interstudy - University of the Western Cape

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

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

Description: In 1959 Parliament adopted legislation establishing the University College of the Western Cape as a constituent college of the University of South Africa in Pretoria. It was an apartheid institution for people classified as "Coloured". The new college was entirely under white control, with Coloured people given only an advisory role. The first group of 166 students enrolled in 1960. What they were offered was limited training for lower to middle level positions in schools, the civil service and other institutions designed to serve a separated Coloured community in 1970, the institution gained University status and a severely qualified independence. UWC was now able to award its own degrees. The University of the Western Cape has a history of creative struggle against oppression and discrimination.

The campus is situated in Bellville, a town east of Cape Town. Bellville is situated in the region of Tygerberg that is part of six municipal regions of the broader Cape Metropolitan Council. Cape Town is the parliamentary capital of South Africa and is situated in the Western Cape province. Cape Town International Airport is approximately 5km from the University. The Tygerberg is south of the historic town of Stellenbosch, tucked between the mountains and the sea. It has rolling vineyards, glorious sea and mountain vistas, surprising facilities, balmy weather and easy access to all that's beautiful in the Cape. Tygerberg offers an attractive array of interests for the culture enthusiast, the sportsperson, the leisure traveler, nature lover, the young to the mature and for the serious up-market shopper to the browser. Apart from the many craft markets, which appear on the parklands every weekend, Tygerberg has two major shopping malls of international sophistication and style. The challenging golf courses, numerous sports venues and the racecourse are all in peaceful rural surroundings.

Highlights: There are several aspects of the interstudy University of the Western Cape 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 Robben Island, Houses of Parliament, and Table Mountain & Cableway
- Specific academic strengths in Development Studies, Education, 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