Description

As a pioneering provider of semester and yearlong study abroad opportunities in Southern Africa, Interstudy offers students the widest selection of facilitated direct enrollment options in the region. Students can enroll in a broad range of courses and actively participate in university life while still enjoying Interstudy organized excursions and staying connected to in country staff.

Located an hour's drive inland from the Indian Ocean and Durban, Pietermaritzburg is the capital of KwaZulu-Natal and its second largest city. It is set amidst the forested hills and rolling countryside of the Natal-Midlands. The city has a strong colonial heritage and is considered one of the best-preserved Victorian cities in the world. Few cities personify the vibrancy of a contemporary African city better than Pietermaritzburg. Steeped in a history that speaks of Zulu, Boer, British and Indian influences, the city is a cultural treasure trove brimming with diversity and color. Pietermaritzburg is home to quaint antique shops, markets, restaurants, art galleries and museums, and more recently a casino located in the suburb of Scottsville not far from the university. This is the town in which the annual Dusi Canoe Marathon starts, and is the beginning or ending point of the world-renowned Comrades Ultra-Marathon between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

Highlights

Each of the five campuses of the University of KwaZulu-Natal has its own personality reflecting the kaleidoscopic community that shapes it. Since the end of apartheid the university has steadily increased its proportion of non-White students, including Black South African, Indian and Colored students, who now make up more than seventy percent of the student population. The primarily residential Pietermaritzburg campus will enable you to integrate quickly both inside and outside of the classroom. The campus is located in the shady, tree-lined suburb of Scottsville, a 20-minute walk from the center of Pietermaritzburg.

The Pietermaritzburg campus offers a wide range of innovative academic programs that have been successful in responding to local and provincial needs in Science and Agriculture, Humanities, Development and Social Sciences, Education, and Law and Management Studies. Unique to the Maritzburg campus are the disciplines of Agriculture, Theology and Visual Art as well as the Alan Paton Centre and Struggle Archives where Patons study has been recreated, and most of his books, journals, awards and memorabilia have been archived. One of the highlights of the UKZN offerings in Pietermaritzburg is the 4-credit service learning course, Policy Issues in Community Service.

There are a large number of clubs and societies operating on both the Howard College and the Pietermaritzburg campuses. The clubs cater for a wide range of interests such as hiking, films, photography, music, wildlife, etc. The Pietermaritzburg campus has an impressive range of indoor and outdoor facilities and its own tennis and squash courts, swimming pool, jogging track and gymnasium. The campus offers a wide array of recreational options from familiar team sports such as basketball, rugby and soccer to canoeing, mountaineering, and waterskiing. You'll live on campus with local students in a single room with shared kitchen, bathroom and common area.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

Varies by university. Please contact Interstudy.

Program Fees Include:

* Before Departure:
- 30 Minute Individual Advising Session
- Visa Processing Services
- Group Flight Option
- Student Union Membership and ISIC Card
- Student Handbook
- Arrival Booklet

* On Site:
- Host Institution Tuition and General Fees
- Housing
- Comprehensive International Medical Insurance
- Airport Pickup
- On-Site Arrival and Orientation Program
- Local Staff
- Excursion Program
- 24-Hour Emergency Support
- Cell Phone
- Assistance with Host University Registration
- Access to Health Services and Counseling at Host Institution
- Meal Allowance Option (South Africa & Ireland)
- International Bank Account and Money Transfer (South Africa & Ireland)
- South Africa Mentor Program

* Upon Return:
- End of Program Transcript
- Alumni Program

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

American and Canadian Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Scholarships are Available

Each semester, Interstudy awards two types of scholarships in a competitive process based on financial need and academic merit. Interstudy scholarships range from USD 500-1,000 and STA Travel scholarships are valued at USD 250 and require that you book your travel through STA Travel, in Cambridge, MA. All prospective students are eligible to apply for either or both scholarships. Applications are due by May 1st for the fall semester and by October 1st for the spring semester. An application form may be downloaded from the Interstudy website.

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Transcript
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Essay

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Interstudy's Mission Statement

The goal of our small staff in the US, UK, Ireland, and South Africa is to work as one office, across time zones, continents, and cultures, to provide our students and US partner institutions with seamless support, from inquiry to re-entry. With extensive use of technology, we at Interstudy are there to help our students, partner institutions, and colleagues with any question, large or small.

Year Founded

1980