South Africa is a beautiful place, socially & aesthetically, that every student should experience! Past Review
By Nathan R (Music/ Environmental Studies, SUNY - Binghamton) for
University of Cape Town: Cape Town - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Would consider working, doing grad work in S. Africa for some time. Being there, such a different place than America, makes you realize that its all real. Everything you see on TV, hear about- the good, the bad, the beautiful- it all exists in S. Africa and if you go there, you couldn't miss it even if you hid in your room all semester! Get involved and dedicate yourself to a club or two!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Workload was slightly more demanding than my home school (Binghamton University), but all professors were interesting and easy to listen to. Classes tended to be high level and very intellectual. Classes meet everyday for ~45 min., keeps your mind focused. My environmental sustainability course went on field trips around Cape Town! Some slight differences b/n American and S. African education systems, but nothing unbearable or discomforting. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
International office seemed to have all organized well, looked out for me if I needed anything, office on mid-campus easy to access during the day. (I didn't need their services enough to comment extensively.) Program was around 600 international students, ~400 being American, so always found other international students around campus and town. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Lived with other "Abroad" students in a town of abroad students (neighbors from America, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Kenya, etc). Exciting to be surrounded by foreigners who are as adventurous and excited about being abroad as you. Missed some of being 'within' S. African culture by not living with S. Africans, but you can get that experience by joining clubs on campus/ getting involved. |
| * Food: |
Since American dollar is worth more than rand food is cheaper. I ate at kosher facility on campus and bought from kosher foods at Claremont Pick n Pay, easy to keep kosher, and food was good. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Go see the townships, take the black taxis around town, explore (during the day particularly), go to a rugby or soccer game, ask the locals what they like to do! Go to Robbin Island, Peninsula Tour, Wine tasting |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Safety in S. Africa is always a concern, but I found it to be safer than I expected. They live a different routine than Americans, and being there with S. Africans will get you accustomed to this quickly (they travel in groups, don't walk around to late). Don't make safety a worry- the University is very safe and the program organizers make sure you are safe, and you will be if you follow their instructions. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~50$?? Much cheaper than a week in the US! |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Needed lots of money for internet and phone cards (payed for internet with credit card)- they have limited bandwith so you must pay by the megabyte of internet used. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Any and all! The University has clubs available for everyone (hiking, environmental, music, sports, teaching, etc) and no one will say they don't like the land, people, or beauty of the place. Its all up to you to get involved and experience what you want to experience! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Environmental Sustainability |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Meryl Sowman |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Interesting course, great professor and lecturers, lots of GREAT field trips around Cape Town. Lots of readings and assignments, but worthwhile! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Seems to be done by administration easily for you. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
History of Music III |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Lecturers from across the department lead the course, making it interesting as many people speak. Most professors give notes hand outs, no homework, one paper per semester and one large final exam per semester (essays). Fine if you ned it for your major, but not particularly interesting enough to take for fun. Liked it better than Music History courses taken in the US though! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Seems to be done by administration easily for you. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Microeconomics |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Tony Lehman- Course Convener |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Multiple lectures (new every other week) make class easier to listen to. Interesting course, must read the book, not overly difficult but does require lots of work. Probably same quality and level as in US. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Seems to be done by administration easily for you. |
