Prepare for graduate study

Carnegie Mellon University offers a program for undergraduates in their final year of study that provides a bridge to graduate study. The free intensive graduate study preparation program is intended for promising and motivated students who are interested in studying in one of the following areas at a master's level: electrical engineering, computer engineering, information technology, telecommunications, networking, big data, artificial intelligence, or software engineering.

We have hosted 276 students as bridge program participants, 36 percent of which are female.

Program overview

The program will:
  • Raise your awareness of the specific academic skills required for successful graduate study
  • Deliver training on embedded system project development, incorporating IoT connectivity and AI capabilities
  • Give you a feel for the graduate study experience

Prerequisites and other information

Kigali City location

  • Dates: July 13, 2026 - July 24, 2026

  • Hours: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Monday - Friday)

  • Requirements:
    • Must be a Mount Kigali University Rwanda, University of Kigali, University of Rwanda, African Leadership University, Adventist University of Central Africa or UNILAK student currently in their final year or recently graduated.
    • Must be studying information technology, computer science, computer engineering, information systems, electronics and telecommunication engineering, or electrical engineering.
  • Location: in-person at CMU-Africa 
    • All applicants should make sure that they will be physically in Kigali city from July 13 - July 24.
  • Transport: Transportation to and from CMU-Africa will be provided
  • Refreshments provided (morning tea and lunch)
  • Cost: Free for all admitted students

  • Applications will open on Monday, April 6, 2026 and close on Friday, May 8, 2026.

Musanze location

  • Dates: May 3, 2026 - May 8, 2026
  • Hours: Afternoon sessions (approximately 6 hours per day) specifically scheduled to follow students' regular morning university classes. The program will consist of one week of high-impact, in-person instruction consisting of six consecutive days.
  • Requirements:
    • This program is for high-potential undergraduates (years 3–4) and fresh graduates aspiring to pursue graduate studies at CMU-Africa or other leading institutions.
    • Focus groups: Specifically targeting students from INES and IPRC Musanze who meet entry requirements.
    • Inclusion mandate: The program ensures inclusive access with specialized outreach and support for women, persons with disabilities, and refugees.
  • Location: Hosted on-site at IPRC Musanze. The sessions will be hosted at IPRC Musanze, combining both INES and IPRC students. 
  • Transport: A dedicated shuttle service will be arranged to transport the instructional team, including CMU-Africa faculty, UR faculty, and ten teaching assistants from Kigali to Musanze each morning and return to Kigali each evening.
  • Cost: Free for all admitted students
  • Instructional delivery: A mobile team of CMU-Africa instructors and teaching assistants will facilitate face-to-face labs, lectures, and mentoring.
  • Equipment and hardware: Instructional tools will be provided by CMU Africa, transported and set up at the host institution to facilitate hands-on coding and engineering challenges.

Read more about the bridge program