Ghana Program FAQ

A direct flight from New York (JFK) to Accra, Ghana (ACC) takes approximately 10 hours, 45 minutes. An itinerary that connects through Europe will take approximately 17 hours total, including layover(s).

Due to the fact that program participants are coming from all over the world, it is not feasible to book airfare as a group. Everyone is responsible for booking her/his flight according to specific schedule criteria.

Kotoka Airport (ACC) in the capital city of Accra is Ghana’s only international airport. ThisWorldMusic’s on-the-ground staff collects program participants at the airport and transfers them to the hotel for the start of the program.

For helpful packing tips, read Top 10 Things to Pack for Study Abroad in Ghana. A more complete packing list is provided to all enrolled participants.

For the best and most up-to-date information on what vaccinations/immunizations are needed for travel in Ghana, all program participants are required to visit a travel clinic.

A travel doctor will know the current Centers for Disease Control recommendations for every country, including Ghana.

The water in Ghana is not considered potable by Western standards. Included in the program fee is unlimited bottled water for the time the group spends living and studying at the Dagbe Cultural Institute.

On travel days, program participants are responsible for purchasing bottled water.

Ghana is one of the safest, most well-developed countries in Africa. There are no known terrorist groups operating in the country and very little anti-Western sentiment.

Our team keeps up-to-date through our extensive network of contacts on the ground there, as well as through our member subscription to the daily regional bulletin put out by the U.S. State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC).

English is the official national language of Ghana. In addition, there are nine government-sponsored languages of African origin spoken in Ghana.

Students who are interested may have the opportunity to study two of these languages, Twi and Ewe.

The Summer Sessions take place at the tail end of Ghana’s main rainy season. The rain this time of year is sporadic and mostly late at night; the weather is relatively cool. Many people feel this is the best time of year to visit Ghana.

The Winter Session occurs during Ghana’s dry season, which some people prefer due to the reduced mosquito population. The temperature is still relatively cool compared to other times of year.

Here’s a graph showing the average monthly temperature in Denu, the closest town to our host village of Kopeyia:

Here’s a graph showing the average monthly rainfall in Denu:

ThisWorldMusic LLC is insured for all foreign and domestic operations. All of our program participants are automatically enrolled, free of charge, in West African Rescue Association (WARA), a private air/ground ambulance service and health services provider based in Ghana.

In addition, all participants are required carry both basic health insurance and short-term international travel health insurance.

All program participants are provided a complimentary mobile phone for use in Ghana, where network service can be adequate, even in some rural areas.

There is wireless Internet available at the Afia Beach Hotel in the capital city of Accra. There is also intermittent Internet access at the Dagbe Cultural Institute, though connection speeds vary.

Enrollment is open to students and professionals worldwide, as well as to the general public.

You do not need to be a matriculated student at UMass Amherst or any other college or university to be eligible to apply.

All Ghana programs are 500-series courses (i.e., eligible for graduate credit) accredited through the University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Music & Dance.

Everyone who attends the program and completes the final project receives 6 academic credits (undergraduate or graduate) for the 3-week summer program, and 3 academic credits (undergraduate or graduate) for the 11-day winter program and 11-day summer program.

If desired, the graduate credits can be converted into equivalent professional development credits (PDPs, CRUs, PLUs, CEUs, etc.).

Browse over 100 online reviews to find out why our participants give us 4.8 out of 5 stars — and helped us win the 2015 Top Summer Program Award from Abroad101. Read reviews

No prior drumming or dancing is necessary to attend the Study in Ghana program. The instructor to student ratio at the Dagbe Cultural Institute, where the group lives and studies, is approximately 1:1, easily allowing instruction to be differentiated to accommodate all levels of skill and experience.

The instructor-student ratio at the Dagbe Cultural Institute, where the group lives and studies, is approximately 1:1, easily allowing instruction to be differentiated to accommodate all levels of skill and experience.

All of the Dagbe Institute’s staff instructors are world-class musicians and teachers and we frequently have top-flight professional drummers and dancers attend the program.

Admission on all ThisWorldMusic Ghana programs is rolling. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis.

To apply for all programs, click here.

The age range of a typical program is 18-65 years old. Most of our groups tend to be an intergenerational, interdisciplinary mix of undergraduate students, graduate students, professors, performers, K-12 teachers and community members.

