INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION OFFICE

UMD's office for study abroad

Incoming Exchange &
Study Abroad Students

UMD Home > IEO > Programs > Program Information > Mauritius > University of Mauritius

Study at University of Mauritius

PROGRAM TERMS	Fall or Year
CLASS STANDING	Sophomore, Junior, Senior
DEADLINE TO APPLY	Fall 2007: Mar. 23, 2007 Spring 2008: Oct. 15, 2007
FEES	$3,400* [2007-2008]
FINANCIAL AID	Yes
GPA	3.0
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION	English

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University Information
Since becoming operational in 1968, the University of Mauritius has slowly been transformed from a small developmental university to an institution providing degree courses in a wide range of academic disciplines, giving increasing importance to post-graduate training, research and consultancy with a view to responding to the current and emerging needs of the various sectors of the economy. The university is now facing the challenge of having to expand very quickly to assist Mauritius to prepare itself for global competition, to keep pace with the rapid progress being made in communication and information technology and to play an important role in the region, while ensuring that quality norms are maintained and that due emphasis is given to
research and consultancy. The student population is around 7,000. The University of Mauritius is a high-quality university offering courses in many areas: agriculture, engineering, law & management, social studies & humanities and science. The campus is an esthetic blend of vintage and modern buildings in the scenic and historic setting of Le Réduit, Mauritius.

Besides soccer and swimming, the Asian activities and sports such as Yoga, Bharat Natyam, Aerobics, Judo, Karate, Kick Boxing, Tang Soo Do, Tai Chi, and Tae Kwon Do are popular. Basketball, tennis, volleyball and badminton are also available. A game room for chess, checkers, pool and card games gives students a chance to visit and play social games.

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Location Information
Mauritius is an island nation of 1.2 millions inhabitants in the Indian Ocean. It lies east of Madagascar, 2,400 kilometers off of the coast of the African continent and 5,000 kilometers from India's southern coast. The present 1,865 square kilometer island was formed by volcanoes and is surrounded by coral reefs. Mauritius has a multicultural society in which the cultures blend and mix harmoniously. It has been a colony of the French and British for over two centuries, gaining independence in 1968 and forming a republic in 1992. The population is made up of people of Indian, African, Chinese and French origin. Most people speak English, French and Créole. English is the official language of the government and of education. All courses at the university are offered in English. Though not required, a year of French is recommended since most people are comfortable speaking French.

Arab traders were the first to come upon the island in the 10th century, followed by the Portuguese in the 1500s, but neither group remained to make permanent settlements. The Dutch landed in the late 1500s and stayed, naming the island after Prince Maurice of Nassau. They remained for little over a century but also decided to leave. It was the French, arriving in 1715, who stayed and gave the island its essentially French character and charm. However, as a result of the conflict between the British and French in Europe and the rivalry in their respective trade with India, the British attacked the French garrison stationed on the island and defeated them. From that time until independence in 1968, the island was administered by the British. The island’s present inhabitants are descendants of settlers from Europe, slaves from Africa and Madagascar, and indentured laborers and artisans from Asia, with each racial group bringing its own culture and traditions. These different attributes have, over time, became uniquely blended to create a national harmony which recognizes diversity within a common identity and national character. Today, the island has a population of 1.1 million people. The natural beauty of the island, its warm climate year-round, white beaches, tranquil sea, exciting deep-sea fishing, excellent hotels and friendly people make Mauritius an attractive tourist destination.

About 150,000 people live in the capital of Port Louis. Le Réduit, where the university is located, is a small locality known for its historical buildings and surrounding environment. The area now serves as a hub for education.

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Courses Available
The University of Mauritius holds all courses in English, with the exception of several French-taught courses. Areas of study include agriculture, engineering, law & management, social studies & humanities and science. For the purposes of most students, courses will range from 3 to 6 credits, each credit being equivalent to one UMD credit. Many courses run for an entire academic year, beginning the program in the fall semester. These courses are indicated with a "Y" next to the course code. Students studying for the spring semester cannot take year-long courses that began in the fall. However, students studying only for the fall semester may take the first semester of a year-long course. Therefore, fall semester is the recommended time for study abroad at the University of Mauritius to ensure the widest range of course offerings.

To view the most up-to-date course offerings, please visit the University of Mauritius's Full Listing of Undergraduate Programmes at the University of Mauritius website. Also, please view current course equivalencies for University of Mauritius.

