Saloum Delta
- Performing arts shows and cultural events throughout the semester
- Seminars introducing students to Senegalese music and West African visual arts
- Weekly Wolof lessons to help students engage more fully with everyday life
- Volunteer, extracurricular, and cultural exchange opportunities
- Opportunities to connect with Senegalese student peers and participate in ISM campus life
Homestay
Living with a Senegalese host family is an important part of the Dakar experience, giving students the opportunity to experience everyday life, practice their language skills, and build meaningful relationships within the local community.
Students enjoy a private bedroom with linens, access to shared household spaces, daily breakfast and dinner, and weekly laundry service. Most host families live within approximately a 15-minute walk of ISM in Dakar’s vibrant Point E neighborhood.
The experience goes well beyond housing. Students often become part of the rhythm of family life—sharing meals, cooking traditional Senegalese dishes, introducing their own favorite foods, practicing French and Wolof, and joining family celebrations and gatherings. Many students develop close relationships with their host families that continue long after the program ends.
Personalized Support
APA’s experienced on-site team provides personalized support throughout the program, beginning with pre-departure advising and visa guidance and continuing with airport pickup, orientation, academic and language advising, and assistance navigating health, safety, and everyday life in Dakar. With a small program structure and dedicated local staff, students have the support and resources they need while developing greater confidence and independence abroad.
Language
Students do not need advanced French to study in Dakar with APA. Courses available in English make the program accessible to students at a range of French levels, while students with stronger French skills can pursue a full courseload taught in French.
All students have opportunities to strengthen their language skills throughout the semester. Weekly French language support helps students build confidence and succeed academically, while weekly Wolof lessons introduce students to Senegal’s most widely spoken language and provide practical tools for connecting with host families and the wider community.
Combined with a Senegalese homestay and everyday life in Dakar, these opportunities allow students to develop their language skills naturally both inside and outside the classroom.
Program Cost
Programs start at $12,500 per semester, including tuition, homestay and meals, cultural activities and excursions, language support, and comprehensive APA support.
Extend Your Experience with APA
Make the most of your time abroad—and strengthen your French along the way—by combining your Dakar program with another APA experience. Especially recommended for students entering with an A2+ or B1 level, APA’s August Short-Term Program in Paris offers three intensive weeks of French language, culture, and daily life before beginning a fall semester in Dakar, helping students build confidence and strengthen their language skills before arrival in Senegal.
Students can also spend a full academic year exploring the Francophone world by combining a semester in Dakar with a semester in Paris or APA’s Multi-Country Program. These options provide even more time to advance your French while experiencing different Francophone cultures, academic environments, and perspectives.
To start your application, visit our website: apaparis.com/apply
Program Type(s):
Study AbroadProgram Length(s):
- Fall
- Spring
- Academic Year
Instruction Language(s):
- French
- English
Language Requirement(s):
- English
- French
Relevant Study Subject(s):
- Agriculture Business, Agricultural Management
- African Studies
- French Studies
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
- Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
- Communication and Media Studies
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Foreign Languages and Literatures
- African Languages, Literature
- Ecology, Evolution Biology
- Biological and Physical Sciences
- Peace Studies, Conflict Resolution
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Global Studies
- Chemistry
- Social Sciences
- Economics
- International Relations
- Political Science and Government
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Business
- Human Resources Management
- International Business
- History
Minimum GPA:
2.7Year Founded:
1986Website
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Academic Programs Abroad (APA) Scholarships
Become the voice abroad for APA with regular blog and social media postings. Semester awards begin at $500 and summer awards begin at $300. Eligible for bonuses at the end of term for outstanding work.
$300 - 500.00
Deadlines:
Fall Semester/Academic Year: March 1
Summer: April 1
Spring Semester: October 1
Guidelines/Requirements:
Previous scholarship recipients have had a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater, previous experience running social media accounts for a business or organization, shown a keen interest in engaging in French and Francophone culture, and have had a serious desire to take part in a full-immersion program.
Become your cohort’s photographic or videographic historian for your term abroad. Your photos and/or videos may be featured on the APA website or in future promotional materials!
$300 - 500.00
Deadlines:
Fall Semester/Academic Year: March 1
Summer: April 1
Spring: October 1
Guidelines/Requirements:
Previous visual media scholarship recipients have had a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater, experience in photography and/or videography, shown a keen interest in engaging in French and Francophone culture, and a serious desire to take part in a full-immersion program.
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