Visiting Students

ALU  \  Programmes  \  Visiting Students

Overview

As a visiting student to ALU, you have the choice to opt for a Gap Year or a short term Study Abroad programme. Either option will offer you a transformative personal and academic experience designed to prepare you for the future. Experience innovative learning and join a network of exceptional students from over 35 countries. You will be fully integrated into the ALU student body, taking advantage of all ALU has to offer.

As a visiting student, you’ll walk away with tangible benefits that will set you up for success:

  1. ALU’s Leadership Core will empower you to upskill yourself: getting you ready for further studies, the world of work, and life in general!
  2. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the African context – which will be crucial in the coming “African Century”.
  3. You’ll build a powerful network of diverse and interesting individuals that will enrich your life during your gap year and beyond.

As a visiting student you’ll study at the African Leadership College’s flagship campus in Mauritius*. Students join us for one to two terms.  If you’re interested in finding an internship after your classes, we will support you in that too, just like we do our degree programme students.

  • Term 1: September to December
  • Term 2: January to April

*If you have your heart set on studying at ALU in Rwanda, please reach out to us at studyabroad@alueducation.com

Academics

Our learning model is experiential and blends rigorous academics with real-world experience and leadership skills development. At ALU, we ban lectures as students learn best when they are actively engaged. Our classes are seminar-style and students lead the discussion.

All classes at ALU are open to visiting students and taught by full-time ALU faculty who hold degrees from some of the world’s greatest universities, such as Yale, Columbia, Stanford, and McGill.

  • Gap Year students take our Leadership Core classes.
  • Study Abroad students choose classes in our Leadership Core and also in our degree programmes (Business Management, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Social Sciences).

We work with each student to build a class schedule that meets their specific interests and needs.

During the admissions process, please let us know if you are interested in transferring credits for the classes you take with us to another university. If you are, then upon successful completion of your studies with us we can provide you with a transcript. Please note that eligibility to transfer credits is always decided by the receiving institution.

Student Life

Everything outside of the classroom is organized by our students and our Student Life team. Our campus is alive with dozens of clubs, initiatives, and student businesses. Student-run events include TEDxALC (which featured a speech by the President of Mauritius), fashion shows, open mic nights, and African Studies discussions. Student organizations include Banza Magazine, Ingress Media, Model United Nations, Arts@ALU, Cooking Club, and intramural sports. Get involved in one of your passions, or try something new!

All students live in dormitories on our newly built campus that is surrounded by idyllic views of sugar cane fields and mountains. You’ll have a roommate and you’ll also be paired up with a student “buddy” that can show you the ropes. You dine with your diverse peers in the cafeteria— although if you like to cook, there are kitchens on each floor of the dorms.  Additionally, the dorms have laundry facilities, common spaces to hang out in, study spaces, and some specialty rooms, like for musical jam sessions with your friends.

Activities

Mauritius is an island of unparalleled beauty that was dubbed by Mark Twain as the place paradise was modelled on. Outside of class, our students regularly arrange excursions on the island – this includes enjoying the many beautiful beaches, hiking some of the island’s 78 peaks, visiting world heritage sites, snorkeling, exploring Mauritius’ diverse cultural landscape and religious sites, attending art festivals, volunteering in nature reserves and indulge in delicious food. The island is your campus!

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How to Apply

The admissions process for ALU Gap Year/Study Abroad aims to enroll students who demonstrate a passion for leadership, think outside the box, and are determined to make an impact in the world.

Admissions is on a rolling basis, meaning the earlier you apply, the sooner you will receive your decision. We have limited slots for Gap Year and Study Abroad students, so we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.

Online Application: Our application is fully online and free to submit. This is the same application we use for our undergraduate programmes. When filling the application, make sure to mark you are applying as a “Visiting Student” in the “Campus and Degree Preference” section.

Below is our schedule (each term is four months):

  • Term 1: September to December
  • Term 2: January to April

Tuition

The ALU Gap Year/Study Abroad Programme is structured so that you can design your experience based on your own interests and schedule.

Gap Year/Study Abroad participants directly enroll in our classes for 1 or two terms.

