IES Abroad determines the program fee, which covers tuition, housing, and insurance. They also offer scholarship opportunities to help offset the cost of the program. 

Students will take 15-19 credit hours (3-5 courses) at the University of Cape Town. There are also options to take one of the IES Abroad courses. To see courses UofSC students have taken at this university, please reference the Registrar's Course Equivalency Table. 

Even though your adventure begins in Cape Town, IES Abroad field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country.  The program believes in experiential learning and the field trips are aimed at helping you learn more about South African culture, geography, wildlife, history and people. In addition to trips and activities in and around Cape Town (such as a walking tour of Langa Township, a trip around Cape Peninsula, a District Six Cycling Tour, and a visit to Robben Island), these partially subsidized field trips open you up to a range of cultures and experiences.

Per university policy, all UofSC students will be charged emergency medical, evacuation and repatriation insurance for their time abroad. Contact the Education Abroad Office for more details.

IES Abroad offers two housing options. Students can choose to live in a private residenc hall with IES Abroad, South African, and other international students. Students live in a furnished single room with a kitchenette, private bathrom, and a digital safe is provided. Living spaces are shared, and there is a gym on site. Internet access is available.  Meals are not included. The other option is in a shared house. Live with other IES Abroad students in a furnished house. Furnished houses offer single and double rooms, a communal lounge, and a fully-equipped kitchen area. All houses are equipped with digital safes for storage of personal belongings. Internet access is available but not unlimited. Meals are not included.

In both housing options, an IES Abroad Resident Assistant lives in each student residence, and can serve as a great resource for tips on integrating into the local culture.

For the fall semester, students will arrive in June and take their exams in November. In the spring, students arrive in January and take their exams mid-June. IB students will attend UCT during the spring semester.  

Orientation in Cape Town is spread over two weeks. It starts with an IES Abroad orientation (three days) where you are introduced to the IES Abroad Cape Town staff, your fellow students, the city of Cape Town and its surrounding areas, in addition to the University of Cape Town campus.

Orientation continues with a trip along the Garden Route, the southern coastline of South Africa, where you explore cave systems, visit beautiful beaches, canoe, hike, and experience the breathtaking beauty of the South African landscape. During our orientation, you also enjoy a scenic drive through parts of Cape Town and a visit to a local township led by members of that community.

You will then attend the University of Cape Town’s orientation (five days) that gives you details on academics, extracurricular activities, and volunteer opportunities. It also includes a campus tour and the chance to participate in an African-style drumming event.

Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience (CORE™) begins right when you arrive and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on academic and cultural adjustment.

Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, health and safety, and other important topics are also covered.

US citizens will need to apply for a study visa (formerly known as a study permit) to study at UCT for the semester. Once you are officially accepted to the program, you will receive step-by-step instructions on how to apply. Applicants will need to obtain an FBI background clearance as part of their supporting documents and will need to travel to their nearest embassy to apply in-person. The current fee for the study visa is roughly $36.