Tufts in Ghana

Accra, the capital and second largest city in Ghana, is also one of Africa’s fastest growing cities, with the current population around 2.6 million and a 2% annual population increase. It is also an extremely young city, with about 57% of the population under the age of 25. Accra is a center for manufacturing, marketing, finance, insurance, and transportation. While English is the official language and lingua franca of Ghana, about 80 languages are spoken. Situated near the equator, daylight hours are nearly uniform throughout the year and there is little temperature variation. 

Historically, Tufts has partnered with the University of Ghana (UG) to offer the Tufts in Ghana program. While we work with UG to redesign and relaunch the program, we have partnered with SIT Abroad—the pioneer in experiential, field-based programs abroad—to offer our students the opportunity to earn Tufts credit on the SIT Ghana: Globalization, Cultural Legacies, and the Afro-Chic program.  

Tufts in Ghana, in partnership with SIT Ghana, invites you to experience West Africa through immersion in Ghanaian cities, which challenge stereotypes of Africa and position the continent as a global economic, political, and cultural force.

Prerequisites  

The program is open to Tufts undergraduate juniors and seniors who meet the general eligibility requirements. Students from all academic majors are encouraged to apply.  

SIT Study Abroad 

For more than 50 years, School for International Training (SIT) has prepared students to be effective leaders, professional, and citizens through experiential education and intercultural exchange. All SIT programs, including SIT Ghana, are supported by long-standing relationships within communities around the world. SIT field centers employ mainly local citizens—as lecturers, facilitators, program assistants, and other supporting staff—who provide vital connections and insight into the communities where our students study and live. Read more about the SIT experience on their website. 

Courses 

Students enroll in a curated curriculum consisting of four courses and an independent study or internship on Ghanaian culture past, present, and future. All students take a beginner-level Asante Twi language course to help them engage more deeply with the local community, and to prepare for the hands-on, month-long internship or independent research project, a hallmark of SIT programs. A Research Methods and Ethics course further prepares students for undertaking such experiential learning. Access course descriptions and syllabi, as well as program learning outcomes, on the SIT website.  

Be sure to review our academic policies for education abroad and plan accordingly with your academic advisor(s).   

Review TGE Academic Policies

Orientation 

During the first week of the program, the academic/program director and other SIT professional staff and local partners conduct academic, cross-cultural, health and safety, and site-specific orientations.  

Through group discussions, readings, and participatory methods, students are introduced to the host country and develop skills for successful cross-cultural engagement and communication. Orientation is also a time to review academic requirements, understand program objectives, and develop relationships within the student group. 

Housing and Meals  

Students live with a local host family in Accra for the first month of the program, learning about Ghanaian culture through sharing meals, daily life, and language practice with the family. All host families are located within a 30-minute walk to the SIT program center. All meals are covered, either through a stipend or with the host family.  

Students stay in hostels and hotels for the second and third months of the program as they travel to other parts of Ghana. Note that students may choose to live in in Accra or any other part of Ghana for the third month of the program while they complete an independent study project or internship. 

Study Tours & Cultural Excursions  

SIT organizes co-curricular activities and excursions throughout the semester as a complement to the SIT Ghana curriculum, and to help students learn more about their local surroundings and the variety of sites and communities throughout Ghana. During the first month of the program in Accra, visits include museums, markets, start-ups, and Parliamentary buildings. The second month of the program is spent traveling around Ghana, and may include going to the Cape Coast in the south up to Tamale and Mole National Park in the north.

SIT Ghana’s onsite staff oversee the program and support students' academic and personal wellbeing while abroad. Further support will be provided by Tufts Global Education staff in Medford.