SIP is not a passive orientation. It is a structured, multi-component program that begins months before you set foot on campus and builds progressively toward your first semester. Each component has a distinct purpose, and together they are designed to close the gap between where you are now and where graduate study at CMU-Africa will require you to be.
Tartan Tuesdays
April 21 - July 21 (Online)
Before the intensive preparation begins, Tartan Tuesdays ease you into the CMU-Africa community through weekly one-hour Zoom sessions every Tuesday from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CAT. These sessions introduce you to the people, systems, services, and opportunities that will shape your student experience and help you begin managing the practical logistics of your transition, from relocation requirements to academic planning. Attendance is expected.
Online learning
June 2 - July 26 (Online)
This self-paced but structured phase is where your academic preparation begins in earnest. You will work through curated learning resources covering the foundational technical and academic skills required for graduate study, with a particular focus on programming, mathematics and CMU's core competencies.
Diagnostic self-assessments will help you understand where you stand, and weekly technical challenges, teaching assistant (TA)-led tutorials, and skill-specific office hours will help you apply and consolidate what you are learning.
This phase rewards students who engage seriously and independently. The more honestly you assess your gaps and the more consistently you engage with the material, the better prepared you will be when you arrive on campus.
English Enhancement Program
June 22 - July 23 (In-person, selected students only)
Students identified as benefiting from advanced communication skills development will be invited to participate in an intensive, residential one-month English Enhancement Program (EEP). With a focus on English for academic purposes, the program strengthens your ability to communicate with clarity, precision, and confidence in graduate academic settings. Classes run Monday to Friday on campus, and assignments are deliberately aligned with text-based curriculum courses you will encounter in your first semester. Weekend excursions are included. Selection for this program is an investment in your success.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Orientation
July 24 - 28 (In-person, full Mastercard Foundation Scholars only)
Mastercard Foundation Scholars will participate in a dedicated three-day orientation covering the values, expectations, and support systems of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at CMU-Africa. Through leadership workshops, storytelling, peer connection, and practical onboarding, this experience is designed to help you understand your responsibilities as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, develop your sense of agency, and build a strong personal and academic foundation before the wider program begins.
New Student Orientation
July 29 - 31 (In-person)
New Student Orientation (NSO) is your formal introduction to CMU-Africa and its community. Over three days, you will participate in workshops led by staff, faculty, and student leaders covering institutional onboarding, academic expectations, campus resources, and pre-registration degree planning. The experience is designed to help you feel oriented, connected, and ready. It also supports you with establishing the shared understanding of academic culture, collaboration, and professional conduct that CMU-Africa expects from all its students.
Academic Bootcamp
August 3 - 18 (In-person)
The Academic Bootcamp is the most intensive phase of SIP. Over two weeks, students participate in a structured, full-time learning experience that combines instructor-led academic skills development with collaborative technical project work.
Building on the foundations established during the online phase, students apply their learning through hands-on problem-solving, group collaboration, presentations, and project-based activities designed to reflect the pace and expectations of graduate study at CMU-Africa.
Alongside classroom instruction, students are expected to engage in independent study and team-based project work outside scheduled sessions. Teaching Assistants (TAs) provide ongoing support through tutorials, office hours, and guided feedback throughout the Bootcamp.
The Bootcamp culminates in a capstone project presented during Academic Showcase Day. By the end of the program, students also complete progress assessments across foundational technical skills, with aggregate results shared with faculty to help inform first-semester support and instruction.
Academic Showcase Day
August 19 (In-person)
SIP closes with Academic Showcase Day: a campus-wide academic event and your first opportunity to present your work to faculty, peers, and alumni. The day includes a variety of structured activities such as elevator pitches, poster presentations, and faculty-student hackathon challenges, as well as a keynote address from a senior technology leader.
More than a celebration, Showcase Day is your introduction to CMU-Africa's scholarly community and an opportunity to consolidate everything SIP has been building toward. By the end of the program, students will have strengthened foundational technical and academic skills, developed greater self-awareness about their learning, and built increased confidence and preparedness for the challenges of graduate study ahead