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Study abroad in
Cape Town, South Africa

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Study abroad in the South African capital to experience one of the world’s richest and most interesting cultures, where you can find tremendous diversity in the languages spoken, religions followed, and the races and ethnicities represented. Visit Robben Island and the Nelson Mandela Capture Site to learn about South Africa’s history of apartheid. Try paddle boarding with friends at the popular Victoria and Alfred Waterfront or hike up Table Mountain for a spectacular view of the city from the summit. Meet African penguins on the beach, go snorkeling with seals, or visit the Giraffe House zoo to see popular African species. Stroll through lush public gardens, discover contemporary African art, and sample a surprising variety of food. Get excited about your education and transform your perspective. Study abroad in Cape Town.

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Programs to love in Cape Town

Programs to love in Cape Town

Business & Economics

Business & Economics

University of Cape Town

Globalization has made the world of business smaller, more competitive, and more innovative. Understanding the changing international environment and developing the management skills needed to succeed are key for any new graduate today. Taking courses at UCT will engage you not only in learning those skills, but in honing your adaptability, creativity, and critical thinking. Whether you’re interested in investment, marketing, or leadership, the Business & Economics program in Cape Town will give you the edge you need to make a big next step.

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  • ST
  • SU
  • SE
  • YR
  • Starting at $20,895
Humanities, Social Sciences & Psychology

Humanities, Social Sciences & Psychology

University of Cape Town

Step into the Faculty of Humanities at UCT to explore one or more of the 17 departments and 30 academic majors. Join local and international students in learning how to think outside the box, ask questions to solve real-world problems, and delve into a uniquely South African perspective. Debate, talk, and learn with students from 44 countries to study everything from philosophy to history, religion to education, and development to political science. Take a seat in a Cape Town classroom to flip your perspective while also earning credit towards your major back in the U.S.

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  • ST
  • SU
  • SE
  • YR
  • Starting at $20,895
Sciences & the Environment

Sciences & the Environment

University of Cape Town

With strong international and regional links, the 12 departments in the Faculty of Science at the University of Cape Town are renowned for excellence in research. Join around 1,500 other undergraduates to focus on the southern hemisphere’s oceans, skies, climate, and general environment. You’ll have access to state-of-the-art laboratories and a perspective on the challenges and opportunities throughout the African continent. Learn new and innovative ways to contribute to tackling today’s biggest questions in this Sciences & the Environment program in Cape Town.

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  • ST
  • SU
  • SE
  • YR
  • Starting at $20,895
Identity, Politics & History of South Africa

Identity, Politics & History of South Africa

University of Cape Town

Join a study abroad program that takes a deep dive into learning what makes the people and country of South Africa who they are today. This regional focus program allows you to think and learn about race, class, gender, culture, music, economics, the arts, development, politics, languages, environments, and the society of your host country. Take an interdisciplinary approach to your semester abroad and flip your perspective on South Africa.

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  • ST
  • SU
  • SE
  • YR
  • Starting at $20,895
Engineering & Computer Science

Engineering & Computer Science

University of Cape Town

Step into a university where your courses will directly address concerns like water scarcity, urbanization, sustainability, and alternative energy. As the Dean of the UCT Engineering & the Built Environment Professor Alison Lewis says, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution will bring unique opportunities for engineering and built environment professionals to address environmental issues and redesign how we manage.” With access to faculty and more than 20 active research groups, students in the Engineering & Computer Science program will learn in state-of-the-art facilities alongside other motivated international and South African students.

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  • ST
  • SU
  • SE
  • YR
  • Starting at $20,895
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What's Included in your Program'

What's Included in your Program

From housing to excursions, our inclusions make studying abroad easy!
  • Personalized Pre-Departure Advising
  • Visa & Immigration Advising
  • Financial Advising
  • Tuition and Registration
  • Airport Pick-up
  • Onsite Orientation
  • City Tour
  • Onsite Staff Support
  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance
  • Travel Medical Insurance
  • International Emergency Service Support
  • Welcome & Farewell Events
  • Centrally Located Housing
  • Cultural Engagement
  • Excursions
  • Student Clubs & Organizations
  • Host Institution Services & Amenities
  • Official Transcript(s)

Garden Route

Rastafarian Community in Hout Bay

!Khwa Ttu San Village

Robben Island

Garden Route

Traverse the coast of South Africa and visit beaches, lakes, rolling hills, and mountains. Museums, game reserves, marine reserves, and national parks are all part of the garden route. Known as the ultimate road trip in South Africa, the Garden Route is a must. At the right time of year, there are lots of opportunities to whale watch from various points along the route.

