Incredible experience and tons of unique opportunities with IES Cape Town Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

UCT was really flexible with international students. During orientation, I was able to register for any upper division course without needing to prove I had the prerequisites. Similar level of difficulty as my home uni, but the course load was easier because attendance isn't mandatory and the grades are mostly determined by the final exam. Most lecturers publish their slides or record their discussions. That was a huge plus for me.

On-site administration of your program

The best staff! The IES Cape Town staff went above and beyond for their students. They planned several fun activities and field trips throughout the entire semester so we were really able to experience everything. The RAs were also extremely helpful and involved. They showed us around the school, helped us set up our phones, schedule doctors appointments, etc.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had my own room in a large house with 10 other IES students. Every house had an RA that lived in and they helped us plan house activities like potluck dinners and braais. The house was really close to the shops, IES centre, and the school. We also had an electric fence and 24/7 on site security guard so we never felt unsafe at home. My house had a lot of problems with water and electricity in the beginning, but the IES staff was really proactive about working everything out with the landlord for us.

Cape Town has any type of cuisine you could possibly want. Uber Eats was also great. The grocery stores carried way more familiar products (like peanut butter) than any grocery stores I went to in Europe.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

IES organised a lot of fun activities and field trips for us throughout the semester. Our first day of orientation ended with a trip to Langa, a township, where we ate a really special dinner at a local restaurant. We also experienced a Bo-Kaap cooking class, museums, wine tasting, and a rugby match. Our RAs invited us to special events and introduced us to their friends. UCT also has a lot of clubs/societies for you to join.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I was vaccinated for typhoid before coming just as a precaution for travelling outside of Cape Town. I also brought anti malaria pills for the safari trip but a lot of people were able to get them in Cape Town. It's always recommended to bring enough of your prescription drugs for the entire semester. I wasn't able to bring enough ADHD medication, but the doctors there refilled it for me very easily. Some prescriptions aren't available in South Africa so be prepared for that!

IES was really thorough and informative regarding safety in Cape Town. A lot of students experienced pickpocketing, but it was always because they weren't paying attention. Cape Town does have a lot of crime and you do learn to be more aware of your surroundings. I never had any issues with safety and any safety concerns never got in the way of going out and having fun. Phones are always a target though. I definitely recommend buying a cheap smart phone or bringing an old iPhone.

This was my second time going through IES and I still stand by them!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Everything is so much cheaper in Cape Town and there are a lot of opportunities to save money. Uber was the best mode of transportation and it was very affordable. Cooking at home was very inexpensive, but we were also able to dine out a lot. I could order dinner and drinks for under $15, including tip too. I was also able to find a lot of events and concerts for well under $50.

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• Other

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• Local Students
• Americans

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Service learning
• Field trips

• Housing wifi

The Outright Urbanite