Summer in Cape Town
Unique Experiences
LIVE AND SHARE
meals with South African locals in the culturally rich communities of Cape Town
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
in your host community by taking part in community engagement activities in townships impacted by South Africa’s dynamic past
FOCUS ON TWO COURSES
in a six-week block with integrated and optional opportunities to explore relevant socio-economic issues
Your Destination
Cape Town is Africa’s most popular destination for many reasons, starting with its glorious climate and natural attractions – from Table Mountain to stunning beaches. Situated on the southern tip of Africa, Cape Town is a vibrant multicultural city with a rich selection of day and night activities. Water sports, mountaineering, nightclubs, and restaurants are readily available. The city is also a microcosm of the challenges facing many African countries in transition – how to successfully operate within a global economy while grappling with the vast socioeconomic inequalities that are the legacy of the colonial and apartheid past.
Cape Town’s Mediterranean climate means that cooler days are expected from May through July and some rain - it is the winter season in Cape Town. Daily high temperatures are around 64°F, rarely falling below 57°F or exceeding 72°F.
The Culture
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
This study abroad program in South Africa is supplemented with excursions to various points of interest around Cape Town and the Western Cape Province. Excursions may include visits to local theater, music, and dance productions, museum tours, rugby matches, local festivals, the Cape Peninsula, and communities within the greater Cape Town metropole.
Learn to cook traditional foods from Cape Malay, isiXhosa, and Afrikaans peoples in a Food Jam, and try your hand at traditional dances from South African ethnic groups, including the isiXhosa people.
Program Blogs
South Africa Study Abroad: The Ultimate Guide
South Africa is simply astonishing. From its varied topography and rich culture to its complex history and diverse wildlife, a South Africa study abroad program promises the adventure of a... keep reading
Blog Post by Kayla Larkins
Check out this blog post by Summer in Cape Town 2019 student Kayla Larkins about her experience horseback riding at Noordhoek beach in Cape Town: "One of the best experiences... keep reading
Blog Post by Tatiana Pinheiro
Check out this blog post by Summer in Cape Town 2019 student Tatiana Pinheiro about her first impressions of Cape Town: "Cape Town, South Africa is hands down one of... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Cape Town offers comfortable apartments conveniently accessible to the study center, public transportation, shops, and other amenities. All rooms are fully furnished, offer a full kitchen, and feature complimentary Wi-Fi access. CIEE supplies cutlery, crockery, and bed linens, but students must bring their own towels. Students can enjoy social interaction with their peers and local South African students in a variety of communal areas. They may also appreciate the quiet spaces that allow them to study on their own or work on tasks in a group
Standard Housing: Includes a single or double room with another CIEE student. Each apartment has shared spaces, including a kitchen and bathroom. The accommodation is within a 20-minute walk to CIEE and the University of Cape Town’s main campus.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
Students are responsible for all meals They can prepare their own meals at their apartment or eat at the many restaurants in the vicinity.
Academics
Students choose one or two, 6-week blocks, and explore the role this fascinating country’s history continues to have on society today. In-class work is augmented with co-curricular visits to the city’s rich variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offerings. Courses are taught Monday – Friday, with some activities taking place on weekends. Instruction is supported and augmented online by our learning management system, Canvas.
CIEE Cape Town Center is located in the Rondebosch district, near the University of Cape Town campus.
Arizona State University: Enhance your international academic coursework with optional online courses that best align with your degree requirements and interests. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar, so you can study abroad with CIEE while continuing to meet all your academic goals.
Course Information
Course Notes
- Courses are listed below by block and track; course list subject to change. Courses are in English unless otherwise noted. “GI” denotes courses that are offered at multiple CIEE locations.
- Students can also enroll in an optional Survival language course (non-credit) during a single block.
Summer Block I 2025
Summer Block II 2025
CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, online coursework that aligns with your degree requirements from anywhere you study abroad.
CIEE and ASU offer courses online per program eligibility, at no additional charge. Be sure to review online courses with your home school advisor.
Check the CIEE Program Dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program!
Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO
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Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- CIEE STEM Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Block I 2025 6 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $6,950 |
| Program Summer Blocks I, II 2025 12 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $13,900 |
| Program Summer Block II 2025 6 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $6,950 |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $4,450 ** |
| Housing | $2,000 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $6,950 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $390 † |
| International Airfare | $1,450 |
| Local Transportation | $525 |
| Books & Supplies | $100 |
| Personal expenses | $140 †† |
| Other | $80 |
| Total Costs | $2,685 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.
††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $9,400 ** |
| Housing | $4,000 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $13,900 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $780 † |
| International Airfare | $1,450 |
| Local Transportation | $1,050 |
| Books & Supplies | $200 |
| Personal expenses | $280 †† |
| Other | $160 |
| Total Costs | $3,920 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.
††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $4,450 ** |
| Housing | $2,000 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $6,950 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $390 † |
| International Airfare | $1,450 |
| Local Transportation | $525 |
| Books & Supplies | $100 |
| Personal expenses | $140 †† |
| Other | $80 |
| Total Costs | $2,685 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.
††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Nompilo Ndlovu
Center Director
Dr. Nompilo Ndlovu has over a decade of experience working within the academic, policy and non-profit sectors, focused on the African continent.
Jacana Redcliffe
Program Coordinator
Jacana Joi is one of the program coordinators at CIEE Cape Town. They are passionate about curating programs that facilitate student experiential learning opportunities. They are a Queer Linguistics student...
Thandeka Dladla
Student Life Manager
Thandeka holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cape Town (UCT). She worked as a mentor and teacher at the Butterfly Project, an education-based NGO focused on...
Get Started
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Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
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Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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