Cape Town - Health, Culture & Development | IES Abroad

Why South Africa?

Southern Africa is a rich, vibrant region and has become one of the world’s fastest growing economic zones despite facing challenges of poverty, disease, and economic imbalance. Its burgeoning economy, youthful population, ecological and ethnic diversity, and evolving politics make the continent an increasingly important player in the world of the 21st century. Cape Town’s idyllic setting on the South African coast makes it the perfect base from which to study this fascinating region, and our Health, Culture & Development Program is designed to offer insight into the complexity and breadth of the contemporary issues facing the southern part of this continent.

What You'll Study

You have the opportunity to take specially designed courses with other IES Abroad students in a variety of disciplines. These English-taught IES Abroad courses were created with a comparative and interrelated curricular focus in order to help you learn more about South Africa and its neighboring countries. Choose from several Health Science or Sociology courses taught by local lecturers and learn how globalization, development, and disease affect different communities. You can also study relevant cultural aspects of Southern African literature, music and dance, or language, or learn about the power of protest, gender and sexuality, or the environment in the region. Through your instructors, you’ll learn new perspectives focused on the Southern African experience. Course-related trips will provide additional insight and enhance what you’ve learned in class.

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Daily Life

We want you to feel at home in Cape Town so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From housing to cultural events and tours of the city and local sites, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible, and offer you numerous opportunities to get to know South Africa and some of her closest neighbors.

Two amazing multi-day field trips through South Africa and its neighboring countries will further expand your understanding of the region, with visits to many stunningly beautiful and culturally significant places like the Drakensberg Mountains and Chobe National Park in Botswana.

The final field trip ends in Johannesburg, where the program concludes. Cape Town will be your classroom, as well as your base. You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of everything this diverse, beautiful city has to offer—the fascinating people and languages, politics and culture, outdoor adventures, and so much more.

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$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from participating in an IES Abroad Program. This is why we commit more than $6 million to our scholarship and aid programs.

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Academics

We offer unique courses that explore Health Studies, Sociology, Cultural and African Studies, Political Science, Psychology, and more through an in-depth and hands-on approach. These courses will include comparative perspectives based on Southern African examples. Our world-class professors enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.

While in Cape Town, you take 15 credits per semester; all courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified.

Courses

This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.

African Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
LT/AF 314 - The Literature of Change	Fall, Spring	English	3
PO/HS/AF 352 - Power & Protest: Apartheid to Present	Fall, Spring	English	3

Anthropology
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
AN/SO 321 - Childhood & Youth	Fall, Spring	English	3
WS/AN/GS 215 - Sexuality and Gender	Fall, Spring	English	3

Environmental Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
HE/GE/ES 320 - Environment, Health & Development	Fall, Spring	English	3

Geography
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
HE/GE/ES 320 - Environment, Health & Development	Fall, Spring	English	3
SO/GE/HE 332 - The Impact of Globalization on Health & Development	Fall, Spring	English	3

Gender Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
WS/AN/GS 215 - Sexuality and Gender	Fall, Spring	English	3

Health Sciences
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
HE/GE/ES 320 - Environment, Health & Development	Fall, Spring	English	3
SO/GE/HE 332 - The Impact of Globalization on Health & Development	Fall, Spring	English	3
SO/HE 323 - Endemic Diseases & Their Socioeconomic Context	Fall, Spring, Summer	English	3
SO/HE 347 - Health & Community	Fall, Spring, Summer	English	3

History
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
PO/HS/AF 352 - Power & Protest: Apartheid to Present	Fall, Spring	English	3

Literature
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
LT/AF 314 - The Literature of Change	Fall, Spring	English	3

Political Science
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
PO/HS/AF 352 - Power & Protest: Apartheid to Present	Fall, Spring	English	3
SO/PO 327 - The Narrative of the Rainbow Nation: A Political History of Post-Apartheid South Africa	Fall, Spring	English	3

Sociology
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
AN/SO 321 - Childhood & Youth	Fall, Spring	English	3
SO/GE/HE 332 - The Impact of Globalization on Health & Development	Fall, Spring	English	3
SO/HE 323 - Endemic Diseases & Their Socioeconomic Context	Fall, Spring, Summer	English	3
SO/HE 347 - Health & Community	Fall, Spring, Summer	English	3
SO/PO 327 - The Narrative of the Rainbow Nation: A Political History of Post-Apartheid South Africa	Fall, Spring	English	3

Women's Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
WS/AN/GS 215 - Sexuality and Gender	Fall, Spring	English	3

Field Trips & Events

Even though your adventure begins in Cape Town, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country and beyond. In addition to trips and activities in and around Cape Town (such as a walking tour of Langa Township, a trip around Cape Peninsula, a District Six Cycling Tour, and a visit to Robben Island), the Eastern Neighbors field trip and Northern Neighbors field trip open you up to a range of cultures and experiences in and out of South Africa. Both the Eastern Neighbors and Northern Neighbors field trips are fully subsidized by IES Abroad and are included in your program fee. There is also the optional Garden Route Trip, which takes place at the beginning of the program and is partially subsidized by IES Abroad:

Garden Route
3 Days | Orientation
This optional, partially subsidized trip takes place shortly after orientation. Travel along the southern coastline of South Africa, better known as the Garden Route. Explore the Cango Cave system, and visit an ostrich farm and an animal sanctuary. Experience the beauty and diversity of the South African landscape as you hike and canoe along the Garden Route.

