Semester in Gaborone
Unique Experiences
Take classes across all departments
at the University of Botswana (UB) with local and international students
Attend a dance workshop
to learn the significance of dance in Botswana culture
Enjoy a morning hike at Tlokweng Hill
and witness a breathtaking African sunrise
Your Destination
Gaborone is Botswana’s welcoming capital, offering an inspiring environment for students across disciplines. With its blend of traditional culture and modern development, vibrant local markets, arts scene, and access to nearby wildlife and natural reserves, Gaborone provides a unique and enriching backdrop for learning. Whether you're studying business, science, engineering, technology, communications, psychology, health sciences, liberal arts, language, or fine arts, Gaborone is the perfect place to study abroad.
Program Highlights
- Academic Courses: Choose from CIEE courses, host institution courses, and online courses delivered by CIEE’s global partner, ASU, that align with your academic major.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activities, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
- Cultural Projects: Volunteer with members of the local community, join university clubs to socialize with your peers, and attend local workshops and events to get to know your host city.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Gaborone will open doors for you to explore Botswana’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of past excursions and activities:
- Learn how communities play a critical role in preserving the environment by visiting Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community-based conservation initiative
- Practice Setswana with a native local speaker
- Make local friends by joining a student club at the host university
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
Eat, Drink, Explore: Gaborone
BEST FOOD TO EAT IN BOTSWANA Africa is a meat-eating continent, and Botswana is no different. The country’s national meat dish has two names: “ seswaa” in the Central District... keep reading
HSSA Leadership and Service in Public Health Experience
We often hear phrases, “When an opportunity presents itself, take it” but what happens when there are a vast majority of opportunities to choose from? The short answer is to... keep reading
What I Packed to Study Abroad in Gaborone, Botswana
A master list of the items you should bring to study abroad in Gaborone, Botswana - including tips and tricks from my student perspective at the University of Botswana campus.
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Gaborone offers various housing options, which include a single room at a homestay, a shared double rooms in the university residence hall or single accommodation in apartment style housing off campus. Residence halls are on the university campus while homestays are within 60 minutes of it.
Standard Housing:
- On-Campus Residence Hall: Includes a shared double room with a local student at the university residence hall. The residence hall accommodation includes a shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities.
- Homestays: Includes a single room at a local homestay. Homestays boast a kitchen, living room, and a shared bathroom with the host family.
Select Plus Housing: Includes a single airconditioned room in apartment style housing off campus, within a 15-minute-commute to CIEE Center. Select Plus housing requires an additional fee.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
- Residence Hall: Meals are not included, therefore students are responsible for all meals. Students have options to purchase meals at local refectory or eat off-campus.
- Apartments: Meals are not included, therefore students are responsible for all meals.
- Homestays: Host families provide breakfast and dinner during the week and all meals on weekends. Students are responsible for their weekday lunches.
Academics
CIEE Gaborone: Study on the campus of the University of Botswana, the first higher education institution established in the country. The campus is conveniently located within walking distance of Riverwalk Mall – one of the oldest shopping centers in Botswana – where you will find a movie theatre, plenty of restaurants, and shops. CIEE Gaborone is situated on-campus where you will have access to a gym and computer labs.
University of Botswana: The University of Botswana was established in 1982 with the goal of improving economic and social conditions for the nation. With more than 15,000 students and a staff of more than 2,000, the university is committed to academic freedom and integrity, cultural authenticity, and internationalism. The University of Botswana offers state-of-the-art facilities including a newly built medical school and sports facilities open to all students. Except for the CIEE Language and Culture Practicum, all courses are taught by University of Botswana’s faculty.
Arizona State University (ASU): Brought to you by CIEE in partnership with ASU, enhance your international coursework with online classes that align with your degree requirements. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous 7.5-week sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar.
Course Information
Academic Projects
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Health Professions and Related Programs
Languages and Cultural Studies
Academic Projects
Biological and Physical Sciences
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Health Professions and Related Programs
Languages and Cultural Studies
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
University of Botswana
Courses are taught in English at the University of Botswana. Students can take courses in the following faculties, pending eligibility requirements:
Faculty of Business
Accounting and Finance
Marketing
Faculty of Education
Adult Education
Educational Foundations
Educational technology
Family and Consumer Sciences
Language and Social Science Education
Primary Education
Faculty of Engineering & Technology
Architecture and Planning
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Industrial Design and Technology
Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Health Sciences
Environmental Health
Allied Health Professions
Faculty of Humanities
African Languages and Literature
English
French
History
Library and Information Studies
Media Studies
Theology and Religious Studies
Chinese Studies
Visual and Performing Arts
Faculty of Science
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Computer Studies
Environmental Science
Geology
Mathematics
Physics
Faculty of Social Sciences
Economics
Political and Administrative Studies
Social Work
Sociology
Statistics
Psychology
Population Studies
See the University of Botswana undergraduate calendar for more information.
CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, online coursework that aligns with your degree requirements from anywhere you study abroad.
CIEE and ASU offer courses online per program eligibility, at no additional charge. Be sure to review online courses with your home school advisor.
Check the CIEE Program Dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program!
Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- Trailblazer Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Fall 2025 18 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $19,950 |
| Program Academic year 2025-2026 44 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $37,000 |
| Program Spring 2026 18 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $17,950 | |
| Program Fall 2026 18 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $16,456 ** |
| Housing | $3,000 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $19,950 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $252 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 †† |
| Local Transportation | $150 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $250 |
| Personal expenses | $210 †††† |
| Total Costs | $2,562 |
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals a day. For students in Residence Halls, you should budget approx. $756 for meals
††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Homestay students should budget for $190
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $31,006 ** |
| Housing | $5,500 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $37,000 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $252 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 †† |
| Local Transportation | $150 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $250 |
| Personal expenses | $210 †††† |
| Total Costs | $2,562 |
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals a day. For students in Residence Halls, you should budget approx. $756 for meals
††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Homestay students should budget for $190
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $14,956 ** |
| Housing | $2,500 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $17,950 |
Optional Housing
CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.
| Select Plus Housing Fee | $2,850 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $290 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 †† |
| Local Transportation | $150 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $250 |
| Personal expenses | $245 †††† |
| Total Costs | $2,635 |
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals a day. For students in Residence Halls, you should budget approx. $850 for meals
††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Homestay students should budget for $190
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Basetsana Maposa
Center Director
Basetsana Masego Maposa is a seasoned health, gender, and international development professional with over 15 years of experience managing and directing national and multilateral public health projects. She holds two...
Keneilwe Manisa
Program Assistant
Keneilwe completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Botswana in 2022. She started as a student volunteer in 2019 and also has experience with...
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
You might also like
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Study Program
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship