At Mount Kigali University (MKU), students from different countries are experiencing life in Rwanda while adapting to its culture, learning its languages and building connections with local communities.
For some, the decision to study in Rwanda was influenced by the quality of education and the opportunity to experience a different environment.
Bonifacia Pedro Lucas, an Angolan student at MKU, said access to quality education and exposure to different languages were among the reasons he chose Rwanda.
He described his experience at Mount Kigali University as positive, saying he believes the institution offers excellent education compared with what he experienced in Angola.
Beyond academics, Lucas said Rwanda’s security and the hospitality of its people have made his stay enjoyable.
“Rwandan people are really good when dealing with foreigners,” he said.
Safety is also among the qualities that have impressed other international students. Omnia Philip, a Sudanese student, described Rwanda as a peaceful and clean country where people respect rules.
She said she was particularly impressed by the politeness of Rwandans and their willingness to communicate with foreigners, even when language differences make conversations difficult.
Despite not being fluent in Kinyarwanda, Omnia said she is gradually adapting and has started using local greetings such as “Muraho neza” when interacting with people.
She also encouraged parents to consider sending their children to Rwanda for education, describing it as a safe destination with good educational opportunities and affordable living conditions.
The sense of security and affordability has similarly shaped the experience of Rayan Abubaker, another Sudanese student.
He said these factors influenced his decision to study in Rwanda, while the opportunity to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds has become one of the things he appreciates most about living in the country.
Although understanding the local language has been a challenge, Rayan said his overall experience has been positive.
“Rwanda will be your second home,” he said, encouraging other international students to consider the country.
However, life in Rwanda has offered the students more than academic opportunities and a peaceful environment. Experiencing a different culture has also become an important part of their stay.
Nyamer Paul , a South Sudanese student, said she was particularly drawn to Rwanda’s traditional dances and attire, describing the country’s cultural richness as one of the things she admires most.
Nyamer said learning Kinyarwanda has been challenging but that she is making efforts to adapt and understand the country’s culture better.
Cultural experiences have also extended beyond traditional performances to everyday community life.
The country’s famous thousand hills and peaceful environment were among the attractions that caught the attention of Denish Ondieki, a Kenyan student.
He said he particularly appreciates Rwanda’s cleanliness and the Umuganda community service initiative, which brings residents together to participate in activities aimed at improving their surroundings.
Despite his appreciation of the country, adapting to a new environment has not been without challenges.
Denish said language differences were among his biggest difficulties, although he has been pushing himself to learn Kinyarwanda and is gradually adapting.
Food has also been part of the adjustment, with Denish noting differences in preparation and the experience of street food.
Lucas similarly observed that although some foods are familiar to him from Angola, the preparation methods differ in Rwanda.
Nevertheless, the students said these differences have not overshadowed their experiences, with each describing the opportunity to live and study in Rwanda as worthwhile.
For Denish , the experience is something he believes others should not miss.
“Don’t miss to come to Rwanda, because if you miss it, you are missing a very big thing in your life,” he said.
For these five students, studying in Rwanda has offered more than an opportunity to pursue academic qualifications.
It has also provided an experience of cultural exchange, adaptation and discovering a new sense of belonging away from home.
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