The exchange program between Brown University and the University of Dar es Salaam provides a unique opportunity for undergraduates to live and study in a developing African nation. The program also enables foreign graduate students and/or faculty to come to Brown University each year.

University of Dar es Salaam is the major university of Tanzania. It consists of six faculties, five institutes and the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences. The University enrolls 5,000 students (85% male), the majority of whom are from Tanzania with smaller numbers from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Zambia.

The campus is located approximately eight miles inland on a 1625-acre site spread across the hilltops of a ridge which runs parallel to and overlooks the coast. Faculty and staff live in University neighborhoods surrounding the campus and most students live in dorms in the heart of the site. A bookstore, post office, bank, telephone service store, and a cafe are all located on campus. Other needs can be met by riding a dalluh-dalluh into the city, which takes about 25 minutes and costs the equivalent of a dime. These vans run virtually non-stop from the University to town, departing from the computer center and the campus gate.

Dar Es Salaam and Tanzania
Formally a German colony and later under British administration, Tanganyika gained independence in 1961 and joined with the Republic of Zanzibar in 1964 to create Tanzania. Dar es Salaam, the "haven of peace," was founded in 1862 by the Sultan of Zanzibar, and is the largest city in Tanzania. Located on the coast, it is an ideal seaport consisting of a small European-style center with residential areas and market places along the outskirts. Dar es Salaam is a main industrial center and was the seat of government until the recent transfer of parliament and major government departments to the new capital city of Dodoma.

Culturally, Tanzania is a mixture of over 120 different ethnic groups. The majority of the people speak Bantu languages, Kiswahili being the official language. Major religions include Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and traditional African religions. Tanzania provides US students with a unique view of a society in transition.