Study in Madagascar

If your keen to pursue an academic path in a different and uniquely built environment then you are welcome to Madagascar!! Many travelers know it as a place from the Madagascar movies but do not know much else about it. And it is definitely not on most visitor’s radar. But that is a shame. It is unlike nowhere else on earth. RocApply has prepared a full guide on what and how things happen in this beautiful land! Keep reading to see how many interesting facts about Madagascar you know and see just why this country is so interesting.

Madagascar offers a wide variety of landscapes, cultures, and educational opportunities. There’re plenty of good reasons to study undergraduate and postgraduate studies here. Just as in most African countries, Madagascar prides itself on its enormous and passionate national identity. You probably didn’t know that the Republic of Madagascar is an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa. Yes, it’s an Island! The country’s flora and fauna are tremendously diverse, with many species of lemurs and chameleons. Wildlife is for the spoils here if you are intending to study towards a conservation program.

Besides its spirited urban hubs, Madagascar also boasts astounding natural beauty, giving a haven of peace and solitude worlds far from the heat and fervor of other islands. The geography of Madagascar is as unique as it gets! While the world is truly a marvelous place wherever you may opt to visit, this island is surely one of its many highlights. With a diverse array of resort areas and a multitude of ways to enjoy the great outdoors, you’ll never be short of things to see and do when you study abroad in Madagascar. Getting around is an adventure in its own regard!

More than thousands of international students come to study in Madagascar each year with two-fifths of these students being from Europe, the United States and Asia. The country is adorned with many attractions including the high quality of education, affordable living costs and the chance to become perfect in speaking French while experiencing such a diverse and colorful culture. You are just a few minutes from landing yourself into this magnificent island. Just click on APPLY and choose which university or college here suits you best and RocApply will take you through the simple application steps at no cost at all. Yes FREE of charge!

There are a number of benefits to studying on this island. Many students will be exposed to a rich culture in a uniquely blended island, with a great deal of educational, technical, and career opportunities. An education in Madagascar also offers the chance to learn French, an important world language, and can be much less expensive than studying elsewhere. This country is an excellent option for those wishing to study at a fun-filled and welcoming country! We, as RocApply are here to help you realise this feat the most convenient way possible! All you have to do is APPLY on our user-friendly interface and we will do the rest!!

About Madagascar

Madagascar is definitely not like other countries in that it has not had people living there for thousands upon thousands of years. We are all familiar with the sometimes brutal colonisation of other corners of the world, but this stunningly amazing island nation is different. When we say that it was discovered just about 1,500 years ago, we mean it.

There is no evidence of any indigenous people living there prior to settlement in around 500 AD, which raises fascinating questions about why and how it came to be overlooked by so many different civilisations. Did you know that the first ‘homo sapiens’ appeared on the African continent itself some 300,000 years ago. But, perhaps due to its distance in the ocean from the mainland, it took a whole lot longer to discover this incredible part of the world!

Welcome to RocApply information page about Madagascar!!

Located off the southeast coast of Africa, Madagascar is the 4th largest island in the world, yet there is still so much unknown about the mysterious location. It has been the inspiration for many documentaries and studies over the years and is arguably one of the most unique and interesting locations on planet Earth. If you’re curious about Madagascar, follow along as RocApply rounds up some of the most amazing facts about the island here!!

Most of Madagascar’s wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth

The country has been an isolated island for around 70 million years. It broke away first from Africa about 165 million years ago and then from India nearly 100 million years later. This isolation led to the development of unique wildlife species, with 90% of its wildlife found only on this island. Among its extinct mammals are giant flightless birds and dwarf hippos.

Madagascar was settled by Asians before mainland Africans

The first humans to settle here came from the island of Borneo, which is now divided between the countries of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. They arrived between 350 BCE and 550 CE in canoes, and were not joined by mainland Africans until almost five hundred years later. Over time, other African, Asian and European settler groups arrived, each bringing their own diverse contributions to the culture and population to Madagascar.

Lemurs are sacred in Madagascar

Across the island, lemurs are often revered, protected and seen as sacred by its population. Many origin myths make some link between lemurs and humans, usually through common ancestry. As of 2012, there were 104 living species and subspecies of lemur, almost all classified as rare, vulnerable, or endangered. There are also several species of extinct lemurs, including a giant lemur.

Baobabs

Many want to know what Madagascar is famous for. The trees are a best place to start. The island is home to 6 endemic species of Africa’s oldest and most beautiful tree. They can live up to 2,500 years old, and seeing the sunset at the Avenue of the Baobabs is an intriguing experience.

Hunter gatherers (Mikea)

The Mikea people are a group of Malagasy-speaking hunter gatherers who reside in the Mikea Forest. The last nomads of Madagascar, they now number less than a thousand. During the dry season they sleep in the open air, relocating to small villages in clearings in the woods in the rainy season. They hunt for bush pigs, birds and small lemurs, as well as gatheringg crops of maize, sweet potatoes and cassava.

