Information for term Summer in Cape Town
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenSpend your summer studying abroad during South Africa's winter in Cape Town, the country's adventure capital. Even during its winter season, locals and visitors alike center their lives around this seaside city's beautiful outdoors. From hiking its world-renowned Table Mountain to enjoying its stunning beaches, Cape Town offers countless adventures.
Earn credits at CIEE Cape Town where you'll study African literature and film, the history of protests and social movements, and the historical, political, and economic transitions of South Africa. Even learn to speak Afrikaans or isiXhosa! All courses are taught in English and complemented with co-curricular activities organized by CIEE to increase your intercultural understanding of this incredible destination.
Build Your Summer Adventure
Select one or two six-week blocks at any CIEE Open Campus Block location. Stay in Cape Town for both blocks or go mobile and spend your second block in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Dublin, Kyoto, London, Madrid, Monteverde, Paris, Rome, Santiago, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, or Yucatan.
Follow our Travels:
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Live and share
meals with South African locals in the culturally rich communities of Cape Town
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Make a difference
in your host community by taking part in community engagement activities in townships impacted by South Africa’s dynamic past
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FOCUS ON TWO COURSES
in a six-week block with integrated and optional opportunities to explore relevant socio-economic issues
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curves of breathtaking Chapman's Peak Drive
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official languages
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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Location & Culture
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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.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Cape Town.
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, Xhosa, 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
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Daily Life
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Housing
Students live in comfortable single room apartments that are a 10 minute walk from the CIEE Center. Students will share the residence with other CIEE participants as well as local and international students attending a variety of universities and colleges across the city.
All the rooms are fully furnished and include an ensuite bathroom, a fully fitted kitchen, WiFi and a wall mounted TV. The accommodation also offers a fully equipped gym, a laundry facility on each floor and a recreational social space on the ground floor for free time leisure. Students can enjoy social interaction with their peers in a variety of communal areas and can also appreciate the quiet spaces that allow them to study on their own or work on tasks in a group.
Dependent on availability, students may also live in apartments shared with other CIEE students. If local health and safety regulations permit, most students live in double or triple rooms. Each apartment will have shared common spaces, including a kitchen and bathroom. -
Meals
Students are responsible for all meals. They can cook in their apartment or eat on or off campus.
Cape Town, South Africa Where You'll Study
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CIEE STUDY CENTER
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Getting Around
Students walk or use Uber. Public transportation is unreliable and not recommended.
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Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
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.
GPA
2.5
Language Prerequisites
There are no specific language requirements for this program.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Program Requirements
All students must enroll in two credit-bearing CIEE courses per block.
Program Credit
- One block: 6-7 U.S semester/9-10.5 quarter credits
- Two blocks: 12-14 U.S. semester/18-21 quarter credits
Course Credit
COURSE CREDIT
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CIEE courses: typically, 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Academic Culture
Each course is a full semester in content, covered in a six-week block, so the pace is accelerated, and the workload is demanding. Courses are designed to follow U.S. academic culture and standards. The class environment typically features a combination of traditional lecture and discussion with co-curricular excursions and activities. Heavy emphasis is placed on student participation. To avoid falling behind, students should not plan personal travel away from the city when classes are in session and plan trips for the weekends in between blocks.
Class Format
Courses are typically for CIEE students only. Classes are scheduled Monday-Friday and meet three times per week. Attendance is strictly enforced both for classes and required co-curricular excursions. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class. Instruction is supported and augmented online with our learning management system, Canvas.
Grading
The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used. Students are graded on the basis of in-class participation, homework, project work, presentations, and midterm and final examinations. Learning outcomes assessment is continuous through personal reflections, evaluation feedback, self-assessment, and requirements as set out in course syllabi.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Language of Instruction
English
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Courses
Click to OpenCourse 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 2023 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenSummer Block I
Summer Block II
Summer 2022 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenSummer Session I
Summer Session II
Summer Session III
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
Click to OpenScholarships & 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
- CIEE Stem Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.
See more scholarship infoDates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Block I 2023 6 weeks | Apr 1, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Jun 24, 2023 |
$6,650
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Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $5,013 ** Housing = $1,140 Insurance = $197 Total Fees = $6,650Financial AidCIEE 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. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students |
| Summer Blocks I, II 2023 12 weeks | Apr 1, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Aug 5, 2023 |
$13,300
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Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $10,523 ** Housing = $2,280 Insurance = $197 Total Fees = $13,300Financial AidCIEE 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. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students |
| Summer Block II 2023 6 weeks | Apr 1, 2023 | Jun 26, 2023 | Aug 5, 2023 |
$6,650
Click to Close
Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $5,013 ** Housing = $1,140 Insurance = $197 Total Fees = $6,650Financial AidCIEE 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. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students |
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.
Looking for funding?
What's Included
Click to OpenWhat's Included
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Lara Dunwell
Center Director
Lara has a Master’s in English Language and Literature from the University of Cape Town, and currently serves on the management council of the International Education Association of South Africa.
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Caleb Kay
STUDENT LIFE CO-ORDINATOR
Max graduated from the University of Cape Town with majors in Environmental/Geographical Science and Media Writing/Journalism.
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Shalom Chitanda
STUDENT LIFE CO-ORDINATOR
Shalom is a two-time graduate of the University of Cape Town, with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a B.A. in History and Law.
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
1
START AN APPLICATION
APPLY NOW
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience! -
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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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