DurationFeesProgramme
4 Months$12,0001 Term
8 Months$22,5002 Terms

What’s Included:

  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Meal Plan (3 meals and 2 snacks every day)
  • Access to all student facilities, services and activities
  • Medical check for permit application
  • Airport transfers

Not Included:

  • Flights ($1,000-$2,000 depending on origin)
  • Insurance
  • Pocket money for incidental purchases

Financial Aid and Scholarships

We strive to make the ALU experience affordable to as many students as possible and offer a limited amount of financial aid. Financial assistance is awarded on a case-by-case basis for admitted study abroad participants. Our financial aid is need-based and will only be able to partially cover our fees. We encourage students to take financing their education seriously and to seek funding from individual sponsors and the student’s home institution.

In addition, all African citizens automatically qualify for our Visiting African Leaders scholarship, which counts towards partial payment of tuition and living fees. For more information on this scholarship, please contact us at studyabroad@alueducation.com.

FAQ

What classes are available in the programme?

All classes at ALU are open to visiting students and taught by full-time ALU faculty who hold degrees from some of the world’s greatest universities, such as Yale, Columbia, Stanford, and McGill. Gap Year students typically take our Leadership Core classes. Study Abroad students choose classes in our Leadership Core and also in our degree programmes (Business Management, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Social Sciences). We work with each student to build a class schedule that meets their specific interests and needs. For more information on our academics, click here.

Why should I consider this programme?

During your time at ALU, you will not only gain real-world experience that will make you infinitely more employable after your studies, but you will also learn invaluable communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills. In addition, you will build a network of future leaders from all over the world right on the tropical island of Mauritius and will gain a deeper understanding of the fastest growing continent of the world that is Africa.

What Core Skills will students learn?

What are the selection criteria?

ALU welcomes applicants who are between the ages of 17 and 23 and come from a wide variety of backgrounds, qualifications, skills and experiences. If you are outside of this age group, but are still interested in the programme, contact us at studyabroad@alueducation.com. We consider students who are able to demonstrate their potential to succeed and who will do well in our rigorous and innovative learning environment. We recognise that people acquire skills and abilities in many different ways.

How do I apply?

Click here to begin your application. We have a rolling admissions process for our Gap Year and Study Abroad students which means we process applications as they come in. There is no application deadline for visiting students, but we advise students to apply at least 2 months prior to the start date of the programme.

How long is the programme?

Gap Year/Study Abroad participants directly enroll in our classes for one term (4 months)  or two terms (total of 8 months). We will also support you, like we do our degree program students, if you seek an internship after completing your classes.

Can I transfer credits for this programme?

During the admissions process, please let us know if you are interested in transferring credits for the classes you take with us to another university. If you are, then upon successful completion of your studies with us we can provide you with a transcript. Please note that eligibility to transfer credits is always decided by the receiving institution.

All students will also receive a certificate of competence that can be shared with prospective employers.

What are the fees for the programme?

DurationFeesProgramme
4 months$12,0001 Term
8 months$22,5002 Term
What’s Included:
  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Meal Plan (3 meals and 2 snacks every day)
  • Access to all student facilities, services and activities
  • Medical check for permit application
  • Airport transfers
Not Included:
  • Flights ($1,000-$2,000 depending on origin)
  • Insurance
  • Pocket money for incidental purchases

Can I do an Internship?

We always recommend that students do an internship if they can — and we support you in your efforts to find one. Internships enable students to gain first-hand work experience — and you can practice what you have learnt throughout the course of the year by having an internship. We believe that all future employees should develop a basic understanding of the corporate or non-profit world and the ways of working before they arrive for their first day of work. ALU will work with students to develop specific technical knowledge and skills to prepare them as entry-level hires for their first internship, and future jobs.  To date, our students have interned in over 30 countries around the world!

Where is the African Leadership Campus located?

The campus is located in Pamplemousses, in the north of the Island of Mauritius – about 1 hour drive from the international airport, and 15 minutes to the nearest beaches.

What is the campus like?

The Mauritius campus was opened in 2018 and is very new and modern. The dorms are based on 2 students sharing a room, and there are communal bathrooms, kitchens and common areas on each floor. We have female and male wings on each floor. You will be having your meals in the campus cafeteria with all the ALU students, and have access to everything ALU student life to offer from social activities to sports.

Can my family or friends visit me during the programme?

Family and friends are encouraged to visit students in order to gain a first-hand experience of the learning model and to tour the beautiful island of Mauritius. During the visit, family and friends can audit classes, take part in activities, and interact with other students as well as faculty and staff. There are several recommended options for housing that can be explored.

There is also a parent’s weekend each year which we would be thrilled for your parents to attend.