Program Details
Location
Dar es Salaam & Iringa,
Tanzania
Term
Winter Break
Housing
Hostel
Hotel
Languages Taught In
English
Sponsor
College of Science & Engineering
Program Eligibility
Student Type
UofM Students
Student Year
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
GPA
2.5
About
Access to reliable clean water is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today. This seminar will bring you to Tanzania during winter break 2027. Get a hands-on engineering challenge with real-world impact while growing as a science and engineering professional.
During this program, you will work in teams to evaluate community needs and infrastructure in order to model potable water-handling systems in the beautiful southern highlands region of Tanzania. Your proposals will be evaluated by a non-profit organization with the funding and resources in place to take approved projects to the next stage. This seminar will include a cultural and geographical introduction to Tanzania, its land, and people, as well as a trip to Ruaha National Park, one of the world’s most famous safari destinations.
This program is administered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and is open to upper-division CSE students.
Program Model
Housing & Meals
Share rooms with other students in a guest house that provides meals and instructional space. The program also includes village stays and a visit to a safari resort. Most meals are provided.
Application Deadline
Application Deadline: June 30, 2026
All applications will be reviewed once the deadline has passed. Applications cannot be considered complete until all items are received.
Program Dates
December 31, 2026–January 17, 2027
Program Structure
Program Level
3000
Courseload
One 3 credit course
Academics
Earn 3 credits for: ME 4583
Liberal Education Fulfillment: Global Perspectives, Technology & Society
Mechanical Engineering Major Fulfillment: Specialization Elective
You and your team will work closely with village leadership to assess the current status of water sources in the village, village priorities, plans for sustainability, and local resources available to partially support the project if it were funded. Each team will develop and present independent designs, articulate community needs and priorities, outline the scope of work, and determine costs based on locally-available materials and resources. Designs must meet technical specifications based on engineering design guidelines for Tanzania. Designs will be reviewed by engineers in the US and Tanzania.
Program Leader
Professor Matt Anderson is a member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He has taught this course previously and has a passion for the region and the student experience. A number of student projects overseen by Matt are currently in use in Tanzania, providing clean, fresh water to thousands of people.
Excursions
The program will start in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, before moving to the town of Iringa. Teams will spend time in villages identified by local non-profit staff members. The program also includes a safari experience in Ruaha National Park.
Accessibility
If you have a disability and plan to study abroad, visit our Accessibility Abroad page to learn about considerations, answer questions, and request accommodations before you go abroad.
More Information
Contact Roslyn Englund at [email protected] for additional information.
Upcoming Information Sessions
| Date | Time | Location | Link for RSVP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, April 20th, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. | Lind Hall Room 204 | RSVP for the info session |
Program Fee
The estimated cost of participation for the winter break 2027 program is $6,000–$8,000. This cost includes tuition and registration fees, orientation, and international health insurance. It also includes airfare, housing, excursions and most meals. Contact the leadership team for more information on the program fee details. Winter Break 2026 fees are posted for an estimated breakdown.
Billing & Payments
Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.
Enrollment Note: This program is considered part of spring enrollment for the purposes of registration and financial aid.
Flight & Deposit Advance
The Flight & Deposit Advance (formerly Bridging Loan) is a no-interest/no-fees program that allows you to defer payment of your flight and LAC program deposit until your financial aid is disbursed.
Cancellation Policy
CSE Cancellation Policy for Instructor-led Programs
This program follows the College of Science and Engineering cancellation and refund policy. Contact the college’s international office with any questions regarding these policies. The cancellation policy is listed below.
If you cancel your participation prior to the program start date, you will be billed based on the schedule below. Dates (and associated non-recoverable program costs) are based on the date of which written confirmation of cancellation was received.
Process
If you wish to cancel your participation on this program, you must log into your Learning Abroad Center portal, go into your program, and submit a cancel request by selecting the "Cancel Application" button on the bottom of the checklist page. The date/time stamp of this cancellation request will determine the refund eligibility according to the above policy.
| Dates | Billing policy |
|---|---|
| 90 days or more prior to start date | Application fee + $500 confirmation deposit retained by the Learning Abroad Center + non-recoverable flights costs* |
| 89–75 days prior to start date | Application fee + $500 confirmation deposit retained by the Learning Abroad Center + non-recoverable flights costs* + 25% of remaining program costs |
| 74–60 days prior to start date | Application fee + $500 confirmation deposit retained by the Learning Abroad Center + non-recoverable flights costs* + 50% of remaining program costs |
| 59–31 days prior to start date | Application fee + $500 confirmation deposit retained by the Learning Abroad Center + non-recoverable flights costs* + 75% of remaining program costs |
| 30 days or less prior to start date | Application fee + $500 confirmation deposit retained by the Learning Abroad Center + non-recoverable flights costs* + 100% of remaining program costs |
*Non-recoverable fight costs refer to those costs billed as a part of the overall program costs. It does not include any flight costs paid by students directly to airlines, travel agents etc.
Winter Break 2026
Design for Life: Water in Tanzania
Prepare
Complete pre-application advising.
Apply
Application deadline: June 30th, 2026
You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.
This program is administered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and is open to upper-division CSE students.
Complete
When you submit your online application, you will be assigned an application checklist that includes:
- First Step session
Next Steps
- After you complete all required application checklist items, you will receive an automated email message indicating your application is ready to be reviewed.
- Your completed application will be reviewed by the program leader in the sponsoring college/department.
- If admitted, the Confirmation & Payment Agreement form will be added to your checklist. Complete this form to secure your spot on the program. By submitting the form, you also give your approval for the program deposit to be billed to your UofM student account.
- Complete the confirmation checklist, which include the following items in additional to program-specific forms:
- Passport Information
- Emergency Contacts
- Health Information Form
- Online Health & Safety Orientation
- Release & Waiver
- You will receive information about additional steps from the sponsoring college/department.