While many participants come from the field of music or dance, we do have many ‘non-artists’ who attend as well.

To get a better sense of what typical day/week at the Dagbe Cultural Institute is like, see the schedule below:

The Dagbe Cultural Institute, where the group lives and studies, is located in the village of Kopeyia. Both the Dagbe Institute and Kopeyia are very secure, allowing for constant interaction between program participants and locals.

All staff instructors at the Dagbe Institute are residents of Kopeyia, and the group frequently spends time in and around the village, observing and participating in the rituals of daily life.

All of our program participants are automatically enrolled, free of charge, in West African Rescue Association (WARA), a private ground/air ambulance service. In the event of a health emergency, WARA liaises with the participant’s international travel health insurance company to quickly find the best level of care.

In addition, ThisWorldMusic works closely with Dr. Adrian Oddoye, the Post Medical Advisor for the U.S. Embassy in Ghana.

While in the village of Kopeyia, the group stays in the Dagbe Institute’s clean, comfortable dormitory. When traveling through Ghana, the group stays in Western-style hotels, including the Afia Beach Hotel in the capital city of Accra and Anomabo Beach Resort, pictured here:

The enrollment cap for all Ghana programs 20 participants. On average, our programs have 10-20 participants.

$2,450 Summer Session I tuition includes:

•  3 UMass credits (undergraduate or graduate) or equivalent professional development credits (does not include $175 transcripting fee)
•  accommodations for all 10 nights
•  all meals and bottled water for 1 week at Dagbe Institute, plus breakfast all other days
•  complimentary use of personal international mobile phone
•  all major in-country transport
•  25 hours of instruction
•  select cultural events

Not included

• airfare: $1,500-$2,200* (estimated)
• meals and bottled water when not at Dagbe Institute: $125 (estimated)
• additional private instruction (optional): $100 ($10/hour)
• mobile phone call credit: $15 (estimated)
• vaccinations/immunizations: depends on insurance
• international travel health insurance: $30-$45
• tourist visa fee: $60
• transcripting fee: $175 (if taking the course for credit)

$3,550 Summer Session II tuition includes:

•  6 UMass credits (undergraduate or graduate) or equivalent professional development credits
•  lodging for all 3 weeks
•  all meals and bottled water for 2 weeks at Dagbe Institute, plus breakfast all other days
•  45 hours of instruction
•  all major in-country transport
•  select cultural events
•  automatic complimentary enrollment in West African Rescue Association, a private air/ground ambulance service
•  complimentary use of personal international mobile phone

Not included:

• airfare (estimated): $1,500-2,200*
• meals and bottled water when not at Dagbe Institute: $250
• additional private instruction (optional): $200 ($10/hour)
• mobile phone credit (estimated): $30
• vaccinations/immunizations: depends on insurance
• international travel health insurance: $30-$45
• tourist visa fee: $60
• transcripting fee: $175 (if taking the course for credit)

*Based on past prices. Airfare to Ghana can fluctuate dramatically.

The $750 non-refundable program deposit is due no more than 14 days after the participant’s date of acceptance. The remaining balance is due no more than 60 days after the participant’s date of acceptance.

Participant’s right to a refund, which does not include the non-refundable trip deposit, will adhere to the following schedule:

• 100% refund of the remaining balance – if participant withdraws more than 120 days before program start date;
• 50% refund of the remaining balance – if participant withdraws more than 90 days before program start date;
• 25% refund of the remaining balance – if participant withdraws from the trip more than 60 days before program start date; and
• No refund of the remaining balance – if participant withdraws from the trip 60 days or less than 60 days before program start date.
• The $750 program deposit is non-refundable

We accept the following forms of payment: check, credit card and wire transfer. There is a 2.5% transaction fee when paying the remaining balance by credit card (3% for American Express).

As a courtesy, this charge is waived on the initial $750 non-refundable deposit.

At this time, neither ThisWorldMusic nor UMass Amherst offers scholarships for the Study in Ghana program. ThisWorldMusic does offer customized tuition payment plans.

Applicants in need of financial assistance are encouraged to seek outside funding sources.

ThisWorldMusic offers customized monthly payment plans. For more information, contact us.