Hosted by CIEE
CIEE College Study Abroad in Cape Town, South Africa
African Studies Anthropology Arts Business Engineering Film History Language Studies Liberal Arts Literature Marine Biology Music Public Health +3
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE! Our high-quality programs include tuition, housing, on-site airport pick-up, field trips and cultural activities, 24/7 on-site professional staff, and automatic iNext insurance. There are no hidden charges or surprises when you arrive, and scholarships opportunities are available!
Accommodation Some Activities Classes Some Meals Travel Insurance
Last Reviewed: Jan 23, 2023
With a glorious climate and natural draws like Table Mountain and stunning beaches, it's no wonder Cape Town is Africa's number-one tourist destination. Day and night, this multicultural city offers much to do: water sports, mountaineering, nightclubs, and restaurants. As a microcosm of many African countries in transition, Cape Town also illuminates the issues of joining the global economy while grappling with vast socioeconomic inequalities born from its colonial and apartheid heritage.
CIEE Cape Town is located in the Rondebosch district, near the University of Cape Town campus.
Day and night, this multicultural city offers much to do: water sports, mountaineering, nightclubs, and restaurants.
Receive more than you give by participating in an Impact Project in a local community or giving your time on a weekly basis by tutoring students, working with health and medical organizations.
Depending on their program of study and availability, students may be able to volunteer or participate in an internship.
Do Cape Town on your own terms by customizing your experience through the Open Campus program. Take one, two, or three six-week blocks, select your academic track from six options, then choose your courses from a wide range of subject areas.
CIEE Cape Town Summer Programs 
Cape Town is Africa's most popular destination for many reasons, starting with its glorious climate and natural attractions.Earn credits in Cape Town this summer exploring South African literature and film; the history of protests and social movements; and the historical, political, and economic transitions of South Africa.
Cape Town serves as a commercial and industrial entry point to Africa and houses regional headquarters for many companies, nonprofits, and NGOs. Take your arts and sciences studies a step further with study abroad in Cape Town exploring the wonders of nature while learning about South African society.
CIEE Cape Town January Programs 
Earn credits in Cape Town this January and witness the incredible changes taking place in this vibrant country. January in Cape Town features the course, From Rhodes to Mandela and from Apartheid to AIDS.
CIEE Open Campus Block 
With CIEE's Open Campus Block Programs, you can design your very own study abroad program to include up to three different locations for 6, 12 or 18 weeks.
Stay in one city the entire time or spend other blocks at our other Open Campus Block locations in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dublin, Kyoto, London, Madrid, Monteverde, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, Singapore, or Sydney.
CIEE Scholarships and Grants
CIEE's need-based grants offer support to students who face financial barriers to studying abroad. CIEE awards need-based grants based on students' EFCs and program selection. The Gilman Go Global Grant offers students $750-$2,000 toward airfare, plus $2,500 toward semester program costs, or $1,000 toward summer program costs.
Win up to $3k to Study Abroad in 2023!
To help make your 2023 study abroad adventure happen, we are giving away $3,000 for fall and $1,500 for summer to 10 lucky winners! Enter the #CIEEMainCharacter Abroad sweepstakes and apply for a summer or fall 2023 study abroad or internship program.
Rating Spread Study
5 rating 80.77%
2 rating 3.85%
Academics 4.3
Housing 4.8
Safety 3.95
 Good for Students, Adventure travelers, Photographers
South Africa Experience
I never would have imagined myself to be 21 years old, exploring South Africa with an amazing group of new friends, all while working a truly incredible internship. I went into this program not knowing anyone. I was so happy when I arrived and was greeted by some of the kindest people I had ever met. I truly made some life long friends during my trip. I was able to intern at a publishing firm called Modjaji Books during my time in Africa. Not only did this enhance my resume, but I also found my love for publishing. My summer abroad in Cale Town truly changed my life.
Experiencing a new culture
Can't Beat It!
I was apart of CIEE's Open Campus Program in Cape Town, South Africa. I did 2 blocks in Cape Town, and they were the most enlightening, exciting, and unique 12 weeks of my life! Going abroad anywhere can be scary, especially in a third world country where the crime rates aren't very comforting. However, CIEE does an amazing job at providing the right resources and information so that as soon as you step foot off the plane, you feel comfortable and welcomed. Not only did CIEE provide transportation from the airport to the housing accommodations, they also organized an introductory seminar and orientation to give us the lay of the land (how to get places, who to contact in an emergency, certain areas to stay away from, certain areas that are recommended, and so much more). Ever since Day 1, the CIEE staff was attentive and responsive, and was at our beck and call every second of everyday. If it was 8pm and I needed a restaurant recommendations, I contacted a CIEE staff member. If it was 6am and I needed a recommendation on where to go for a hike, I contacted a CIEE staff member. If I was feeling sick and wanted to go see a doctor, I contacted a CIEE staff member. They are ALWAYS there to help and guide you through the best semester of your life!
