About Angola
When Angola became an independent country in 1975, civil war broke out between the government and the popular movement for the liberation of Angola and the national union for the total independence of Angola. The parties were legalized when UNITA claimed fraud the civil war broke out again. Many people died out of starvation as the parties did not allow for the transportation of food to cities that were occupied by their enemies. In 2002 war ended and a peace treaty was signed by the parties ending the war and began to rebuild the nation. Angola's people are happy and fun-loving, they make new friends. Over half of the country's population is unemployed and 70% of people live in poverty. Fighting still continues and it can be dangerous to venture outside of Luanda.
Geography and climateAngola is located in southern Africa and forms a large inland plateau. The country presents deserts, rainforests, plateaus, grasslands and canyon formations. The region has grasslands and rocky deserts. In the north are the tropical forests and the coastal plains have reduced natural vegetation. The country has many rivers and along the coastline. Some of the rivers flow into Congo Rivers and others flow into the Atlantic Ocean. The climate is average along the coastal region and it receives about 40 to 6o inches of rainfalls. The grasslands catch fires frequently naturally or by man-made activities. Many kinds of carnivores are found in the savanna lands of Angola. They include leopards, lions, hyenas, and herbivores includes elephants, hippopotamuses, giraffes, zebras, gnu antelopes and monkeys. Angola is also rich in many different kinds of animals which include the reptiles, insects, disease-carrying pests. There are many natural parks and reserves which checks on hunting. Gorillas and chimpanzees form the endangered populations in the forests. The national tree is a special one to the people of Angola. They have a popular belief that God planted this tree. The tree imbondeiro is also known as the ‘Boabob' upside down. This unusual tree is found in all parts of Angola. The tree is depicted as local artworks. Angola's largest national park is the Iona National Park. The park borders the Atlantic ocean with magnificent desert dunes, there are a lot of bird variety and is recovering from the mammals that had reduced due to poaching during the war.
Economy and transportationThe extensive railroads connect Angola's towns and cities. It also provides a link to the sea for neighbouring Zambia and Congo. Luanda is the largest city and a major seaport. Mining is an important activity for the country's economy. Angola also has rich deposits of diamonds, iron ore and petroleum. Diamonds occur widely in the country with gemstones. There are many manufacturing industries that produce cement, chemicals, processed foods and textiles. The factories are increasingly gaining importance and have provided employment to the people. Angola first produced its oil from the Benfica oil field in Cuanza Basin in 1955.
The biggest trade partner of Angola is China and also exports destination China imports crude oil and diamonds and it exports electrical products and mechanical items, machinery parts and constructions materials. It is illegal to take Angola's currency Kwanza outside the country. The country has a very young population; nearly about 70% of the population in Angola is under 24 years of age. The country has the highest death rate in the world.
Transportation in Angola includes three separate railway systems, eight seaports and 243 airports. Travelling on the highways outskirts towns and cities are not advisable as the roads are damaged by potholes and broken asphalt. The government is restoring the infrastructure. Angola has both paved and unpaved road network in the world. Diamonds are a major source of economy for the government. Angola publishes one daily newspaper. Luanda has an international airport.
HealthMany diseases are common in several parts of Angola. Epidemics such as cholera, malaria rabies and African hemorrhagic fevers prevail in the country. The country also has a number of tuberculosis and HIV incidences. Many other insect-carrying diseases occur in the many parts of the region. The country had launched several campaigns to combat the diseases by vaccination against diseases such as measles and polio. In 2015 yellow fever spread to many provinces and many people died.
Arts and SportsThe literary tradition of Angola is outstanding and it has a genre of political poetry. The people are free to express their views. There are many oral pieces of literature that include the mermaids in Luandan lore, Ovimbundu trickster tales, and the sand graphs. Wood carving and the pottery crafts are sold in neighbouring countries. There are numbers of museums in Luanda and the Museum of Anthropology is notable, which displays an array of traditional masks, artefacts' and the sculptures.
The popular sport in Angola is Basketball. The national team of Angola has won the AfroBasket 11 times and has a record for holding the most titles. Angola's team is a regular participant and competitor at the Summer Olympic Games and the FIBA World Cup. In 2010 Angola hosted the African Cup of Nations in football. In 2006 FIFA World Cup the Angola national football team qualified and it was their first appearance on the world cup stage finals.
