Study in Western Sahara

Imagine hot and harsh winds surfing into your face.

Sand flying around you.

Getting caught up in gusts and muzzing straight into your face and mouth.

Welcome to Western Sahara, Africa!

Where is Western Sahara? Is Western Sahara a country or Island? And who owns Western Sahara? Can I study abroad here? Well, you have come onto the right platform for all your answers.

Looking forward to continuing your tertiary studies in Western Sahara? If you are looking forward to continuing your higher studies in a North African country, you might turn here. Located in North Africa, Western Sahara is a small region, but is Western Sahara a country?

A big No, Western Sahara is not a recognized nation. And as for who owns Western Sahara, that’s a bit complex. Morocco owns more than seventy percent of the region, while the Sahrawi Arab Democratic owns Western Sahara’s remaining space, with Laayoune as the capital of Western Sahara and with only a sand wall separating the two regions of Morocco and Western Sahara.

Here is a bit of its history. The Spanish gave up their control of Western Sahara in 1975. Mauritania and Morocco shared their control on the region, as native Western Sahara people, Sahrawi slacked on manpower to take back their claimed homeland. Over time, Mauritania moved out, and Morocco gained control of the entire region. This situation went out of hand, and it had prompted a Western Sahara conflict with native Western Sahara people, Sahrawi living in and out of refugee outlets.

Let’s just say with Western Sahara conflict, the history of Morocco and Western Sahara, and the current situation is a bit complicated. Albeit, the country is an appealing study abroad destination for most students across the globe for its cultural diversity and central location.

Getting a qualification here is not out of imagination. Thankfully, Western Sahara has numerous airports even though they have only one international airport at El Aaiun, many other minor airports are in Smara and Dakhla. Good news is that flights come from Spain, the Canary Islands, and Morocco to Western Sahara. This makes the Western Sahara a good option to study abroad as you will need close to zero worry on transit.

About Western Sahara

If you search Western Sahara in data maps, you’ll probably see this line: No data available. Western Sahara is one of the most fascinating and unique territories in the world, and these Western Sahara facts can pique anyone's keen. That is why we share about the Western Sahara conflict, its population, interesting facts about Western Sahara, and all you need to know about this place.

The country is a disputed territory in North Africa that borders Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Atlantic Ocean. It has a gross area of 266,000 sq. km. It consists of mostly desert and is one of the most hugely populated areas in the world. Its population is over 578,536, half of whom live in the largest city, El Asiun.

If you are still wondering what and where Western Sahara is, then you’re not alone. RocApply has dedicated this guide to educate you on this beautiful country and remember to toggle through all our filters to learn more about it. There’s so much that encompasses Western Sahara that has even many search engines don’t show! We have compressed what you need to know about this beautiful country here on our website.

One of the unknown Western Sahara facts is that te country was known as Spanish Sahara. This was because the land belonged to the Spaniards, but they soon gave up the land due to mounting colonial pressure, but Morocco, however, claimed the land for themselves. This incident of Morocco claiming the land for themselves is widely known as “Green March”, where thousands of Morocco’s people walked into this territory of Spanish Sahara to claim the land.

Did you know that there is a renowned city to the south of Western Sahara? That is Boujdour for you. Situated to the south of Western Sahara, Boujdour is a port city, and is well-known for its vintage lighthouse that dates back to the time of the Portuguese settlers. Though, take note that one cannot visit the lighthouse as a military base surrounds it, but one can take the glamorous view of the lighthouse from a few distances away.

One of the most interesting facts about Western Sahara is that the trusty scarf is regarded a proper fashion item here! When you pass through Western Sahara, you’ll see many road stalls selling hundreds and thousands of scarves, in a variety of colours. Grab your favourite colour, and tie it around your head, a native Sahrawi will show you how and you will look like a real Sahrawi!

About Western Sahara's Economy

We understand that as you negotiate through choosing which country to study in the Economy of your options becomes contextual and important. For that reason we have created this guide for you to immerse yourself on what you should know know about the economy, of you beloved Western Sahara. Be sure to go the whole guide to widen your insight!

There are just a few natural resources outside of the phosphate deposits and fishing waters. Off-shore oil has been speculated but not confirmed and it is not known if they could be mined. The applicability of agreements for exploitation with companies and the two claimed governments are unknown and subject to different legal rights.

The economy centers on fishing, herding, and phosphate mining. Food is mostly imported and the Moroccan government controls all its trade system. Morocco has encouraged its people to move to the area with subsidies and price controls.

Aside from its rich fishing waters and phosphate reserves, Western Sahara has few natural resources and lacks adquatet rainfall and freshwater resources for most agricultural initiatives. Western Sahara's much-touted phosphate reserves are relatively unimportant, lobbing less than two percent of proven phosphate reserves in Morocco.

There’s speculation that there may be off-shore oil and natural gas fields, but the debate persists as to whether these resources can be profitably mined, and if this would be legally permitted due to the Non-Self-Governing status of Western Sahara.

Western Sahara's economy is based almost entirely on fishing, which employs 2/3 of its workforce, with mining, agriculture and tourism providing modest additional income. Most food for the urban population is from Morocco.

In 2011, leaked United States diplomatic cables revealed that the territory is somewhat of an economic burden for Morocco; the Moroccan US$800 million subsidy program to Western Sahara was shown to be one of the larger per-capita aid programs in history. Supporting life in a territory with scarce freshwater resources is extremely hefty.

For example, all drinking water for the city of Laayoune comes from desalinization facilities and costs about 3 US dollars per cubic meter but is then sold at the national price of 0.0275 US dollars; the difference is paid for by the government of Morocco. Fuel is sold at half the price also, and basic goods are heavily subsidized; businesses operating in the territory are not obliged to pay taxes.

All of this is done to keep the balance of Western Sahara's finances. The territory is otherwise thought to be economically unviable and unable to support its population without the Moroccan subsidies. The cable concluded that the territory is unlikely ever to be of any economic benefit for Morocco, even if offshore oil fields were to be discovered and mined.

Why Study in Western Sahara

Cultural Diversity

After all of this information, you may think, is Western Sahara a country of tourism? Of course yes, it is not as rich and safe as most travelled countries. However, one of the greatest Western Sahara facts is that the combination of Morocco and Western Sahara nomadic cultures makes this country amusing.

Fascinating Destination

What’s more, after enjoying seafood, you can have an ostrich ride? And Boujdour- the land of fish! It will make you reckon of Swallow Falls from the famous movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. And, it is no wonder, as Boujour is the port city of Western Sahara.

Great Option

The country has quite a number of records to its name that you can find fascinating to discover while on vacation. The country is one of the budding study abroad destinations in the Northern African region. Its moderate climate, coupled with high-quality education, is the reason why foreign students from across the world go to Western Sahara.

Empowerment

In keeping with its future goals, the educational sector here has been reformed and remodeled to measure up to what is obtained in many African societies today. With key interests in productivity, research, and innovation, higher education students are taught with some of the best standards under some of the best conditions and by some of the best lecturers in the region.

Scholarships in Western Sahara

Students prospecting to study in Western Sahara looking for a Ph.D. scholarship, Masters Scholarships, or Undergraduate scholarships to fund their education abroad can now check with the RocApply Scholarship page for updates from the universities and the Western Saharan 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!!

There are a number of scholarships available to Western Sahara scholars to study abroad and in their home country. Because of these funding the country has experienced a rapid expansion in its higher education system. To withstand globally, still, the country is making continuous efforts for its academic and educational expansion.

Western Sahara Student Visa

It is never easy to understand how to get a student visa abroad, in Western Sahara 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 Western Sahara. 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 Western Saharan 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.