Study Abroad Programs in Africa

Through studying abroad with Augsburg, I was able to meet life long friends and gain a home away from home. In addition to learning about cultures, people, places, and historical events I had no idea existed, the community welcomed me with open arms. Cohort style learning meant hands-on experiences with my peers and opportunities to explore/tailor learning to best serve us. The Augsburg team has become family.

Spending a semester in South Africa reshaped the way I see the world and the way I write about it. As a writing major and African and African American Studies minor, I took every history class I could fit into my schedule, learning about liberation movements, identity, and global interconnectedness right from the source. When I wasn’t in class, I was at the beach — literally every minute possible — journaling with my toes in the sand or doing yoga as the sun came up over the water. Spring break took me all the way to Tanzania, where new landscapes and new conversations stretched my perspective even further. I met people who became lifelong friends, the kind you still text years later because the bond formed abroad never really fades. More than anything, the experience gave me a deeper understanding of myself, my studies, and the world I want to help shape. Studying abroad didn’t just change my semester. It changed my life.

I always believe that a good company is nothing without strong communication from its staff, so I was pleasantly surprised that my emails were always answered by someone who was very human and very friendly. my question was answered within a couple of hours before I paid for the TEFL course and when I needed help with understanding a concept (I think it was about TPR for adults but my memory is suffering today), Jonny(?) gave me a really thoughtful response. I imagine most of these courses have the same information and structure anyway, but I'm super satisfied with the full deal.

OnTESOL provided a well-structured and practical course. The modules were clear and useful, and my tutor James Green was supportive. I feel more confident and prepared to teach ESL. The course offered valuable knowledge, practical teaching strategies, and helpful resources that I can apply in real classroom settings. I would recommend it to anyone interested in starting a career in ESL teaching.

My Seamester trip was genuinely the best 20 days of my life! My biggest regret was not doing a longer trip with them. It was crazy how much I got to experience in just these 20 days. I learned how to scuba dive and got to dive in some of the most stunning dive sites in the Caribbean. I learned responsibility, as we got the opportunity to be full-immersed in sailing an 88-foot schooner. And I learned how to live and work well with others in very close quarters. The friends I made on this trip will be my friends for a lifetime. Seamester does a really good job of cultivating an environment where you work hard and play hard. Additionally, the staff were the most patient, kind, selfless and hard working people I have ever met. I really trusted them to keep us safe, and I learned so much from them. They are amazing role models and had everyone's best interest in mind at all times. I seriously could not recommend this program enough, the only thing I would do differently is never leave :)

Impressed! Not going to say it was perfect, as little is, but the longer course was really interesting and did the job well of bringing me from someone who knew nothing (literally) about ESL to feeling confident about what to do on day 1. Thanks!

This study abroad was certainly out of the ordinary for what you would get for a semester abroad. If you’re looking for an authentic experience in countries that are less popular for study abroad, this is for you! This program was incredibly thought-out and well organized and I learned so much that was directly applicable to my studies and work. Please don’t let chatter about safety in Guatemala deter you—I felt safe, even as a woman, and the staff to support you were very prepared about safety concerns. I would recommend this program to anyone willing to experience something unique and that challenges your current ways of thinking. This program is especially applicable to majors in sociology/anthropology, gender studies, Spanish, poli sci, Latin American studies, international relations, race/ethnicity studies, education, journalism and similar things.

Everything went well with no surprises. You pay, get an account started, then you're free to learn. I watched quite a few lessons and have to disagree with a review I read of the course (unless they've changed the vidos) - there's no AI video voices...not that it would really have mattered to me, but AI did ironically bring it up to me as a potential negative. I did the 120-hour course rather than the longer one, so perhaps that's the culprit, but the 120 has real voices. The culture unit was interesting but I'd say they all taught me many new things, so I'm good with it all. I didn't get my own tutor, but two different tutors did respond to my questions pretty sharp. That's me. It's a good course.

Things were like they promised when I message them - videos with human voice (good quality sound), videos of teaching, lots of text to read and buttons to click to keep me from being crazy and bored, and practice activities. The most boring thing is the grammar (which i know already from school of course) and the most interesting is the later units on skills, planning, etc. It's very cheap for the resources they give.