Eastern Neighbors Trip
8-10 Days | Mid-semester
Experience a range of Southern African cultures. Starting in Durban, you explore South Africa’s third largest city, cycle along its beachfront promenade, and learn about the city’s strong Indian identity. From here you make your way inland through the Valley of a Thousand Hills where you visit an HIV/AIDS-focused community organization before heading into the Drakensberg Mountains. Next you enter into the Kingdom of Lesotho (a mountainous landlocked country within South Africa’s borders). You then head north to Zululand, where you’ll learn more about the rich Zulu culture and history. You then visit community and public health projects in the little country of Swaziland, and enter Mozambique to see its beauty and learn about its unique cultural identity, before finally returning to Cape Town.

The cost for this trip is included in the cost for the program.

Northern Neighbors Trip
5 Days | End of semester
This end of semester field trip begins by flying to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, one of Southern Africa’s most exciting adventure hubs. Here you visit Mosi-ao-Tunya one of the world’s largest waterfalls at roughly twice the size of Niagara Falls. You will learn about Zimbabwean culture and taste some of the country’s delicious food. You then head west and cross the border into Botswana. In the town of Kasane, you enjoy a sunset cruise on the river that marks the border between Botswana and Namibia. The next day you board safari vehicles and head into Chobe National Park to see the game reserve’s famous elephants, as well as lions, hippos, giraffes and other wildlife. The field trip ends in Johannesburg where the program also comes to an end. You will fly home from Johannesburg.

The cost for this trip is included in the cost for the program.

Daily Life

Part of making you feel at home in Cape Town is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips and walking tours that take you to places off the beaten path— we’re all about our student services.

Orientation

The program begins with an orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Cape Town staff, your fellow students, academic matters, and the city of Cape Town and its surrounding areas.

Orientation continues with an optional trip along the Garden Route, the southern coastline of South Africa, where you explore cave systems, visit beautiful beaches, canoe, hike, and experience the breathtaking beauty of the South African landscape. During our orientation, you also enjoy a scenic drive through parts of Cape Town and a visit to a local township led by members of that community.

Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience CORE™ begins right when you arrive and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.

Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, health and safety, and other important topics are also covered.

Housing

Residence Hall - Live in a private residence hall with IES Abroad, South African, and other international students. Students live in a furnished single room with a kitchenette, private bathroom, and a digital safe is provided. Living spaces are shared, and there is a gym on site. Internet access is available. Meals are not included.

An IES Abroad Resident Assistant lives in or by your residence, and can serve as a great resource for tips on integrating into the local culture.

Get to Know Your New City

Hit the Beach(es)!

Cape Town has miles of coastline and beautiful white sand beaches. Clifton and Camps Bay beaches are some of our favorites!

See the Waves Crash Against Cape Point

Stand on the most southwesterly point in Africa and enjoy the spectacular clifftop views. If you're lucky, you may see an ostrich or baboon!

Meet the Penguins

You'll come face to face with adorable residents of Boulders Beach!

Relax in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain, this spectacular garden is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic, catch an outdoor concert, or just take a contemplative walk.

Climb Table Mountain

No stay in Cape town is complete without taking in the views from the top of this iconic mountain. If the hike up sounds too daunting, you can take a leisurely ride to the top of the cableway.

Program Cost

Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.

Term: Spring 2020
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Spring 2020	$14,865	$4,220	$395	$19,480

Term: Fall 2019
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Fall 2019	$14,570	$4,135	$395	$19,100

Scholarships & Aid

Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs

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$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from participating in an IES Abroad Program. This is why we commit more than $6 million to our scholarship and aid programs.

Learn more

Our Center

The IES Abroad Cape Town Center is supported by IES Abroad staff, and is a place where students can stop by and talk to staff, use WiFi, pick up their mail, and study in the Student Lounge. IES Abroad courses are also offered in the Center classroom, and special guest lectures and other events may be held in the Center space.

Features at our Center include:

Reception area
Student Lounge
Classrooms
Meeting space
Staff offices

Our Staff

Joachim Staguhn

Interim Center Director

Joachim (“Achim”) Staguhn is serving as our interim Center Director in Cape Town after having worked for IES Abroad for 34 years, 21 of which were as Center Director in Freiburg. Joachim Staguhn joined IES Abroad in 1979 and became the Freiburg Center Director in 1992. He previously served as Director of International Summer Courses at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, where he received his Master’s degree in English and German Literature. He has been involved in international education as a counselor in the International Office at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg and as Program Coordinator for the German Academic Exchange Service. He also established the IES Abroad Freiburg Environmental Studies & Sustainability Program. Herr Staguhn served on the IES Abroad’s Crisis Management Team as the Center Director representative and has acted as Interim Director for a number of IES Abroad Centers (London, Delhi, Rabat, Sydney) over the years. His hobbies include painting, English and American literature, and traveling.