Rastafarian Community in Hout Bay

Visit a traditional healer and Rastafarian community to learn about the contested landscape of healthcare in South Africa. Private healthcare is expensive and a privilege the majority of South Africans do not enjoy and cannot afford. Public healthcare facilities and hospitals are overcrowded and under-resourced, and people can wait for months or over a year for specialized care and surgery. Many people are reverting back to traditional ways and to religion for physical and mental health.

!Khwa Ttu San Village

The Khoisan people are often forgotten and looked past but play such a crucial role when it comes to culture and identity in Cape Town. This is particularly true for some of the “Coloured People” of Cape Town who referred to themselves as the offspring of the Khoisan. Learning about and from the Khoisan people, as well as the challenges and successes of sustainable tourism, is an integral part of understanding South Africa.

Robben Island

This island is most famous for its maximum security prison where Nelson Mandela and thousands of other freedom fighters were incarcerated for years during apartheid. Our exploration of the island’s complicated history will include a tour that speaks to the political history and democracy of South Africa. We hear both from the warden of the late-president Nelson Mandela, about his relationship with the man himself, as well as from ex-prisoners, many of whom were imprisoned for political activism.

Bo-Kaap

Bo-Kaap is one of Cape Town’s most distinct neighborhoods at the foot of Signal Hill. Dating back to the 1760s, this area was used to house slaves known as Cape Malays, brought from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the rest of Africa. Today, the cobbled streets, Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture, and colorful homes are a testament to the Cape Malay expression of freedom when the slaves were finally allowed to purchase the homes. Experience the distinct Cape Malay cooking style, visit local mosques and craft markets, and get up close to the people’s living culture.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Summer Concert Series

Hosted during the South Hemisphere’s summer (from the end of November to early April), this concert series is held outdoors in the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. From opera to neo-soul, hip-hop to Afro-balkan, gypsy blues to cabaret rock, this series is not one to miss. But if you can’t make the concerts, the Botanical Gardens also host open-air movies, craft and food markets, other music festivals, and fascinating lectures year-round.

Langa Township Tour

This suburb of Cape Town is a township, which was one of the many areas in South Africa that used to be designated for Black Africans during apartheid, the system of institutionalized racial segregation that existed in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Built in the 1920s, Lang is the oldest township in the Western Cape. The Langa community then served as a center for resistance and rebellion against apartheid. Understanding the history and contrasts between the wealthy and poor areas, between those who built and those who benefited from the labor, in Cape Town is an integral part of the engagement experience.

University Societies

Is there a club or group you have always wanted to join at your home university, but never taken the chance? Your stay in Cape Town just might be your perfect opportunity. Join fellow local and international students in discovering what you love in the South African context. UCT campus boasts more than 100 student organizations to match your passions. Participation and registration for 3 student groups are included in the program price. Make the most of your time in Cape Town. Whether you choose hip hop club, investment society, and wine and culture society or UCT choir, fashion society and engineers without borders, you’ll be right at home with built in new sets of friends. 

Content Creator Program

Want to build your digital portfolio while you study abroad? Join the Content Creator program! You’ll blog, photograph, and video your experience abroad, then share them on social media.

Alumni Ambassador Program 

Your study abroad adventure doesn’t have to end when your program is over. Keep sharing your study abroad love on your home campus…become an Alumni Ambassador! This internship allows you to help other students on their study abroad journeys while gaining work experience and growing your professional network 

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Cape Town Housing

Cape Town Housing

*Housing options may change term over term and will be confirmed on the housing application form prior to the start of the term. Below are the housing options that have been offered in the past.

Student Residence

Student Residence

Homestay

Homestay

Available:

Semester

If you are looking for a full service student residence where you will meet other international students, be able to join in regular social events, and be taken care of by 24/7 security and residence staff, this option is for you. Each student is placed in a suite with 1 to 3 other students, who share a kitchen and lounge space. Each room is private and fully furnished. The room includes a bed, desk, chair, shelves, and a small kitchen. The residences have ample communal space inside and outside, study spaces, and shared laundry facilities. The buildings have 24-hour reception and security.