Education Primary education in Angola is of four-year duration and is compulsory which begins at seven years until eleven years old. The school academic year has 171 working days. Secondary education begins at 11 years and continues for eight years. But most of the children do not continue education. Girls stay at home helping the family and they stop attending the school. The country has about 67% of people having the ability to read and write in Portuguese. During the civil war, the schools were destroyed and the materials were looted. Now the country has become populated and often students need to bring their own materials for studying such as notebooks, pens and even chairs. The schools are ill-equipped and no proper classrooms are constructed. The classes are conducted in the open air and during adverse climatic conditions, the schools are closed. There is also less number of teaching faculties and lack of trained teachers. An individual with five years of university degree can appear for an exam and become qualified to be a teacher. The country is facing issues in the areas of education, infrastructure and reconstruction of schools, materials and wages for teachers. The Ministry of Education bought in new policies to bring teachers from Cuba on experimental projects. The UNICEF has taken initiatives to reduce the overcrowding of the classes. The government has taken up plans to construct more schools in different provinces and taken measures to improve the conditions of the existing schools and to provide basic sanitary facilities. Primary education is free for all students.
In 2010, the government began the Angolan media libraries network and distributed, to enable people to access the information and knowledge.
Secondary education is not free; there are two programs, the vocational secondary which is of three years and the pre-university of four years duration. Both the programs award the students with certificates of diploma and secondary school certificate. To pursue higher education students should have a diploma of secondary school certificate and pass an entrance examination. Students should have a high level of knowledge of Portuguese. The degree is of three years and a bachelor's degree is awarded to the students. Masters degree is awarded for two more years of study after bachelors and for a doctorate degree, the Licenciatura is awarded after six years of study. There are many universities in Angola that are private and religious.
Universidade Agostinho Neto: This University was founded in 1962 with the name Universidade de Luanda and later changed to the present name. The university has expanded and has campuses all around the country. It has become an autonomous public university. It is located in Luanda the capital city of Angola. The university offers courses in bachelors and masters degree courses. It is the largest university in Angola. The university comprises the faculties of Architecture and fine arts, natural sciences, social sciences, law, economics, humanities, medicine, health sciences educational sciences and tourism.
The Jean Piaget University of Angola: This University is based in Luanda Angola. It has campuses in Benguela province. The university is both public and private and is one of the seven state-recognized universities. The university is named after the Swiss philosopher JeanPiaget. The university has faculties in fields of law, economics and management, computer sciences, sociology, civil engineering, nursing, medicine, petroleum sciences.
The Catholic University of Angola: This University was established in 1992 in Luanda. The university is a private institution. The language of classes is Portuguese, English and four departments are found in areas of social sciences, economics, law and engineering. The university has been established from contributions from many nations.
Independent University of Angola: This University was established in 2004. It is a private higher education institution. The campus is located in Corimba Luanda. The university offers courses in arts and humanities, business and social sciences, language and culture, medicine and health, engineering and science and technology.
Quick Facts
The official name of Angola is Republica de AngolaThe capital of Angola in Luanda. The city is known as the “Paris of Africa' due to its sophisticated culture and its atmosphere. Angola become an independent nation in 1975, it's the last country to gain independence from Portugal.The terrain of Angola is narrow coastal plain which rises into vast interior plateau abruptly. The country has a transitional government. The head of the state is the President and the head of the government is also the president. There are 18 provinces in the AngolaCuanza, Cunene, Cuango are the main rivers of Angola.
The official language of Angola is Portuguese. The other language spoken is Bantu
The Angolans have indigenous beliefs. The national tree is the majestic imbondeiro. The currency of Angola is kwanza The giant sable antelope thought to be extinct was discovered in Angola The endangered species, fin whale the second largest animal after the blue whale is found in Angola The Ruacana Falls the most beautiful Africa's natural wonders, is located in Angola.The national flag was adopted in 1975. The flag' top half is red and the bottom half is black. In the centre is a yellow emblem which has a five-pointed star that represents socialism, a half cogwheel for industry and a machete for agriculture. Admission Process in Angola
There are thousands of international students attending universities in Angola for higher education learning programs. Higher education enables the students to improve oneself and enhance their skills. The popular universities in Angola to pursue higher studies are The Agostinho Neto University in Luanda, the Catholic University of Angola and the Jean Piaget University of Angola. The tuition for students varies from university to university. First, find out what documents are required for admission process in Angola. Then you need to have good English proficiency. Make sure that the documents are issued officially. The application has to be completed fully and signed. Submit the documents. Submit your application online and document to show your eligibility for the courses you opt for. Admission is based on entrance examinations.