I had a fantastic experience with the iXperience program working in tech/startups. Coming in as a rising sophomore trying to figure out if business was the right path for me, iXperience gave me exactly the real world exposure I needed. I spent a month in Cape Town working hands on with a growing IoT startup, where I got to do everything from market research and competitor analysis to investor outreach and building out an actual data room, work I never would have gotten this early in college. Outside of the internship, the program made it easy to actually experience the city and country: hiking Table Mountain, surfing along the coast, skydiving over the peninsula, and even picking up padel with other program participants. I left with a genuine skill set, a much clearer sense of what I'm capable of, and a story I'm proud to tell in interviews. Highly recommend for anyone looking to get real business experience and an unforgettable adventure abroad.

Attending iXperience’s Pre-Med program in Cape Town was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It helped me develop skills, gain clinical hours and healthcare experience, learn more about myself, and become a better global citizen. Going into the program, I heard a lot of good things about iXperience’s Management Consulting and Data Science programs. However, even with the Pre-Med program being new, it was incredibly developed and organized. Safety was never a concern and members of the iX team were always available to call at any hour of the night and eager to help. The accommodations were extremely nice with views of the beach and food/grocery stores were literally across the street. The program offered many fun excursions like visiting cape point, swimming with penguins, hikes, surfing, 4-wheeling, etc. and if there was anything you wanted to do that wasn’t on the itinerary, the iXperience team was quick to help organize it for you and share recommendations. I would recommend iXperience’s Pre-Med program to any students interested in healthcare of any kind because we saw so many different sides of the system and career paths. It helped me gain exposure into what working in healthcare actually looks like. It also helps students get ahead in terms of experience and clinical hours. Throughout our time we were able to compile around 70 clinical hours through shadowing world renowned Neurosurgeons, studying in world class biolabs, triaging in emergency rooms, and even scrubbing into surgeries. As a med student in the United States, the opportunities to gain hands-on experience were unparalleled in Cape Town. Not only did we get to work extremely closely with some of South Africa's (and the world’s) greatest minds, we got to build personal connections with them. All of the doctors, along with the entire iXperience team, were incredibly invested in our growth as future physicians, but also our development as young adults emerging into the world. The personal connections I built with the physicians, iX team, patients, and members of my cohort are something I will forever be grateful for. I cannot recommend this program enough. I will never forget the first time I scrubbed into a surgery. During my time in Cape Town, I made some of the best memories in my life and I will forever be grateful.

This past summer, I had the opportunity to spend three weeks in Cape Town, South Africa through iXperience's Pre-Med Global Health program, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. By the end of the three weeks, I left with unforgettable memories, a new appreciation for South Africa, and an even stronger desire to pursue a career in medicine. The highlight of the program was shadowing a neurosurgeon throughout my stay. This wasn't just passive observation—I had the opportunity to spend meaningful time in the operating room, witnessing complex neurosurgical procedures. Additionally, we had the opportunity to meet the surgical staff on a personal level through multiple dinners and casual conversation. The amount of clinical exposure I received in such a short period was incredible and provided experiences that would have been very difficult to find back home in the United States. Outside of the hospital, I had the chance to fully immerse myself in Cape Town. From exploring the city's night life, breathtaking scenery, and experiencing South African culture, every day offered something new. Throughout my time in South Africa, I always felt well-supported by the iXperience staff. Transportation was organized, the team was responsive whenever we needed anything, and they made sure we understood how to safely enjoy everything Cape Town has to offer. This allowed us to focus on making the most of the experience while feeling comfortable and secure. Looking back, this program exceeded every expectation I had. It strengthened my passion for medicine, gave me invaluable clinical exposure, and allowed me to experience a culture completely different from my own. I would highly recommend iXperience to any pre-med student looking for meaningful clinical experience, personal growth, and the opportunity to broaden their perspective on healthcare and the world.

