Boundless Horizons: African & Global Development Field Studies in Ghana
Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Ghanaian culture, history, and social dynamics.
As one of the first sub-Saharan African nations to gain independence, Ghana offers profound insights into African history and resilience. This program will immerse you in urban and rural communities where you will witness first-hand the development challenges and resulting grassroots innovations that have contributed towards Ghana’s societal growth.
In the pre-departure phase, you will come together with your classmates and instructors for introductory classes in Calgary, designed to give students from all academic areas the necessary background knowledge and research skills. You will then travel to Accra for three weeks of fieldwork. Engaging with local students, professors, NGOs, and community leaders, you will experience local traditions and ways of life. You will critically examine the ethical dimensions of development, grappling with questions of power dynamics, cultural sensitivity, and social justice. Documenting your learning journey, you will find by the end of this program that you have gained deep cultural awareness as well as personal and intellectual growth.
Key information
2026 Info Session
Student experience
Click the photo to view "africanstudiescalgary" Instagram page, which documented the trip!
Ghana Program 2025
Have questions?
For program & academic information, please contact the instructors, Dr. Caesar Apentiik at rapentii@ucalgary.ca or Dr. Motilola Akinfemisoye-Adejare at motilola.akinfemisoy@ucalgary.ca
For application and registration support, please contact the Group Study team at group.study@ucalgary.ca
Other useful links:
Program details
The information below was last updated on: September 5, 2025
Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructors.
Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.
Travel can be unpredictable! GSP travel itineraries are tentative and subject to change, including while in field.
-
Pre-departure
February or March (date TBD), Calgary: Mandatory Group Travel Clinic and Wilderness First Aid Workshop
March TBD, Calgary: Mandatory Pre-departure Orientation facilitated by Global Learning
May 4, 9am-3pm, Calgary: Academic preparation for AFST 400: Overview of Africa & Ghana
May 5, 9am-3pm, Calgary: Academic preparation for AFST 400: Sociocultural, economic, and political environment
May 6, 9am-3pm, Calgary: Academic preparation for AFST 400: Research protocols & ethics
May 7, Calgary: Academic preparation for AFST 400: Work time and submission of assignments
May 8, 9am-3pm, Calgary: Academic preparation for DEST 401: Theories & practices of development
-
In-field
May 13/14, Calgary/Accra: Flight departs Calgary. Arrive in Accra, Ghana in evening & settle into hotel.
May 15, Accra: In-country orientation & introductory lectures. Site visits include Christiansburg Castle, Black Star Square, and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial.
May 16, Accra: Tour of Old Accra and the Cultural & Arts Centre. Lectures on ethnography and political economy of development in the Ghanaian context.
May 17-18, Mole/Tamale: Travel to Mole/Tamale. Tour of historical sites; engagement with local development experts. Guest lectures with local professionals. Safari field trip.
May 19-21, Bolga: Travel to Bolga. Introduction to development issues in Ghana’s Upper East region. Site visits include Tongo sacred shrine on the Hills of Tengzu (UNESCO) and the Ton Irrigation Project. Engagement with local experts & communities; time to work on independent research.
May 22-23, Bolga/ Kandiga: Engagement with local experts & communities
May 24-26, Kumasi: Travel to Kumasi. Lectures on local conservation, women in development, and Ashante market queens. Engagement with local experts & communities. Site visits include Palace Museum, Kumasi Central Market, and Bonwire Art Centre & Craft Village, where students will participate in cultural crafting activities.
May 27-31, Accra: Time to work on independent research and reflective papers. Day trip to Cape Coast; visit the Elmina Castle. Consultation with instructors in preparation for final assignments.
June 1-2, Accra: Deadline for final assignments. Free day to work on assignments, engage in cultural/tourism activities, shopping, etc.
June 3, Accra/Calgary: Depart for return flight to Calgary (or students may continue on independent travel).
-
Costs
The estimated cost of the Boundless Horizons: African & Global Development Field Studies Group Study Program is $9,289. This includes tuition, airfare, field trips, local transportation, accommodations and meals.