Student Visa Application Process
Visa process to Angola is an easy process if you have all the proper documents. Students who wish to pursue studies in Angola will need the student visa which allows them to stay for one year. They cannot carry out any other commercial activities with this visa. Student visa entitles the students for all levels of education from primary education up to university level programs. Visas are processed in about 7 to 10 working days. The visa can be extended until the completion of the study program in the country. The following are the document that is required:
Visa application form to be completed duly with application fee A letter to be submitted to the Angolan consulate stating the reasons for the application A valid passport with one year at least with two blank pages Three passport size recent photos with name written on the back. Passport pages to be photocopied with information of migration and stamps attested Proof for vaccination issued by the medical experts including the yellow fever inoculation taken within the ten years. Should have a proof for criminal record and translation in Portuguese Document declaring commitment to obey the Angolan rules and laws in Portuguese Certificate to show the medical health issued by an accredited doctor Proof for financial support to meet the expenses during the stay in the countryReceipt of confirmation of enrollment in education program of internshipLifestyle
Majority of people of Angola live in rural areas and work on the farms as farmers and herders. Another important economic activity is fishing along the sea coast. The country produces a number of crops which includes coffee, corn sugarcane, bananas and cassava. The country has natural resources in form of diamonds, iron ore and petroleum. Angolans belong to different ethnic groups, the Nbundu, the Ovimbundu, the Kongo and other groups. The country was had Europeans and mestizos living in Angola before it became independent. Many of them left the country during the civil war that began in 1975. Mestizos and Europeans who did not leave the country have jobs and businesses. Angolans speak Bantu language and Portuguese. Majority population is Christians and other practice religion on their beliefs related to their ancestors and spirits. Most of the Angolans cannot write or read. Living in Angola offers challenges and learning experiences. Luanda is a different and adventurous city. Lubango festival is a celebration of music, sports, dance and fashion. This festival lasts for about a month.
Living in an unfamiliar environment you need to be alert and take measures to be safe. Always check if car doors are locked, the house is locked and avoid crowded places. One can buy things on the streets and you can bargain. If you have stayed in Angola you have to adapt and be flexible. The traditional music of Angola is the samba. The samba dance is performed during different special occasions and celebrations. Angola is the place where the dreadlocks hairstyle originated. The samba music has influenced many other types of music. The important religious festivals of Angola include the Luanda Island Festival in honour of water God Kianda. The celebrations also include the Carnival, Christmas and Easter. People of Angola love music and every year Sumbe Music Festival is held in September which is internationally known. The popular dishes include mufete, feijoada and the funge which the favourite dish of Angolans.
Cost of Living for Students
The cost of living in Angola is very expensive according to Mercer's annual cost of living ranking. The capital city Luanda is the most expensive city in the world. A two bedroom Apartment in Luanda would cost around 6,800 dollars per month. Hotels are very expensive. Angola is country rich with deposits of natural resources, during civil war thousands of people lost their lives and the infrastructure was destroyed. The rebuilding of the nation took off in 2002. High-quality houses were constructed and the annual GDP grew. The economy of Angola has increased and companies offer high wages and benefits along with expensive housing facilities. Luanda happens to be safe during the day and can be dangerous. Fighting continues in some parts of the country. Angola is a developing nation coping up with the problems of infrastructure and the communication systems. A meal in the Luanda's restaurant may cost 100$/person. Luanda is a challenging city to visit and experience the dynamic activity. The city doesn't offer much to see, the Portuguese fort is an impressive structure that overlooks the city and not is missed.
Outside the capital city, there is a scarcity of hotels and other services. Roadways are not good, they are plenty of potholes and landmines so it is not safe. One needs to be careful in the country, and take safety precautions such as locking the car doors, avoid talking with strangers. Expensive valuables should be hidden, travelling outside the city to be avoided. Pickpocketing, armed mugging, carjacking and other street crimes are common so it's better to avoid travelling after nightfall. While travelling by motorbikes, bribing the police officers to be avoided. There are well equipped medical clinics for treatments. There is a great risk of malaria in the country, so be prepared to take precautions and preventions for malaria. Do not travel within Angola with the guidance from qualified personnel. Do not ever travel after dark and alone. Do not step beyond the red and white HALO trust posts as they are the minefields. Do not use a camera in front of the police.
Documents for University Admissions in Angola
A valid passportFor bachelors degree program you should have certificates of secondary education and pre-university education. For masters degree program certificates of bachelors, and secondary education and pre-university certificates.Proof for financial support for the expenses during the study course Medical insurance schemes to cover the costs of the medical health issues Documents to show the vaccinationProof for English proficiency Proof to show the proficiency in English proficiency4 Passport size photographs