IXperience’s Pre-Med Program in Cape Town, South Africa gave me 3 of the best weeks of my life, a time that I will forever look back on and be in awe of the experiences I went through. While I was excited about the weeks to come, I was definitely nervous about traveling to South Africa, finding friends, and getting an experience that would be worthwhile. However, this trip completely exceeded my expectations and is hands down the best trip and resume booster I could have asked for. I logged over 70 real, physician-supervised hours for my med school applications. I followed local mobile clinics, toured medical facilities, shadowed multiple doctors, and even got to observe surgeries led by the talented and well-known Dr. Ian Victor. The contrast we experienced was incredible—we observed high-end preventive care at Expand Health, but also got to dive into the public side of health care in Cape Town by following the Guud Mobile health clinic and visiting the mobile night clinic in Hout Bay, which completely shaped how I think about medicine and health administration. Not only was this trip educational, but it was also incredibly well-run and secure. Safety was a top priority throughout the entire program—the staff was exceptionally supportive, our daily transport was highly structured, and I felt completely safe and at ease the entire time. Beyond clinical experience, the housing was also great, and I made lifelong friends in my cohort exploring Cape Town and going for walks together. I came in wanting to build my resume, but I'm leaving with unforgettable memories, a tight-knit community, and a much deeper perspective on global health—if you are on the fence, absolutely go for it!

I graduated from high school a semester early, and the only way I wanted to spend my semester was by being abroad. I've known about Semester at Sea for around 6 years and I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. I searched up the requirements to be accepted and luckily fit all the requirements most importantly being 18, so immediately I applied. I then got an email back the next morning saying I got accepted into the program and that email brought me to tears in the middle of one of my classes. I couldn't wait to board the MV World Odyssey and embark on this journey of a lifetime. On the ship, I gained so much knowledge about different cultures and I was able to be fully immersed in them, not just sticking to the touristy things offered. Semester at Sea does an amazing job keeping the students' safety in country as a priority with having mandatory “Pre-Port meetings” the night before arriving in a country, and offering field programs which are ship run excursions with ship faculty leading them. The community on the ship was nothing I have ever experienced before. We were so close knit and it felt like I was truly in a connected, caring, and welcoming environment. I met the people I never imagined I'd connect with, and they ended up becoming the best connections I've ever made with people. Semester at Sea also helped me get out of my comfort zone which led me to have experiences I would have never imagined I'd have, best example being running a half marathon in Vigo, Spain even though I'm not a runner and have never been a runner. Semester at Sea has given me the world and the opportunity to appreciate it to its fullest. I left the ship with my passport full, but my heart is even fuller with people, memories, and connections I will forever cherish. Semester at Sea was truly the best experience I have ever had and would recommend it to anyone as it was life changing.

Living on Argo was the most incredible experience of my life, I absolutely loved my voyage with 30 of my favorite people! I sailed from Fiji to Palau on the 40 day voyage, and I loved every minute of it!

My biggest takeaway, besides the incredible places we visited and sailing, was how inspiring the staff was! I loved meeting new people and hearing about how their paths brought them to Sea|Mester!! It truly opened new pathways that I hadn't imagined, knowing that I could have those experiences too. I had the best time exploring different islands and learning so much about sailing a big boat! My biggest excitement was that every day was a new adventure. I learned so much in just a short amount of time and would highly recommend this program!! (Although my one regret is that I didn't do a longer trip!)

I have recommended the experience to everyone I know. My only regret is that I didn’t go longer. The staff before the trip and on board were so incredibly helpful. Overall I made friendships and memories to last a lifetime. I loved every moment!

This program gave me an opportunity that I wouldn’t have been able to do by myself. I had learned a lot about being the best Speech Language Pathologist should look like and continue that with my career moving forward. I would encourage anyone is capable of going on a journey to see it from a different perspective.

I'm already a teacher but wanted to add English-based certs to my c.v. This program is strong, especially for the price. Here's what my main pros were: excellent communication from staff before I signed up and when I needed help with a small amendment of my cert number; thorough wording - really useful information that covers lots of pedagogy I was already familiar with plus lots of English-subject specifics; nicely formatted lessons that allow you to interact with the info so you don't get bored; video narration of all the text was a cute touch; videos of many classes were good as it let me see it's similar to regular teaching in some ways but nuanced and a bit simpler; detailed feedback on practice assessments; logically sequenced units with good impetus on differences between classroom and online teaching. I'd like to see a bit more feedback on the main quizzes, but I believe they can't give too much or else students could just click to get answers first time and then parrot. Still, there must be a way to balance. Like I said, the feedback on practice quizzes and scenario learning is very good, so maybe this is their work-around? Overall, I strongly recommend this course as it's in-depth and very good value.

I have not experienced anything like semester at sea before, therefore giving me a whole lot of different lenses to look at the world with. I completely enjoyed my experience and understand the importance of understanding others concerns, communication, communities, and countries. A overall wonderful experience that has changed my views as well as the way I live and who I am as a person.