interstudy: University of Fort Hare

  South Africa

Alice

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring 
Dates: Late January - Late June, Middle July - Late November

Description: Established as a missionary teaching college in 1916 by a group of eminent African scholars, the University of Fort Hare grew into a prominent educational institution during and after the two world wars. Since then, Fort Hare has evolved into one of South Africa's most historic and distinctive institutions of higher education. The university has been a major training ground for intellectuals throughout South Africa and the wider African continent. It spawned many generations of leaders in politics (for example, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Mangosutho Buthelezi, Govan Mbeki, Robert Sobukhwe, Dr. Ivy Matseppe-Cassiburi).

The University of Fort Hare is situated on a beautiful modern campus on the historic site of Fort Hare which played a crucial role in the historical advancement of Africa, and, more particularly, in the history of the Eastern Cape in the mid-19th Century. Alice is a small town about 2 miles from the rural location of the university campus across the Tyhume river. It lies on a tarred road between King Williams Town (37 miles) and Fort Beaufort (12 miles). It is 70 miles from East London, the closest city and airport. For interstudy students seeking a cozy environment, where most activities are on campus, Alice provides the ideal setting. There are many nature reserves as well as other eco-tourist attractions in the vicinity.

Highlights: There are several aspects of the interstudy Fort Hare program that set it apart from other study abroad experiences. Among these are:

- Academic flexibility - interstudy's open academic policy allows students to take virtually any course or combination of courses in the undergraduate course catalog, without imposing interstudy course requirements.
- Modern campus with a close-knit university community and vibrant student life.
- Full academic integration - courses are taught by South African professors, in classes filled with South African students.
- Convenient access to sites such as Hogsback, Amatola Mountains, and East London
- Specific academic strengths in Agriculture, Education, History, and Political Science

Cost in US$: See interstudy website

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently Or in Groups

Scholarships are Available. - interstudy awards scholarships each semester based on academic merit and/or financial need. Award amounts vary. Scholarship applications may be downloaded from the interstudy website, and must be submitted no later than May 1st for Fall Semester and November 1st for Spring Semester.

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Year Founded: 1980