Mauritius is a stable and prosperous Indian Ocean archipelago.
Once dependent on sugar exports, the island has built up a strong outsourcing and financial services sector, as well as an important tourism industry, and now boasts one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.
Mauritius claims sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, in a dispute with Britain that saw hundreds of islanders deported to make way for a US military base on the island of Diego Garcia in the 1960s.
The Chagos archipelago, 1,280km to the north-east, were administered as part of Mauritius from the 18th Century onwards. In 1965, three years before Mauritian independence, the UK separated the islands, along with Aldabra, Farquhar and Desroches from the Seychelles, to form the British Indian Ocean Territory - the latter were returned to Seychelles in 1976 on its independence.
REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS: FACTS
Capital: Port Louis
Area: 2,040 sq km
Population: 1.2 million
Languages: English, French, Mauritian Creole
Life expectancy: 71 years (men) 78 years (women)
Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. It boasts vibrant reefs, impressive lagoons, and untouched beaches that stretch for miles. It’s located on the southeast coast of Africa. The third largest coral reef in the world surrounds Mauritius, which creates ample and diverse marine life.
Mauritius boats some incredibly diverse wildlife and flora as well, and is known for its peacefulness and freedom. It’s rated the number one country in Africa on the Global Peace Index.
Though the island is small, students will find various topics of study that may interest them. Mauritius is a great study abroad destination for students interested in marine life, wildlife, African studies, and conservation.
Program Types
Language Immersion
There are numerous amounts of languages spoken in Mauritius, English and French included. There is no official language in Mauritius. Mauritian-Creole, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Mandarin, amongst many other languages, are all spoken in Mauritius.
Learning another language in Mauritius is a great idea for students who wish to immerse themselves in their culture. Students may learn another language as a part of their curriculum, or may choose to take a crash language course on their own while studying in Mauritius.
