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.

Johannesburg, or Jo'burg as it is usually called, is the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa. The thriving industrial and commercial hub sprawls in all directions in interminable suburbs and satellite towns. The enormous urban conglomerate of Soweto lies to the south, and the University of the Witwatersrand's urban campus is located in the northern suburb of Braamfontein. South Africa's wide cultural and ethnic kaleidoscope is reflected in Jo'burg's ultra-modern, high-rise business center, alongside pockets of established Portuguese, Indian and Chinese traders, and multiethnic pavement stalls. Johannesburg has a thriving arts scene, with live music and local theater productions staged regularly. Though media reports of crime appear often, incidents tend to occur in specific neighborhoods and are far less random that one is led to believe. Wits provides a secure learning environment on campus and students receive training on the safest modes of transport in and around the city itself.

Highlights

The University of the Witwatersrand, or Wits as it is affectionately called, is divided into an East and West campus each accommodating different faculties and services and linked by a brick-paved walkway. As one of the largest English medium universities in the region, Wits has built up an enviable national and international reputation as one of the leading research universities in Africa. Its longstanding commitment to non-discrimination has broadened access to the university for students from traditionally disadvantaged communities. Not surprisingly therefore, the campus has a lively and progressive atmosphere.

You are free to enroll in a variety of departments within a faculty. Faculties include: Architecture, Arts, Commerce, Education, Engineering, Law, and Science.

The Wits campus is a totally secure gated community. The Student's Representative Council (SRC) coordinates a broad range of services and facilities, including the student newspaper, radio station, and more than 65 cultural, religious and sporting societies. Services on campus include a travel office, cafeterias, coffee shops, and more. As a Wits student you can participate in sports, ranging from cycling and cricket, to canoeing and judo. Wits has two art galleries and 17 museums on campus, as well as a planetarium, two theaters, and an enclosed all-weather amphitheatre. You will live in University residence halls in with other international and South African students in a single bedroom with small bathroom and kitchenette.

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

• Apartment/Flat

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
• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

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