Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The University of Cape Town is great school. I didn't take the most challenging courses while I was there, and there were fewer assignments than I was used to, but overall it was a good academic experience.

On-site administration of your program

There was no Program Administrator since this was a direct exchange. Study abroad students at UCT who are not there with a program work directly through UCT's Study Abroad Office. The admin in South Africa is not as efficient as many would be used to, and the rigamarole is frustrating. But there is only stuff to deal with at the beginning of the term when you sign up for classes. So overall it's not a problem.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a house with 15 other international students. There were other Americans as well as students from Germany, Norway, Australia, Angola, and the Netherlands. People moved in and out during the semester. It was a great way to meet other people and make friends. It was nice to live with a mix of people and not only Americans. The house was in Observatory, this is an area that is farther from UCT than others, but there are more things to do and in general Obs is a very lively place to live. The neighborhood is pretty safe, all houses have fences around them and gates. No one in our house had any problems. There is quite a bit of petty crime in Cape Town though, so it's important to know what places and times are safest.

Observatory and Cape Town have great food! Plenty of restaurants and options.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There is great night life in Cape Town, mainly on Long Street. Since class doesn't take up too much time, there is a lot of time to be social. I made great friends in Cape Town! There are also many things to do and see in Cape Town and the surrounding areas, including beaches, hiking, museums, cultural events, surfing, concerts, etc.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

As a student you have free access to UCT's Health Center. I used it and found it similar to U of M's Health service, except a little bit less formal and more relaxed. Living in a big city is never as safe as living in a college town. I had absolutely no issues in Cape Town, but know a number of people who were mugged. Women don't really walk alone at night in Cape Town. As annoying as that may be, I would recommend sticking to it. Cape Town isn't the safest city in the world, but it's not any where close to the most dangerous either. It's just important to know where not to go, especially if you're alone. I took a lot of public transportation and found this to be overwhelming at times, but safe. I would say the biggest thing is to not walk alone in unfamiliar areas and at night, and don't flaunt desirable things, like phones and cameras. Parts of Cape Town are really poor, and the poverty is pretty apparent. There is great disparity in South Africa, it's important to be aware of this. Take the opportunity to visit as much of the city as possible, whether wealthy or poor.

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

South Africa has 11 official languages, but English is widely spoken most everywhere and is especially common in Cape Town. I picked up some words and phrases in other languages, but nothing substantial. It is possible to take language classes at UCT though.

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