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The Semester Study Abroad program welcomes students to UCT for one semester while pursuing a degree elsewhere.

Located at the very tip of Africa, where two oceans meet, Cape Town is a vibrant and welcoming city that attracts thousands of international students and millions of tourists. UCT is globally ranked for its cutting-edge teaching, research, and facilities. We have a proud tradition of academic excellence through research-led teaching with a focus on African-based solutions to global problems.

The study abroad students can choose from a broad range of Bachelor and Masters courses. All courses are taught in English. Our dedicated support team will guide you through the application process and help you gain admission to courses covering over 40 disciplinary areas in the arts, sciences, commerce, law, and engineering.

UCT is a diverse campus community, offering a rich environment for international students. Study abroad students are fully integrated into classes and learn alongside full degree students. UCT uses an internationally recognized credit system, making it easy for you to transfer credits from UCT courses toward your home degree curriculum or degree requirements.

With the chance to join up to three UCT sports clubs or student societies free of charge, you will join a thriving campus community with plenty of opportunities to make new friends. The study abroad students can also give back to the local community by volunteering with university outreach programs.

Are you studying towards having a career in technology? Are you interested in further developing your computer science skills, including the ability to engineer and program software along with the tools necessary for building video games? Then our semester study abroad courses are for you! As a student, you will develop skills in programming languages that are valuable in various industries today. Students will further develop problem solving and programming skills with identified software and will be introduced to/or further develop skills in areas of computer science, engineering and/or game design techniques. Join the Semester Study Abroad Programme today! Choose from a variety of bachelor and master’s courses, across a wide range of disciplines for international credit transfer.

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How to Apply

Semester Study Abroad is a UCT program for students registered for degree studies at a non-South African university to spend one or two semesters taking UCT courses for credit transfer toward the requirements of their home degree.

Students can apply to exchange places with a UCT student or for direct enrolment in the study abroad program. Your application route will determine what fees you are charged.

UCT has signed student exchange and mobility agreements with a number of universities worldwide. Contact your home university’s international office to find out if we have a partner university agreement and then follow their instructions for participation in the study abroad program.

Interested students are welcome to apply directly to the program. Liaise with your university’s international office for details about your institution’s requirements and to ensure you meet all your home degree curriculum and credit transfer requirements.

Apply through our study abroad partner provider organisations

UCT partners with organizations that facilitate semester study abroad, and other experiences, for international students. Click through to individual partner websites to find out more about them.

The UCT academic year runs concurrently with the calendar year. The Semester Study Abroad program runs twice a year for one semester each.

For admission to the UCT Semester Study Abroad program, you need to:

be registered for bachelor's studies or higher at a non-South African university;

have completed two semesters’ worth of courses at the point of application;

have achieved a cumulative average of 65% in your current studies. This is equivalent to a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a scale of 0.0 to 4.0 in the USA system or an upper range ‘B’ on the ECTS grading scale;

be able to demonstrate proficiency in English at the level required for admission to UCT.

We assess each application individually using your academic transcript to establish equivalency with the academic level and course entry requirements at UCT.

English proficiency is a requirement for admission to UCT. Applicants must submit a certificate from a standardised test of English as a foreign language for academic purposes.

We recognize that many applicants can demonstrate English proficiency by other means and therefore also consider evidence of equivalence with standardized test outcomes.

Documents submitted in evidence of English language proficiency should be a certificate or transcript from formal or accredited testing or assessing body (e.g., an IELTS test certificate from the British Council or a transcript of secondary school grades).

Letters from your home university are not sufficient as they cannot be externally verified by a testing body. However, a letter may be provided in support of any transcript or certificate demonstrating equivalence.

Contact us for advice on what we can accept as evidence of equivalency with the English proficiency requirements.

Admissions Option 2

Study abroad and exchange students can enroll in a maximum of four semester courses (or the equivalent where courses of differing lengths are chosen).

As a rule of thumb, SSA students need to take a minimum of three semester courses at various academic levels (or four semester courses at the first year level).

at Bachelor's level three or four semester courses (those with an ‘F’ or ‘S’ suffix in the course code) with a total credit load of 72-90 NQF credits depending on which faculty offers the course.

at Master's level, the combination of courses will give you a credit load of at least 45 NQF credits*.

Additional fees and charges will apply for each additional course enrolment.

* The South African coursework Master is 180 NQF credits. This is typically split into 90 NQF credits for the dissertation and 90 NQF credits for courses taken across one year.

Curriculum

Funding Information

The Semester Study Abroad program charges a package fee covering: enrolment in up to four semester courses (one semester’s worth of a full-degree course load), membership of up to three student clubs or societies, airport transfer on arrival, orientation activities, and access to a 24-hour referral number in the event of a critical incident or an emergency. Your application route will determine what fees you are charged.

SSA students who apply through their home university under an inter-institutional mobility agreement will be invoiced by their home university. Consult with your home university's international office about the fee they charge and payment terms.

SSA students who apply independently pay a 

Apply through our study abroad organizations

Students enrolling via a partner provider organization pay fees directly to the provider. This covers the program fee and a range of additional services, including accommodation. Fees vary by provider.

Cape Town is one of the most affordable studies abroad destinations in the world. These are some indicative costs for living in private rented accommodation in the areas surrounding campus.

Program Tuition Fees Option 2

“My time in Cape Town has been the highlight of my life. I stayed in a wonderful house with International students who have become family to me, bonded by our memories together spanning from the Garden Route to camping in the Cedarberg Mountains.”

“Studying abroad in Cape Town was the best thing I’ve ever done. I discovered many things: how to travel, how to befriend different kinds of people, how to communicate with someone when you don’t speak the same language, the three kinds of Xhosa clicks, the deliciousness of milk tart, braaied meat, and chakalaka.”

“Studying abroad in Cape Town has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I’ve had so many wonderful experiences in the past few months that I can’t narrow them down, but right now, I’m thinking of the UCT Squash Team Formal, sky-diving in Namibia for my 21st birthday white-river rafting, and having my first ever braai”.

Student Testimonials Option 2

Course

Master

Technology Studies

Computer Science

Design Studies

Media Design

Game Design

Art Studies

Computer Arts

Engineering Studies

Engineering

UCT is a community of exceptionally talented students, teachers and researchers – and a wide range of professional, administrative support and service staff – all of whom are committed to helping change this world for the better. We encourage one another to work hard, not only to earn degrees or public recognition but also to be leaders in this increasingly changing world.

Study Abroad in Cape Town Course - Computer Science, Engineering, Game Design

Introduction

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Admissions

Curriculum

Program Tuition Fee

Student Testimonials

About the School

Questions