Study Abroad Programs in Cape Town, South 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 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.

One of the most underrated aspect of semester at sea is the ship campus itself. Being able to live so close to your friends and just walking a few flight of stairs to your classroom and being able to sit down with your professors for lunch is such an amazing experience. It's eternal sunsets, it's endless travel stories from your friends, it's lifetime of memories. Highly recommend. One of the best decisions I made. And still day dream about this experience, still talk and travel to meet my SAS friends 4 years later.

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.

I loved learning to sail on Vela, exploring every new place we sailed to like devils island with no inhabitants was pretty cool too. Meeting some of my new favourite people in the form of my crew was pretty sweet too. I’m going to miss it<3

The SIT program in Durban has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life! One of the greatest gifts of this program is that it would be impossible to recreate on your own or with any other company. The opportunity to meet with so many local people in Durban working to make change, attend book talks/lectures by a variety of professors, hear the experiences of local people working to make change post-apartheid, and about their experiences during apartheid, and living in home-stays is only possible through this SIT program. From day one, the cohort felt like a family, and learning from Dr. Buccus a privilege. The program offers safety, diversity in experience and excursions, fosters community between students, and was responsive to the individual passions and interests that each of us brought. I truly cannot overstate my gratitude towards the staff of SIT for offering such a well-rounded, academically rigorous, and culturally immersive program.

I loved every moment of this abroad experience. From the relationships I built with SIT staff, to the meaningful conversations I had with local community leaders and organizations we worked with, to my fellow students, who are now family for life, to every little moment of learning and laughter. A once in a life time experience that I wouldn't trade for the world. Thank you SIT!

There's nothing like being able to work on completing your academics in a different country along with students all over the United States. Being able to be immersed into a different culture, a different environment, you're able to widen your macro lense going forward.

I would be likely to recommend CIEE study abroad to a friend or peer because of the life-changing experiences and growth I have had while in the program, and the fact that I think it is possible for all students to experience this while participating in the program.

The staff at Wofford College know exactly what they are doing, they are very friendly and often cultivate fun activities with true local experiences while keeping the students safe. Always willing to sing CIEEs praises

This past summer, I had the opportunity to join iXperience in Cape Town, South Africa, where I completed their Investment Banking program. I had a few friends go in prior years so I thought I had an idea of what was going to happen. iXperience exceeded my expectations and was one of the best decisions I have made. iXperience made me feel ready for a career in finance. On top of the professional development, I was able to make some of the greatest memories of my life exploring a new city with some of the coolest people that I met in the program. Since I completed the program it has been a highlight of my resume in interviews, everyone is so interested and curious about working abroad. This was the greatest experience of my life and I’d highly recommend iXperience to anyone looking for a unique program that blends professional development, cultural immersion, and unforgettable experiences abroad.

Amazing experience. The team was super responsive and guided me and my family through every step of applying and setting up travel accommodations. I had the opportunity to take the Investment Banking Boot Camp, where I learned everything I needed to get started in a professional role. I was fortunate to join a firm called Exit Strategy Partners, where I worked on live multi-million-dollar deals. Having this experience has really helped me get a better picture of what I want to do in the future and propelled my career forward.

I just studied abroad with SAS in spring of 2025. To say this experience changed my life would be an understatement. I cannot recommend this enough. The learning opportunities are amazing, the staff and faculty do everything they can to make this your home away from home, and the traveling experiences are ONCE IN A LIFETIME!

When I completed Semester At Sea in the fall of 2024, it was my first time traveling over seas. Growing up going on cruise’s I was super excited to start this new journey on the floating campus. Going in knowing no one else I was nervous but soon felt so welcomed, the community on the ship is amazing. Getting to travel the world with other college kids that have the same interest as you is such a wonderful experience. The professors and other staff members are there to make your learning come to life and it was magical to watch that happen, exploring your learning in each country was eye opening. Not only getting to explore a country but 10 countries allowed for a broad variety of cultures that we get to dive into and explore was so rewarding. I would 1000% go on Semester At Sea again and would recommend it to everyone if you’re deciding to study abroad.

I don’t even know where to begin! Semester at Sea was truly a life-changing experience. There’s no other program where you can see so many different places in a single semester. For example, I visited 10 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe, experiencing diverse cultures and meeting people from all over the world. Semester at Sea also gives you incredible freedom: while docked, you can join field programs or explore each country independently. Through this journey, I not only learned about the world but also about myself. I became more independent, more confident, and gained a global perspective that has completely changed the way I see the world.