Typical Commute

  • University of Cape Town: 15 minutes walking or taking public transportation

Meals Included

  • None

Roommates

  • 1 - 3 roommates

Unit Amenities

  • Shared kitchen
  • Bed linens included
  • Closet / Dresser
  • Desk and chair
  • Shared living space – Indoors and Outdoors
  • Private or shared bathroom (depending on availability)
  • Shared laundry facilities
  • Wi-Fi
  • Monthly cleaning of communal lounge
  • Gym on site
  • Biometric security access
Student Residence Photo #1
Student Residence Photo #2
Student Residence Photo #3
Student Residence Photo #4
Student Residence Photo #5
Student Residence Photo #6
Student Residence Photo #7

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Available:

Semester

CEA Students have the option to stay with a South African family while abroad in Cape Town. Get the insider local perspective while getting a truly personalized experience. Houses are accessible to University of Cape Town by public transportation. Each student is guaranteed a bedroom, with internet, a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk. Students will have breakfast included in their stay and will have access to the kitchen.

Typical Commute

  • University of Cape Town: 45-60 Minutes by Public Transportation

Meals Included

  • Breakfast 5 days/week

Roommates

  • 1 - 2 CEA Students per Bedroom
  • 1 - 2 CEA Students per Homestay

Unit Amenities

  • Limited kitchen
  • Shared living space – Cable TV
  • Shared - co-ed bathroom
  • Bed linens included
  • Towels included
  • Internet access
  • Closet / Dresser
  • Desk and chair
Homestay Photo #1
Homestay Photo #2
Homestay Photo #3

Download Overview

Institutions

Institutions

University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town

Ranked as the number one institution of higher education in the continent of Africa, the University of Cape Town (UCT) stands out as a premier institution. Founded in 1829, UCT now boasts eight specific programs, like education, architecture, sports-related subjects, and archaeology, which rank in the top 100 in the world. UCT offers doctorate, masters, and undergraduate programs with opportunities in six comprehensive faculties: Commerce, Engineering & the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, and Science. UCT is a teaching and research institution dedicated to building a more equitable and unified South African society.

Nestled in the shadow of the striking Table Mountain’s Devil’s Peak, UCT is home to over 28,000 students from over 100 countries in Africa and abroad. CEA students will be taking courses alongside South African and international undergraduate peers. All courses are taught in English at UCT. With robust student services, academic advising, and student wellness support, CEA students will have access to everything they need for a successful semester.

Accreditation

The University of Cape Town’s undergraduate faculties and programs are accredited through South Africa’s Council for Higher Education (CHE). The Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment is additionally accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)  and is internationally recognized by the Washington Accord, a multi-lateral agreement between bodies, representing 20 countries, responsible for accreditation or recognition of tertiary-level engineering qualifications. While our students are unable to take graduate level business courses, the Graduate School of Business at UCT does hold triple crown accreditation, AACSB, AMBA & EQUIS, and that speaks to the quality of professors and business education.

Grading

The following information is vetted and provided by the American Association of Colleges and Registrars (AACRAO):

Percentage

Description

Recommended Letter Grade

75-100%

1st Class

A+

70-74%

2nd Class/Division 1

B+

60-69%

2nd Class/Division 2

B

50-59%

3rd Class

C

0-49%

Fail

F

Classroom and Information

  • South African and international faculty teach all courses.
  • Midterms, homework assignments, presentations, and final exams will be administered.
  • Class attendance is generally mandatory and monitored by professors.
  • Teaching styles in South Africa may differ from those in the U.S. Be prepared to adapt to different classroom structures and coursework expectations.
  • Most courses are held Monday through Friday and meet two to three times per week
  • Most of the students will be South African, but you may attend class with other CEA students and other international students.
  • Class sizes range for 100-300 for larger lectures and 20 to 40 students for smaller tutorials

Amenities
  • Student Offices
  • Clubs & Organizations
  • Student Government
  • Student Center
  • Student Lounge
  • Study Room
  • Study Area
  • Counseling Services
  • University Library
  • Computers
  • Printing Facilities
  • Student ID
  • Printing Services
  • Internet Access & Wi-Fi
  • Academic Advising
  • Tutoring
  • Fitness Facilities
  • Student Sports Teams
  • Cultural Engagement
  • Dining Facilities
  • Banks & Post Office
  • On-campus ATM
  • Lockers
Say Hi

Hear from South Africa students

My Week in Cape Town | CEA CAPA Content Creator | June 16, 2015

June 16, 2015

My Week in Cape Town

CEA CAPA Content Creator