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Academic Credit
UMD students who study abroad are registered for a block of Foreign Studies credits by staff in the International Education Office (IEO) so there is no “transfer credit.” Course choices are examined by the department heads in appropriate departments to determine whether the courses will count towards the student’s major, minor or liberal education requirements at UMD. When students return from abroad and grades are posted, the block of credits disappears and individual courses appear on the transcript with the equivalent UMD course also listed. If there is no equivalent course at UMD, the foreign course title is listed. To find out which courses have already been approved, please look at the IEO website for University of Mauritius equivalencies. New courses are added as they are approved.

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Eligibility
Students must have a minimum of one full year of college prior to beginning of program. For some areas of study, students should have completed substantial upper division course work in their field of study. If students wish to study in the areas of science and engineering, they should have a strong background in mathematics and physics.

A GPA of 3.0 at a level of sophomore or higher is required by the University of Mauritius. Some programs may require pre-requisite courses and considerable study in the field.

Students are tentatively accepted by the International Education Office at UMD after an interview by a staff member in the International Education Office. Final acceptance is given by the University of Mauritius. Students outside the University of Minnesota system are eligible to apply and may be interviewed by phone.

Information about areas of study at the University of Mauritius can be found on their website at: http://www.uom.ac.mu/.

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Costs
The International Education Office at UMD tries to keep the costs of its study abroad programs as affordable as possible. The program cost per semester to attend University of Mauritius is $3,400 during the 2007-2008 academic year. The program cost includes:

the $100 application fee to the International Education Office
the $400 deposit to the International Education Office
tuition at University of Mauritius
CISI (required international health insurance) for up to 5 months

The program cost does not include room and board, textbooks, airfare and other additional costs. No additional tuition will be charged by UMD, though students will be billed for the Internet/Email Access Fee. Cost of living in Mauritius is considered inexpensive to U.S. standards. Estimated room and board during the 2006-2007 academic year is about $250-$300 per month.

Costs in Mauritius will vary depending upon the exchange rate between US dollars and Mauritius rupees. Fluctuating currency exchange rates may increase or decrease the cost of your international experience. Financial aid may be used toward the program fee, except for tuition waivers such as Best in Class. There are several study abroad scholarships for University of Minnesota students.

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Deadlines & Dates
Deadlines to apply to a program occur during the semester previous to that which you wish to study abroad. In general, deadlines fall around March 15 to study during the fall semester or October 15 to study during the spring semester. A student registered for study abroad during UMD's fall semester will be studying during Semester 1 at the University of Mauritius, which runs from early August until mid-December. A student registered for study abroad during UMD's spring semester will be studying during Semester 2 at the University of Mauritius, which runs from mid-January until late May.

Study: Fall semester 2007 or full 2007-2008 academic year
UMD Deadline to apply: Friday, March 23, 2007
Fall orientation dates: August 6 - 10, 2007
Fall semester: August 13 - December 12, 2007

Study: Spring semester 2008
UMD Deadline to apply: October 15, 2007
Spring orientation dates: January 18, 2008
Spring semester: January 21 - May 30, 2008

For more information on deadlines to apply, click here.

For more information on the academic calendar at the University of Mauritius, click here.

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Orientation
At least one pre-departure orientation and one on-site orientation will be held. Pre-departure
orientation will be held to assist participants for their term(s) abroad. Items addressed will include student visa, housing options, classes, travel tips, general study abroad handbook, Australian handbook. Curtin also holds an orientation week (O Week) for students before classes begin. Exchange students should arrive the week before O Week.

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Housing
The university is non-residential, meaning students live in off-campus housing as there is no on-campus housing. The International Affairs Unit assists students in looking for short-term and long-term accommodation near the university or at the beach, if they required. Most students make their own arrangements after a short stay at the MGI Guest House or a small hotel in Quatre Bornes. Students are strongly advised not to pay for accommodation to unknown parties before their arrival at the university of Mauritius. International students need approximately US$300 to US$400 per month for accommodation and living expenses and about US$ 100, per annum, for purchase of books. The island is small and most students commute to the university by bus. There may be a possibility of living with a host family.

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What's Next?
Before applying, it is a good idea to follow the steps under steps to studying abroad. The IEO website also provides information on financing, health & safety and other important information to consider when choosing to study abroad. When ready to apply, the UMD study abroad application may be downloaded from the IEO website. Please complete the application with required accompanying materials and return it to IEO.

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Photos
[IN DEVELOPMENT]

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Helpful Links for Mauritius