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Cape Town Summer - Health Studies
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Academics
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible, which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. Our Summer Health Studies Program offers a wide range of health-related topics, including endemic diseases and nutrition, as well as courses that focus on the business and social impacts of health care in Southern Africa.
You will also enroll in two courses for a total of 6 credits.
There will be opportunities to gain additional exposure to South Africa’s mixture of public and private health facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, and health-related NGOs. Past organizations have included:
- False Bay Hospital
- Green Point Community Health Centre
- Life Vincent Palotti Hospital
- Tibb Treatment Centre
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.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO/HE 323 - Endemic Diseases and their Socioeconomic Context | Summer | English | 3 |
| SO/HE 347 - Health & Community | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| NT 325 - Nutrition & HIV | Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO/HE 323 - Endemic Diseases and their Socioeconomic Context | Summer | English | 3 |
| SO/HE 347 - Health & Community | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
Field Trips & Events
We believe in experiential learning and our field trips are aimed at helping you learn more about South African culture, geography, wildlife, history and people. In addition to trips and activities in and around Cape Town, our field trips (both included and partially-subsidized) open you up to a range of cultures and experiences.
Garden Route
3 days | 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. This trip is included in the cost of your program.
Kruger National Park & Johannesburg
4 days | End of semester
Explore the natural beauty and history of the Kruger National Park. The trip begins with a flight to Nelspruit and two days spent on safari in the world-famous Kruger National Park-home to a wide variety of animals, including elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, giraffes, kudus, and rhinos. Then travel west to Johannesburg where you'll enjoy lunch in Soweto township and a visit to the Apartheid Museum. This trip is partially subsidized by IES Abroad.
Note: IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
Course-Related Trips
IES Abroad Cape Town organizes field study trips to health facilities and organizations that complement what you’re learning in the classroom, and contribute to your general knowledge of South African culture and society.
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’s the orientation program that prepares you for what’s ahead, your housing that is well located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
Orientation
Your program begins at home with our virtual orientation to help you prepare for your IES Abroad experience. Orientation continues once you arrive abroad and introduces you to the IES Abroad Cape Town staff and your fellow students. The orientation program covers health, safety, academics, and a cultural introduction to Cape Town, plus a guide tour and reflective township tour.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café--not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. Our goal is that when you leave Cape Town, it will feel like home.
You will live in a private student residence hall, in a single with a private bathroom and kitchenette. You will be provided with WiFi access. Meals are not included.
An IES Abroad Resident Assistant will live in or by the 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 | Tuition | Housing | Insurance | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2022 | $5,697 | $1,716 | $135 |
$7,548 |
Scholarships & Aid
Featured Scholarships
Summer Need-Based Financial Aid
Open to students who apply to and attend an IES Abroad or IES Internships summer program.
Criteria reviewed to determine award:
- Level of financial need as determined from information provided on the application. Priority is given to Pell Grant recipients.
- IES Abroad program location.
- IES Abroad membership status of home campus
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Our Center
The IES Abroad Cape Town Center 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. The Center is conveniently located in a central location close to the University of Cape Town on the slope of Devil’s Peak.
Features at our Center include:
- Reception area
- Student Lounge
- Kitchen
- Classrooms
- Meeting space
- Staff offices
Our Staff
David Reiersgord
Center Director
David Reiersgord is the Center Director and Academic Manager at IES Abroad Cape Town. He holds a Master of Arts in English Literature from Stellenbosch University, where his thesis focused on metaphors of narrative in South African author Marlene van Niekerk’s novels Triomf (1995) and Agaat (2004). He has taught in the English and Linguistics Departments at the University of Stellenbosch, as part of the Extended Degree Programme, and worked as the Assistant Director of AIFS – Stellenbosch, with American exchange students. His research interests are in South African politics, fiction, narrative form, narrative temporalities, non-human histories and the relationship between the individual and the nation. He writes political commentary in South Africa’s online publication Daily Maverick, and reviews books in South Africa’s print newspaper Business Day.
IES Abroad Cape Town Staff
Devonne Bobbert
Short Programmes Manager
Jody Felton
Housing & Office Manager
Health & Safety
With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.
In response to COVID-19, enhanced safety guidelines will be implemented this year—such as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in on-site classes, in-country field trips and travel only, and apartment or residence hall housing (no homestays) that ensures proper space should self-quarantining be necessary.
How We Support You
We plan for "what if" so that you don't have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
Learn more about the support you can expect to receive on our programs, including:
- International health insurance through CISI in the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional
- 24/7 emergency support whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city
- Location-specific health and safety information presented at orientation by on-site staff
- TripTracker system allowing you to share independent travel plans in case you need to be contacted swiftly in a crisis
- A mandatory cell phone policy so that you can be contacted locally and receive any emergency updates via call or text
- Crisis drills so that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise
- And more!
Health & Safety Resources
You safety begins with being accurately informed from the moment you're considering study abroad through to the day you return home.
Take note of ways you can maintain your health and stay safe abroad while reviewing our resources, including:
- IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Management
- Study Abroad Safety Tips for Traveling
- IES Abroad Student Blogs on Safety and Mental Health
- And more!
AT A GLANCE
Latest from Cape Town
Contact a Past Student
From budgeting tips to housing insight, IES Abroad Ambassadors volunteer their study abroad and internship experiences and advice.
