Study in Cote d'Ivoire

Cote d'Ivoire is a country located in West Africa officially known as the republic of cote d'Ivoire. It is also known as the ivory coast because of the large amounts of ivory that were traded on the coast.

It is a country of extreme beauty with several UNESCO world heritage sites to behold. Studying in Cote d’Ivoire provides students with a chance to learn at some of the best institutions in cote d’Ivoire and obtain degrees that are internationally recognized.

Students also get a chance to go on exchange programs with other countries on specific programs.

Cote d'Ivoire's education system is represented by 26 universities with 579 study programs including 264 bachelors, 201 masters, and 114 Ph.D. programs.

Programs include management, administration, business, banking and finance, accounting, communication, computer science, marketing, IT, economics, education, technology, law and jurisprudence, humanities, arts, earth sciences, applied sciences and professions, engineering, and logistics to mention but a few. The adult literacy rate in cote d'Ivoire was estimated at 47.2% as of 2018, according to UNESCO.

Important things to note

Studying in Cote d’Ivoire gives you a whole new experience in West Africa. It is important to take note of a few things before you go out and about in cote d'Ivoire.

Money-visa cards are widely accepted in Cote d’Ivoire, so is cash. Cash is the most commonly accepted mode of payment. If you bring your forex, you can change it into the local currency for you to transact easily. There are several ATMs available but often with some long queues.

Communication- when you get to Cote d’Ivoire, it is advisable to get a local sim card for calling and for data. However, several installations have Wi-Fi access and you can use it for researching the country, emailing video calling, and Skype.

Medical Requirements- it is advised to get vaccinated against yellow fever, cholera, hepatitis A & B, and Rabies if traveling to cote d'Ivoire.

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About Cote d'Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire is a country located on the southern coast of western Africa. It's de facto, and economic capital is Abidjan and its administrative capital is Yamoussoukro.

Côte d’Ivoire is bordered by Mali and Burkina Faso in the north, Ghana in the east, the Gulf of Guinea in the south, Liberia in the southwest, and Guinea in the northwest. Its area is estimated at 322 463 square meters.

The country is both culturally and linguistically diverse. Its country's official language is French, it also has several official languages. Its population was estimated at 25 808 000 people as of 2019, with a population density of 78 people per square meter. Its population is expected or projected to reach 33 168 000 people by 2030

Ethnic groups

Cote d'Ivoire has more than 60 ethnic groups. Ethnic groups include Baule, Akan, Mande group Malinke, Dyula traders, Gur, Senufo, Lobi, and Bobo, Mossi, the Krou, and Bete.

Most groups stood independent but over the years united and got mixed due to intermarriages. The Akan group is the largest in the country followed by the Gur groups found in the northern part of cote d'Ivoire, then the Mande group. These make up the 3 largest groups in cote d'Ivoire

Languages

The official language of cote d'Ivoire is French. There are various languages spoken in cote d'Ivoire, for example, Kwa which is spoken in the south, Mande, and Gur spoken in the northeast.

Dyula-Taboussi which is akin to the Mande Bambara is a trade language spoken throughout the country by Muslim traders, and Français de Moussa is a pidgin French widely spoken in Abidjan. Other languages include Bete, Dioula, Baule, Abron, Agni, and Cebara Senufo.

Did you know? Facts about Cote D’Ivoıre.

<>• It has the largest church in the world- The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro which is bigger than St Peter's Basilica, with an area of 30,000 square meters and can accommodate about 18,000 people.

• Didier Drogba the former Chelsea striker was born in Abidjan.

• Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Wilfried Bony and Salomon Kalou are famous international footballers from Cote d’Ivore.

• It has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites- Grand-Bassam, Comoe National Park, and Tai National Park.

• It is the world’s largest cocoa producer

• It has two capitals- Yamoussoukro, the nation’s political capital, and Abidjan, the largest city and its economic capital.

• It was once called the 'teeth coast' due to the trade of ivory.

• Abidjan is the third-largest French-speaking city in the world.

• The flag of the Ivory Coast has three colors, orange, white, and green, representing the land, peace, and hope respectively.

Must see places in COTE D’IVOIRE.

Banco National Park-is a park located on the northwestern edge of Abidjan, about 30 square kilometers in area. It is a conservation park with a variety of flora and fauna. It has a variety of tree species including the mahogany, avodires, teak, and others. Animal species found at the park include the civet, duiker, monkeys, genet, and bushbucks to name but a few.

Tai National Park- is one of the few remaining rainforest areas designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. It is rich in natural flora and fauna. The park is also famous for its pygmy hippopotamuses, chimpanzees, 11 species of monkeys, and trees more than 45 meters tall.

Komoé National Park- is a biosphere reserve located in the Zanzan and Savanes districts in the northeast of cote d'Ivoire. The park contains about 620 plant species. It is comprised of forests, savanna, open and riparian grasslands. It is home to a variety of wildlife including lions, elephants, leopards, green monkeys, duikers, Mona monkeys, olive colobus, chimpanzees, more than 20 species of pigs, and more than 400 species of birds.

Mount Nimba- is a mountain range that rises above the surrounding savannah where cote d'Ivoire meets Guinea and Liberia. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the mountain is covered by dense forest harboring a rich variety of flora and fauna, including chimpanzees.