About Madagascar's Economy

Though Madagascar has a considerable diversity of minerals, their remote locations have discouraged extraction. Chromite, graphite, and mica are exported along with gems such as topaz, garnets, and amethysts. The government gas invested its interests in developing Madagascar's gold deposits, as well as ilmenite, zircon, rutile, nickel, platinum, and bauxite. There has also been renewed interest in Madagascar's oil potential.

In 2019, the economic situation of the island remained favorable with sustained growth, contained inflation and a solid external position. Although on the rise, public debt (almost exclusively concessional) remains sustainable, estimated at 46.5% GDP in 2019, 47.5% GDP in 2020 and 49.3% GDP in 2021. Inflation, which follows a downward trend, was estimated at 5.6% in 2019, and should remain stable, reaching 5.5% in 2020 and 6.5% in 2021 (April 2020 World Economic Outlook IMF).

Owing to the many investment projects in progress, the fiscal deficit is widening, rising from -1.4% GDP in 2019 to -2.7% GDP in 2020 and -4.2% GDP in 2021 according to IMF estimates. The government is continuing the reform program supported by the IMF since 2016 in the form of an Extended Credit Facility.

The priority is therefore to control current expenditure and increase revenue, in particular thanks to tighter control of imports, better collection of VAT, a recession in subsidies on petrol and a decrease in transfers to the public company JIRAMA. The Madagascar Emergency Plan 2019/2023 aims to stimulate the country's economic growth through an increase in public and private investments, the strengthening of human capital and the improvement of governance. Among the country's persistent socio-economic challenges are poverty, corruption and the infrastructure deficit.

Despite a sustained growth cycle, and the low unemployment rate (the ILO estimates the unemployment rate in Madagascar in 2019 at 1.6% of the total active population), most of the Malagasy people have been excluded from the improvement of the economic situation. According to the World Bank, extreme poverty has only decreased slightly, from 77.6% in 2012 to an estimate of 74.1% in 2019.

Malagasy people have a low life expectancy due to poor living conditions, particularly in matters of sanitation and hygiene. According to WaterAid Madagascar, around 70% of the population does not have access to adequate sanitation and 89% of Malagasy people do not have access to improved toilets.

As a result, there is a high risk of the spread of major infectious diseases among the population. More than half of the country's children suffer from a serious form of malnutrition. The rate of access to electricity, 13%, is one of the lowest in Africa. In addition, the country remains extremely vulnerable to climate shocks, such as hurricanes, floods, locust infestations and public health crises. The south of the country faces security concerns due to armed robbery of livestock.

Why Study in Madagascar

Good place to study

The institutions here will give you an opportunity to learn about African Sea history such as the Pirate Era! Did you know that Madagascar was one of the largest and most popular resting places for European pirates and traders between the late 1700s and early 1800s. It is also rumored to be the site of the independent pirate nation of Libertalia, which may or may not have existed. The best way to find out is to Apply for a semester abroad here!

Madagascar is vibrant

Each and every year, Madagascar hosts a huge selection of exciting festivals, including Carnival festivals, film festivals, gaucho and agricultural fairs and Fashion events, to name a few. The carnival here is so vital, in fact, that it’s not unusual to see highly skilled dancers spontaneously break into a routine on the street when the season approaches. You will definitely enjoy the partying culture in Madagascar!

Cultural Diversity

This island is a mix of indigenous, African, European and Middle Eastern cultures, creating a unique and vibrant atmosphere. More specifically, Madagascar is richly populated by people from diverse backgrounds. Traditions and culture across the island reflect the influence of Arab, Indian, British, French and Chinese settlers more so. Here you will blend in quite easily and enjoy your stay with the locals.

Enjoy the cuisines

If you are a foodie then Madagascar is a perfect destination for you! Foods eaten here reflect the influence of Southeast Asian, African, Indian, Chinese and European migrants that have settled on the island. The cornerstone of the diet is rice and in fact, the word to eat in Malagasy is mihinam-bary, which means to eat rice. In modern Malagasy cuisine, garlic, onions, ginger, tomatoes, curry, coconut milk, vanilla, cloves and turmeric are common flavors that will leave you wanting for more.

Scholarships in Madagascar

Students prospecting to study in Madagascar looking for PhD scholarship, Masters Scholarships, or Undergraduate scholarships to fund their education abroad can now check with RocApply scholarship page for updates form the universities and the Malagasy 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!!

Madagascar scholarships and grants are available for Malagasy and students of other developing countries to study abroad alike. International and national colleges and universities are offer financial aids in the form of scholarships to the students in Madagascar. This page keeps you aware of much about what’s available. Madagascar scholarships and awards are offered for both the natives and foreigners at different course levels i.e. undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral or research programme.

Madagascar Student Visa

What you need to know!

It is never easy to understand how to get a student visa abroad, in Madagascar the procedures are don’t take long. We have decided to write a functional guide to help you understand the essential procedures and actions step by step.

There are many excellent universities in Madagascar. 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 Malagasy 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! It is, however, advised to always check with the consulate/embassy for more details on visa requirements.