Turbulent yet exciting and memorable. July 12, 2023

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The educational experience was daunting at the beginning of my time abroad because it took time to get used to a new grading system, styles of teaching, and class structure but with enough time you get the hang of it. Expect to get less than a 70 percent for most assignments you do and while this may seem like a problem for someone coming from the states its important to realize this is a common south african grading standard and 70-75 is considered to be above average.

On-site administration of your program

The administration conducted through IES abroad was top notch, with clear communication and staff who were friendly and helpful. On the other hand, the University of Cape Town administration itself left much to be desired. Communication between the University and students was not efficient they would take weeks if not months to respond to important emails to name one pertinent issue. Although the experience with the University was not ideal you have to deal with them less than with IES abroad so its an easily avoidable problem.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

IES Abroad provides you with two options for housing in two amazing apartment buildings. In the option I chose at Campus Key we were given our own small apartment complete with a bathroom, kitchen(with supplies), a tv etc. In addition to the rooms we were also given room service who would come by on a weekly basis. The only issue with housing is that sometimes it can get incredibly loud, especially on the weekends, due to it being accommodations for mainly issues.

For food, you were expected to cook for yourself, but groceries are cheap even when on a student budget. Otherwise, Cape Town has a wide variety of food options to choose from which you can get through uber eats or by going to a restaurant. These range from typical food you'd get in the States, like McDonald's, to food from SA, like Cape Malay food.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt really integrated especially when i returned for my second semester. I knew the non tourist spots that locals would frequent, I ate like locals went to local events, and after a while i even began adopting slang that my SA friends taught me. Despite this there are times when you definitely felt a lack of integration, especially when discussing certain values and beliefs where you could see some difference in viewpoints as a person coming from abroad.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

IES abroad provides you with insurance for within the country and travel insurance. These comprehensive insurance plans allow you access to the best private facilities in the city. The insurance was likely to cover all expenses and if it didn't the program would work with you to request reimbursement. It's hard to say how the local healthcare system compares to home since at home, I used public hospitals instead of private but from what i've heard the public hospitals in SA are not the best due to having to care for a large number of people at any given time. You are required to get a yellow fever vaccine for the Visa process depending on your country of origin, and IES recommends getting the Malaria vaccination.

On the whole Cape Town is not the safest city, some places are safer than others and some places are worse than others. Crime ranging from pickpocketing to armed robbery is very common and its important to take necessary precautions to keep yourself safe. The only personal incident I've experienced was a homeless person threatening my life, but from friends, there's been stories of them getting their phones stolen and being held up on a night out. While all of this is worrying Cape Town is like any major city when it comes to these issues and if you take the right precautions you will be alright. It's important to travel in a large group when going out a night, don't walk with headphones in or visible this makes you a target, avoid public transport when possible etc. IES abroad gives a class on safety and safety tips during orientation so they will make sure you are prepared but this is some of my best advice.

My time abroad had its ups and downs, the nation of South Africa is faced with many challenges that takes some accustoming to as a exchange student but overall it is an amazing place with even more wonderful people and sceneries. I made some friends that I hope to keep for the rest of my life and I learned my lessons and had many great memories. These are things I wouldn't change for the world and if I could do it all again I would.

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

The semester budget suggested by the program is good to cover most expenses, including travel, groceries, and going out. If you want to travel around the country or the continent frequently however i would suggest having a much larger budget

Select all that apply

• Apartment

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• International Students

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The people I met
• The Trips
• Being able to live in CPT

• Communication between the university and the student body.
• N/A
• N/A

The Academic or Linguist