Allows you to step outside of your comfort zone
Cheap cost of living!
Not extremely safe in some areas
Beggars on the street are very persistent!
1 person found this review helpful.
Kopano
Lovely experience to engage and grow
During my semester abroad in Cape Town, I connected with the people, place, and culture in many different ways. I was able to pick up quite a bit of Sesotho (a Bantu language), go hiking and see the city from multiple perspectives and find daytivities to stimulate my mind. You can go to places like clay cafe, and do artsy activities or food jams to take a cooking class. Food was definitely one of my favorite aspects, the restaurants made me more adventurous. I hadn't tried ostrich, squid, snoek, springbok until I got there. I also love the aquila safari. beautiful city and people.
7 people found this review helpful.
Best Abroad Experience
Open Campus Blocks in Cape Town were amazing because there was a great mix of educational experiences and fun everyday. I only had class Monday and Wednesday but I learned so much and it truly opened my eyes to how ignorant I was to other cultures. All the CIEE planned events were a blast like surfing, cooking, hiking and more. We were able to travel on our own and see animals on a safari, bungee jump, swim and go on boats. The weather is amazing and beach weather everyday. The Campus Key Rosebank housing was clean and cultivated a community. Our program would hang out on our balcony every night and we go very close. The conversion rate is inexpensive, allowing us to do any activity we wanted because everything was so cheap. With mountains, beaches and a city you can never get bored!
Educational, opens your eyes to another countries history
Outdoorsy: beaches, hikes
Classes do not follow syllabus, different from US
Lots oof homeless people, can be dangerous
Keiarra
CIEE Open Campus Block Cape Town, South Africa
My study abroad experiences exceeded my expectations as each day I was able to continuously push myself outside of my comfort zone. Cape Town is known as the mother city and when I landed I was able to take in its breathtaking beauty and received welcomeness from many of the locals I encountered along the way. From attending classes to learn about the impact of apartheid in the country to going into the local community for Sunday lunch each conversation and interaction I had was enriching to my continuation of growing my intercultural competence. I was constantly able to gain knowledge about the country's historical background and engage in cultural traditions as I got to familiarize myself with the local community throughout my entire duration. With engagement in the local community, I continue to value the experiences and opportunities I got to have during my time abroad and continue to educate myself to value the rich history of Cape Town.
I have included a poem I wrote after my study abroad experience.
You'll Always Have My Heart
Thank you Cape Town, South Africa CIEE
And thank you to me
For leaving my fears behind to travel to the mother city
Cape Town South Africa where the city and mountain coexist
And the eye can't resist
The moment my toes touched the grainy sand
I knew immediately that I was in the motherland
Where every cultural experience felt so natural to me
Is South Africa where I am meant to be
The locals no matter how short of the interaction say South Africa is where I belong
It makes me question when I go back to the states whether everything will feel so wrong
Cape Town has allowed me to grow into the person I always wanted to be
The woman whose spirit is allowed to be free
You see home for me can be anywhere where love and respect are always present
I dream of the spaces I enter and immediately feel content
For me, home is where you feel connected
In this study aboard journey thousands of miles away from family I feel collected
To know I will always have my family's support
Makes it easier to go to the next destination to learn about a new culture and gain a stamp on my passport
So to Cape Town thank you
For showing me home is anywhere I feel value
Giavonna
Open Campus Spring Semester in Cape Town!!
CIEE Open Campus program allowed me to spend a life changing 6 weeks in Cape Town. With the night life, mountains, city, and the beach all within a mile of each other, this location had endless things to do. Classes were not overwhelming and instructors/ program coordinators organized outside environment trips, which really helped us students learn about Cape Town on a deeper level. I took two STEM classes online that counted towards my biology major and public health minor. Although it was online, my class had other CIEE students in different locations around the world, so I was able to hear so many different perspectives. Hearing about the in person class experiences, other students had life changing discussions that changed the way people viewed life. CIEE housed Open Campus students with Arts & Sciences students and also students that were going to the nearby university UCT. As a student oriented neighborhood, groceries, restaurants, cafes are all walkable and provides a perfect opportunity to be able to immerse yourself in the culture. Cape Town gets a bad rep for crime, but everyone is really friendly. Just like every other new location of travel, being smart and aware of your surrounds is all you need to do. Cape Town with CIEE is a hidden gem that I am so happy I found and I hope to reveal its wonders to everyone!
petty crime
having to drive everywhere
Cape Town 2022!
I have absolutely loved my time here in Cape Town. CIEE has been awesome in providing us with amazing opportunities to see the city and succeed in our academics. I have made great friends here and will cherish these memories for a lifetime. UCT is challenging but manageable if you budget your time wisely. There is so much to do here you will never get bored. I personally have loved the hiking, surfing, soccer, and diving. If you are adventurous, love the outdoors, and willing to take a risk Cape Town is the place for you.