About Cote d'Ivoire's Economy

Côte d’Ivoire is a lower-middle-income country and has a mixed economy with a degree of freedom and some government intervention as well. Cote d'Ivoire's currency is the West African CFA Franc (XOF).

Cote d'Ivoire's GDP was estimated at $163.594 billion as of 2020, with a GDP Per Capita of $6201. Its nominal GDP was estimated at $58.792 billion with per capita nominal GDP at $2286. Cote d'Ivoire has the largest economy in the West African economic and monetary union.

It constitutes about 40% of the union’s GDP. According to the IMF's report of 2019. Cote d'Ivoire's growth grew to 6.9%. It was driven by sustainable investment, increased social expenditure, and higher cocoa revenue. Cote d'Ivoire has a liberal financial policy, and its investments are welcomed through tax exemptions and legal protection against nationalization.

Cote d'Ivoire's economy has grown faster than most African countries since its independence. Cote d'Ivoire acts as a port of entry for other landlocked West African countries.

Petroleum and natural gas are a significant source of revenue for the country. Minerals found in Côte d’Ivoire include diamonds, gold, iron ore, bauxite, and manganese.

The economy of cote d'Ivoire is based on agriculture, services, trade, and industry. The contribution to GDP by sector is industry 23.18%, agriculture 15.69%, and services, 53.88%. Below is a brief look at these in detail.

Agriculture

Agriculture employs and accounts for more than half the labor force. Most people rely on subsistence agriculture to feed their families. They mine yams, wheat, cassava, plantains, cotton, cocoa, and corn. Cocoa is cultivated by more than a quarter of the population and is the main export crop, Cote d’Ivoire is the world’s leading cocoa bean producer.

Other crops and trees grown in Cote d'Ivoire include edible roots and bananas, commercial tree crops like coffee, cacao, which is grown for its seeds, cocoa beans, rice, and other cereals, cotton, sugarcane, and rubber.

Manufacturing

Industry in cote d'Ivoire includes palm-oil and sugar refinery, electricity and water utilities, petroleum-related industries, canning and preserving facilities, timber, cotton, cacao, and coffee, bakeries and breweries, soap and edible oils. Timber is used for furniture, cotton fabrics for garments, and sisal for the string.

Forestry and lumber

Cote d’Ivoire is a land of vast forest resources. About 30 species of trees are of high commercial value are found in Cote d'Ivoire. As of 2018, the logging or timber sector was worth CFA 108 billion US$176 million.

About 90% of the timber is exported as plywood, flooring, and logs. Trees include Teak (Techtonagrandis), Famire (Terminalia ivorensis), Gmelina (gmelia Arborea), Cedrela odorata, Samba, Linguese, Dabema, Iroko, and the Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata).

Fishing is also an important economic activity, practiced traditionally and also practiced on a commercial basis. The country has a very vibrant market for fish and total production is around 90 000 tonnes annually. Fishing provides direct employment for about 70 000 people.

Trade

Exports are reasonably diversified though mostly based on agricultural and petroleum products. Côte d’Ivoire’s exports as of 2017 were estimated at $11.74 billion. Export goods included coffee, cocoa, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, palm oil, fish, and pineapples.

Its main export partners included the Netherlands, the united states of America, France, Belgium, Germany, Burkina Faso, India, and Mali, to mention but a few.

Its imports were valued at $9.447 billion and the main products included fuel, capital equipment, and foodstuffs. Its main import partners included Nigeria, France, China, and the United States of America.

Services

Tourism in cote d'Ivoire has expanded over the years. There has been an increase in both business tourists and tourists visiting for pleasure. Financial services are also on the increase as the country is the center for the West African economic and monetary union, and its largest member economically. The services sector accounts for about 53.88% of total GDP.

Why Study in Cote d'Ivoire

Affordable Tuition Fees in Cote d'Ivoire
Internationally recognized degrees
Cote D’Ivore universities offer some programs leading to internationally recognized degrees that allow graduates to be employed anywhere in the world.
Affordable Accomodation in Cote d'Ivoire
Scholarship opportunities
Students who choose to study in Cote D’Ivore have an opportunity to find plenty of scholarships, both local and international to finance their studies.
International Environment in Cote d'Ivoire
Opportunity to learn new languages
studying in cote d'Ivoire allows international students to learn the exotic French and any one of the local languages.
Great Weather in Cote d'Ivoire
High-quality education
universities provide great quality education with degrees that can be recognized internationally.

Scholarships in Cote d'Ivoire

Scholarships are available for students who wish to study in cote d'Ivoire.

Some of the known categories of scholarships in cote d'Ivoire are engineering scholarships, law scholarships, medicine scholarships, athletic scholarships, art scholarships, medical scholarships, teaching scholarships, and grants, to mention but a few.

Cote d'Ivoire Student Visa

There are three types of visas required in cote d'Ivoire, that is a tourist visa, a business visa, and the official or diplomatic visa.

Visa can be applied for at the embassy or diplomatic missions, or online.

The online visa can be collected at the airport once approved. It is valid for 90 days upon the issue. It is usually issued within 48 hours. A short-stay visa is valid for three months and a long-stay visa is valid for 6 months to a year.