interstudy - University of the Witwatersrand

  South Africa

Johannesburg

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

Description: The University of the Witwatersrand, or Wits, as it is affectionately called, is located in Johannesburg, the largest metropolitan area and thriving industrial and commercial hub of Southern Africa. It is divided into an East and West campus linked by a brick-paved walkway; each accommodating different faculties and services. As one of the largest English-medium universities in the region, Wits has built up an enviable national and international reputation as one of the leading research universities in Africa. It has more than 18,000 students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, and a longstanding commitment to non-discrimination: broadening access to the university for students from traditionally disadvantaged communities. Not surprisingly, therefore, the campus has a lively and progressive atmosphere. The Medical School and the Faculty of Management are situated in the suburb of Parktown, adjacent to the main campus in Braamfontein. Other faculties include Architecture, Arts, Commerce, Education, Engineering, Law, and Science. The West campus is newly developed. Admission to Health Sciences, more specifically Medicine, is limited to full-time degree students.

Johannesburg, or Jo'burg as it is usually called, is the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa. It is 35 miles from Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital, on the highest interior plateau known as the Highveld. Its history dates back to the discovery of gold in 1886 on the Witwatersrand, yielding the world's richest gold deposits. The city center sprawls in all directions in interminable suburbs and satellite towns. To the south of Johannesburg lies the enormous 'black' urban conglomerate of Soweto. Jo'burg's vibrant and truly cosmopolitan character lies in its many cinemas, supermarkets, bookstores, restaurants, individualistic shops, clubs and bars. Though the range of formal attractions in Jo'burg is limited, it is certainly the setting to experience firsthand the country's wide cultural and ethnic kaleidoscope, reflected in its ultra-modern, high-rise business center, alongside pockets of established Portuguese, Indian and Chinese traders, and multi-ethnic pavement stalls. Johannesburg has a thriving arts scene, with live music and local theater productions of a very high standard, staged regularly. Located in the suburb of Braamfontein, north of the city center, the Wits campus is very much an urban one. There are regular bus connections during daylight hours and most distances are walkable. While media reports of widespread violence appear daily, and street crime is indeed a problem, it takes on much the form of that in other major cities throughout the world: it occurs in specific neighborhoods and is far less random than one would be led to believe. Nevertheless, students attending Wits, like the many visitors who come to Jo'burg each day, should take appropriate caution; all students are advised by the Students' Representative Council and campus officials on safety measures to take in and around Johannesburg.

Highlights: There are several aspects of the interstudy University of the Witwatersrand 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.
- Beatiful and centrally-located campus with easy access to the modern attractions of cosmopolitan Johannesburg.
- Full academic integration - courses are taught by South African professors, in classes filled with South African students.
- Convenient access to sites such as Apartheid Museum, Hector Pieterson Museum, and Museum Africa
- Specific academic strengths in Drama, 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