For the full cost breakdown and payment deadlines, please see the program Student Cost Summary.
Important information regarding deposit payments: Deposits are non-refundable. Deposits secure your space in the program and allows payment for logistical arrangements to be made in advance.
-
Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you? Since you are studying UCalgary courses and paying UCalgary tuition, you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are otherwise eligible to receive from the university, as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund and the Global Learning Award. Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Accommodations throughout the program will be in hotels. These will be safe, clean, student-appropriate, and vetted by the program instructors. Rooms will likely be shared, with 2 students per room in separate beds.
This program is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing from all faculties.
Applications will be considered after your online application and supplementary documents have been received in full.
Please read the sections below for information about what your application will include. The application is completed online. Because the online application will time out after 1 hour, we recommend writing out your answers to the application questions in a Word document and preparing any of the supplementary documents you may need in advance.
Once you are ready, click here to access the application system.
Announcements on whether you have been selected to the program will not be distributed until after the November 10 deadline.
-
Written application questions
All Group Study Program applications have general questions about how the program will meet your goals (academic reasons, personal interest, career prospects, etc.), how you plan to finance your program, and coping skills for travelling abroad. These questions are designed to help narrow down your motivation for applying and why you should be selected.
-
Unofficial Transcript
Download an unofficial transcript from your Student Centre. Click here for a step-by-step guide to access your unofficial transcript.
You will be asked to upload your transcript as a PDF in the online application.
Program-Specific FAQs:
Q: Is it safe to travel in Ghana?
A: Ghana is a stable and safe country to visit, creating a welcoming environment for foreigners. Both instructors leading this program have long experience living & working in Ghana and will serve as cultural experts throughout your travel preparation and in-field integration. Students can be reassured they will have a safe experience; all housing & transportation is arranged through reputable, university-approved vendors, and students will always travel in groups with their instructors alongside reliable local guides.
Of course, there are unique concerns students may have about travelling in Ghana. For example, LGBTQ+ activities have been recently criminalized in Ghanaian law; the local attitudes are generally welcoming, but it is advised not to engage in conversation on this topic. Other cultural norms include expectations around proper clothing, gender roles, and respectful behaviour towards authority figures. These are things that we will discuss at length during pre-departure training and ensure students are well-informed about the local political, social, and health contexts. Students are also welcome to contact the Group Study Team or the program instructors to talk through any personal concerns privately.
Q: What should I pack?
Your instructors will provide tips for you in the meeting previous to departing. We also recommend reading this blog post from a previous participant entitled: Five Things I Should Have Packed for Ghana by Maddie Fleming.
FAQs:
Please ensure that you have read the Group Study Program General FAQs thoroughly before applying.
It was as much an exploration of myself as of the world outside. While the organized talks were informative and relevant to our courses, engaging with people randomly wherever we went (roadside, restaurants, markets etc) widened my horizons of thinking and offered me new perspectives on particular issues as well as on life in general. Over three weeks in Ghana, I got the opportunity to practically apply the research skills and theories I had learned in class as a social and cultural anthropology major. This program inspired me to take a moment to look at my personal, professional and academic path till now and goals for the future, and revise them to try and make the most out of the opportunities I have as a University of Calgary student. I believe that the personal, professional and academic decisions which have been influenced by my Global Learning Experience will resonate throughout my life and continue to make a positive difference.
Dalsher Singh Virk
Ghana Program Past Participant
Previous Program Experiences
The advisor for this program is: Andrea Santos V.
Getting started
Program-Specific Info Sessions
Info sessions are scheduled for every Group Study Program. Attending an info session is not required to apply, but strongly recommended as it will give you an opportunity to meet the instructor and learn more about the travel experience.
We also recommend watching Global Learning 101 for general information.
Global Learning Advising
If you have questions about this program, you can meet with one of our Global Learning Advisors by emailing group.study@ucalgary.ca or booking an appointment through the link below.
1. Select "Advising"
2. Select “Study Abroad”
3. Select “Book by Appointment Type”
4. Select your program advisor to view available times.
Academic Advising
Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how a Group Study Program might align with your degree.
After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.