Study in Burundi
Have you been considering taking a semester abroad under a different environment far from the usual and experience a new culture and lifestyle!? There is an endless list of alternatives, Burundi is no exception in this regard!
Our RocApply information guide may be all you need after all to save yourself energy and time in toggling through dozens of websites to decide which country to pursue your tertiary studies!
This website is dedicated to you for information and facilitation of a free application process to the institution of your choice!!
The country is home to several tourist destinations that are mostly linked to the country’s history of exploration. When one travels 12km south of Bujumbura, the capital, you’ll find the Livingston and Stanley stone, a memorial to commemorate the journey of the two British explorers.
The country is also home to a Burton and Speke Memorial which is located in Nyanza Lac, near the borders of Tanganyika making a perfect study abroad destination especially if you are an adventure-loving student!
Did you know, historians say Burton and Speke, also British explorers, spent some time there before they continued on their journey in the late 1800s? The country will not starve you an intriguing experience for many reasons.
Burundi is also home to Germans’ Gorge located in southern Burundi not far from the Tanzania-Burundi border. This region is believed to be where Burundi’s first king came from before he traveled to central Burundi where he imposed himself king.
RocApply dedicates this guide to educate you why an option to study here may be all you need especially if you’re a mind-open and research-oriented student!! Amongst other factors why studying here is a worthwhile endeavor is a climate. The elevation is a major factor in Burundi’s climate, greatly moderating its tropical character making it a refreshing country.
The country’s generally high elevation produces relatively cool temperatures, which average only about 70 °F throughout the year in the central plateau area and usually drop to below 60 °F at night. This climate is an attraction to most prospecting students to study here!
We pride ourselves in making your academic dream come true in Burundi at ZERO fees! We understand the pressure that comes with applying for a university vacancy and have alleviated you from the imperative by creating a well-fortressed application system here on our website.
There is no charge held upon application through RocApply and many students from across the globe can study in Burundi with uncompromised convenience we are committed to facilitating to or global student community.
Academic establishments here seek to dissect equal distribution of education resources.
Some of the main advantages of studying in Burundi are the following:
- Exposure to a new different environment
- Learning a new culture
- The country is a welcoming and warm place to be
- Internationally accredited institutions
About Burundi
Burundi may be one of the smallest countries in Central Africa but it packs a lot of stunning nature into such a small space. The country is divided into sixteen provinces which cover an area of just over 28,000 km2; a similar area to Maryland, one of the United States’ smallest states.
Hippos and birds are the main natural attractions in Burundi with their home varying from shrublands and forests to massive lakes.
The lack of coast in Burundi does not mean a lack of beaches either and the country has some great inland beaches where the heat can be escaped by a cool and safe dip in one of the country’s beautiful lakes.
The culture here is also varied for such a small nation and the influences from colonial settlers as well as the aboriginal cultures are worth learning about to understand this small but fascinating place.
Unfortunately, Burundi is currently going through a hard time politically and recent events involving a military coup mean that at the time of this article being written, travel was minimal.
Hopefully, the people, the culture, and the nature of the country will not be hit too hard by the political events.
Geography and Demographics
The country is bounded by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, Lake Tanganyika to the southwest, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
Burundi’s topography entails the eastern flank of the Western Rift Valley. A chain of mountains and high plateaus formed from ancient Precambrian rock rises to 2,760 meters at Mount Heha, the country’s highest point. In the northwest, the narrow Imbo valley extends southward from Rwanda to Lake Tanganyika and includes the Rusizi River, which dissects Burundi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Society and Languages
As in Rwanda, Tutsi and Hutu are the principal ethnic communities, with the Hutu constituting the bigger majority and the Tutsi a significant minority. Other groups include the Twa Pygmies and a sprinkling of Swahili-speaking peoples from Tanzania and the DRC.
Common perceptions of Tutsi as uniformly tall and, graceful and of Hutu as short and stocky do not fit the reality of physical variations because the two groups have frequently cross-married over the centuries.
Burundi’s official languages are Rundi, a Bantu language that is the standard medium of communication throughout the country, and French. Swahili, the language of trade, is widely spoken in here, as is French.
Notably, Rundi is spoken by both the Hutu and Tutsi, who together form the overwhelming majority of the country’s people; such linguistic homogeneity is rare in sub-Saharan Africa.
