Skip to main content
Find Your Program
David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies
Give Back

Francophone West Africa

Dates:
Spring: 1 May–30 June 2026
Summer: 1 July–21 August 2026
Application Deadline: 31 January 2026
Apply Now

Internships in Francophone West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal) are designed to help students acquire valuable professional experience in a variety of work settings and promise an inspiring engagement with a region undergoing a rapid transformation. Participants will enhance their resumes, learn to network, and strengthen competencies that complement their primary major or intended career path. French 321 (or the equivalent) and advanced-level French proficiency (best demonstrated by an Advanced-MID ACTFL OPIc rating) are required.

These internships are subject to geographic restrictions and medical and security requirements. No student travel will be approved before February 2026 at the earliest. Please see Daryl Lee for more information.

Click here to apply today!

data-content-type=""

Contact Us

Daryl Lee
3131 JFSB
(801) 422-9055
dlee@byu.edu

PDF

Program Flyer

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=

More Information

Pencil and paper BIG-01.svg

Courses

Students will enroll in the following courses while on this program:

Fren 399R—Academic Internship (3 credit hours)
IAS 380R—Cultural Proofs (3 credit hours)

Students may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.
moneystack NAVY BIGsvg-01.svg

Cost

$3,500–4,500

Includes Latter-day Saint undergraduate full tuition (increased cost for graduate and non–Latter-day Saint students), international health insurance, placement, and professional training.

Does not include housing, airfare, public transportation, meals, prep course tuition, or personal expenses.
Scroll NAVY BIG-01.svg

Funding Sources

Regular BYU tuition scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to study abroad programs.

Students who submit the financial aid section of the ISP application and who have a current FAFSA form on file at the Financial Aid Office (A-41 ASB) will be considered for a Study Abroad scholarship.

Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants.

Humanities and FHSS majors and minors qualify for additional funding (see byu.edu/humanities-financial-aid).

Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also assist (see kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships).
Backpack NAVY-BIG-01.svg

Preparation

Students going to West Africa are subject to strict security restrictions and mandatory health requirements; inquire with the director prior to applying.

Students are required to take the following prerequisite course(s) prior to departure:

FREN 321 (or equivalent) and either an ACTFL OPI(c) rating of Advanced Mid or completion of FREN 322.

Accepted students are required to participate in an international cross-cultural preparation course, HCOLL 396R—Internship Prep (1 credit hour, online), including a Global Security Briefing and West Africa Orientation.

Accompanying spouses generally need to be credit-bearing participants on the program. Spouses will also need to apply online and take the preparation course.

Students must meet all country- and program-specific COVID and health requirements for travel.

International study programs are physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing and you must be in good health to participate. These programs often take place in international locations that do not have the same level of safety and services in terms of transportation, living conditions, residential accommodations, food, public behavior, and policing that you may be used to on campus. If you have further questions or concerns on this, please see our travel policy.
House NAVY-BIG-01.svg

Housing

Program fees typically do not cover housing; however, the coordinator will work with students to find suitable accommodations.
Plane NAVY-BIG-01.svg

Travel

Students are responsible for purchasing their own airfare to and from the program sites. Airline reservations must be made through BYU Travel. Students should contact a BYU Travel agent.

BYU Travel
280 HRCB
(801) 422-6293
travel@byu.edu
Check mark NAVY BIG-01.svg

Application Process

Students must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Internships and direct enrollment programs are limited to BYU Provo students.

Complete the online application here. Select the correct program and term as a nonrefundable $35 application fee is required; applicants will be interviewed once the application is complete.

Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. The first payment is due upon acceptance; please refer to the Payment Information page.

Application Deadline: 31 January 2026
Gears NAVY-BIG-01.svg

Program Adjustments

International Study Programs (ISP) reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost.

If it becomes necessary for ISP to cancel a program, all program payments made to BYU ISP will be refunded to the student’s BYU Financial account.

ISP is the only office authorized to cancel any of its programs.
Faculty NAVY-BIG-01.svg

Faculty

Daryl Lee
3131 JFSB
(801) 422-9055
dlee@byu.edu
Phone NAVY-BIG-23.svg

Contact Us

International Study Programs
101 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
isp@byu.edu
Book NAVY-BIG-21.svg

ISP Student Handbook

To see the student handbook, click here.
Calendar NAVY-BIG-01.svg

Payment Schedule

To see the payment schedule, click here.