Pickpocketing
No car
Semester Study in Cape Town
Cape Town is by far one of the most magical places I have been. Studying here for a semester was one of the best decisions I have made. Doing the program through CIEE made the process so much smoother as they found housing for me and worked with UCT and my home university to facilitate the semester abroad. I would recommend everyone come to Cape Town if they get the chance! The nature is unmatched, and there are so many cool places to explore in the city. UCT classes were definitely challenging, but I was still able to spend a lot of my time going around the city and experiencing all Cape Town has to offer.
People are very nice
So many fun activities to do
Not the safest city
Laundry in building was unreliable
UCT classes can be difficult
These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.
Jordan Gustke
Why did you choose this program?
I chose this program for a couple of different reasons. The first reason is that I'm a senior and I was looking for a way to go abroad again before I graduated. The second, and more important reason, was the class subject.
I took the Economics of Wine course through CIEE's January in Cape Town program, and this was probably the most informational, enjoyable, and awe-inspiring course that I've gotten the chance to take. Our professor was well versed in the ways of the wine industry in South Africa and had plenty of first-hand experiences to share, and because there were only three students in my term, we got more exclusive co-curricular too.
These experiences were vital to our coursework and definitely added some renowned connections to my contact list in the process. We got to tour the cellars and chat with Managing Directors, Head Wine Makers, and Marketing and Outreach professionals from each of the wine farms we went to. Not to mention we got to do all of this in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa!
The location was also a big selling point, and I was really excited that this was going to be the venue because I was looking for something different than my first study abroad; which was a semester in Estonia. I also picked this course because I work for my college's Office of International Education, and when wee had recently added CIEE as a partner I noticed that they have some really affordable and exciting programs!
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
My university helped with completing their own application as well as providing a pathway to create an application with CIEE.
CIEE was extremely helpful and communicated quickly and efficiently with everything that I had problems with or questions on that my home university couldn't. Given that I work as one of the people that would help me at my home university and that I had already gone abroad once before, I only had a few things that I needed to contact them for, but when I did Lauren, the advisor I was assigned, was helpful and kind. She was also proactive before departure and tried to get all of us involved in some activities too!
I was also responsible for organizing my own flights, but since I got a small scholarship through CIEE, I had to go through their corporate travel agent to do so.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
One piece of advice that I would give to someone going on this program would be to be open to stepping outside of your comfort zone both in the classroom and outside of it.
I'm really good at not wanting to speak up in class in case my answers are wrong, and I really thought an economics course was going to be rather unforgiving. But in reality, it was quite the opposite! Our professor fostered an environment of learning and civil discussions where each of us could bring our personal backgrounds (none of which were actually in economics!) in for a different point of view.
Additionally, Cape Town is an energetic and vibrant community, and trying things is one of the main components of your study here; or anywhere really!
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Being that this is a short-term program, the coursework and time overall there go by pretty quickly. But the professors keep you well informed on expectations, and the staff at the GI do their best to help fit in everything you want to do during your stay by incorporating some excursion into the structure of the program itself. This is really helpful if you're indecisive about what to do like me! We had class every day for about three hours at either 9 am or 1 pm-ish, and then the activities through CIEE happened on either weekend or during the afternoons/evenings after class. Otherwise, the rest of the time was our own to go exploring; in groups, that is.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
Given that this wasn't going to be my first time out of the country, I think my biggest fear was getting all of the course requirements done in such a short amount of time while still getting to go out and explore my host community. I think I overcame this by keeping really good track of what was due and when.
I also made sure to really prioritize what I wanted to do while I was in Cape Town, and made sure to plan out time to do work around them. It's kind of hard when there are only like 14 people in the entire J-Term program because we all did things together, and while I really hated not being able to do everything with them, I feel like I struck a good balance between the two.
What has studying abroad taught you?
I have learned so many different things during my time abroad, and they extend so far beyond the courses that you take.
My favorite thing is to meet people and hear their stories, and studying abroad is literally the perfect avenue to do that. My favorite experiences from these terms abroad have been attending language cafes, Iranian New Year (Nowruz), the Eziko cooking school in Langa, our family lunch where we got to visit and eat with families in the townships, and the food jam where we worked as a team to prepare a whole buffet of dishes.
The reason this has stuck with me is how much they provide insight into other cultures and ways of life.
Going abroad is so much more than exploring another country: it's about experiencing a change in yourself and growing while you do.
I never expected to feel connected to the counties that I stayed in this much, but they really do start to feel like home. Studying abroad has taught me more about myself than anything else; helping me see how resilient and capable I really am.
I honestly can't promote this enough to people that can afford to do so.
Cape Town International
( CPT )
Cape Town is a port city, the legislative capital of South Africa, the most southern city in all of Africa, and referred to as the "Mother City". It is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa.
About CIEE
A nonprofit, non-governmental organization, CIEE is the world leader in international study and exchange programs. For more than 75 years, CIEE has helped thousands of students, professionals, and educators gain the knowledge and skills necessary to live and work in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world by offering the most...
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