About Burundi's Economy
A landlocked state in Central Africa, Burundi is one of the most densely populated countries on the continent with 470 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Its economy is heavily reliant on the agricultural sector, which, despite the paucity of arable land, employs 80% of the population. Poverty is mainly rural and overwhelmingly affects small farmers.
Political Context
Pierre Nkurunziza has been in power since 2005. Following a referendum, the country adopted a new constitution in June 2018 based on the 2000 Arusha Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Burundi.
Among other things, it establishes a seven-year presidential term starting with the next general elections scheduled for May 2020. The outgoing president has announced that he will not be standing for re-election.
The country also has a National Assembly and a Senate whose members will be elected for five years. Legislative and commune-level elections will be held on the same date, while Senate elections will be held in July 2020.
Economic Overview
The economy is recovering slowly, with growth expected to reach 1.6% in 2018 compared to 0.5% in 2017, after two consecutive years of recession in 2015 (-3.9%) and 2016 (-0.6%).
A fragile recovery that remains below the 4.2% recorded from 2004 to 2014 and facing many challenges: a lack of budgetary resources to finance public investment, a persistent shortage of foreign exchange with falling international reserves, the vulnerability of the financial sector, the increase in fiscal and current deficits.
After rising to 16.1% in 2017, inflation fell sharply to -2.6% (deflation) in 2018. Deflation continued in 2019 and stood at -4.2% in August 2019. This is due to a good agricultural season that has lowered food prices.
However, this persistent deflation may also reflect lower demand.
External accounts remain vulnerable, with a very sharp increase in the current account deficit, estimated at 14.3% of GDP in 2018 compared to 11.3% in 2017.
This deterioration is linked to the widening trade deficit, combined with the decline in international aid transfers to NGOs.
Foreign exchange pressures have continued, with a sharper drop in foreign exchange reserves and negative impacts on imports. International reserves covered just 0.9 months of imports in June 2019.
The parallel market premium remains high at 70% in July 2019. The banking sector’s soundness has improved with capitalization and liquidity ratios above regulatory standards and profitability indicators on the rise.
However, bank portfolio quality remains a concern, with the level of non-performing loans reaching 9% in May 2019.
Social Context and Development Challenges
Most of the Burundian population lives in poverty, especially in rural areas. The level of food insecurity is almost twice as high as the average for sub-Saharan African countries, with about 1.77 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2019 according to the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), which is estimated at $106 million.
Climatic hazards and the resurgence of epidemics often aggravate this situation.
Moreover, agriculture, which is the main source of employment (nearly 80% of the population), does not generate enough income and contributes only 40% of GDP. Access to water and sanitation remains very low and less than 5% of the population has access to electricity (including 52.1% of urban households and 2% of rural households).
The country has made progress in slowing population growth, with a fertility rate that declined from 6.4 to 5.5 children per woman on average between 2010 and 2017. Owing to its proximity to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Burundi is also exposed to the Ebola epidemic that has been affecting the country since June 2018 and has taken measures to prevent and control the disease, with the support of the World Bank, by setting up screening and treatment centers near borders.
DISCLAIMER: Due to the sensitivity of economic information and data privacy, RocApply publishes only authentic information as gathered from relevant and trusted sources as attached;<>p
Sources:
The WorldBank Report:s https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/burundi/overview
Why Study in Burundi
Affordable Education
Exciting Experiance
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Scholarship Opportunities
Scholarships in Burundi
Students prospecting to study in Burundi looking for a Ph.D. scholarship, Masters Scholarships, or Undergraduate scholarships to fund their education abroad can now check with the RocApply Scholarships page for updates from the universities and the Burundian aids.
The list of scholarship range from fully funded to limited support or tuition fee waiver and we are committed to helping students acquire them!!
Students prospecting to study in Burundi looking for a Ph.D. scholarship, Masters Scholarships, or Undergraduate scholarships to fund their education abroad can now check with the RocApply Scholarships page for updates from the universities and the Burundian aids. The list of scholarship range from fully funded to limited support or tuition fee waiver and we are committed to helping students acquire them!!
Burundi Student Visa
It is never easy to understand how to get a student visa abroad, in Burundi the procedures don’t take long. RocApply has decided to write a functional guide to help you understand the essential procedures and actions step by step. There are many excellent universities in Burundi.
The universities, colleges, and schools are well-known in the academic community. A vast number of international students are willing to get an education in the best universities here.
To study in one of these universities, international students must get a Burundian student visa depending on their country of origin.
RocApply has made it easy for you to follow what documentation may be needed upon visa application on this guide!