Summer Study Abroad Programs in Cape Town, South Africa

My experience studying abroad in Barcelona with CEA CAPA was one of the best experiences I have had in college. I chose Barcelona because I have always loved Spain and wanted the opportunity to experience Spanish culture, travel, try new foods, and explore a new city. From the beginning, CEA CAPA made me feel welcomed and supported. Moving to a new country can definitely feel overwhelming, especially at first, but the CEA CAPA staff were always there to help and made me feel much more comfortable throughout my experience. One of the things I appreciated most about CEA CAPA was how safe and supported I felt while abroad. The staff were welcoming, approachable, and made it easy to ask questions or get help whenever I needed it. Knowing that I had people there who cared about my experience made being so far from home feel much less intimidating. I also loved that CEA CAPA helped create a community where I could meet other students and feel like I was not alone in a new country. I was able to become more independent while still knowing I had a support system if I needed one. Overall, studying abroad in Barcelona was an experience I will never forget. CEA CAPA gave me the opportunity to experience a new culture, meet amazing people, travel, and grow as a person while also making me feel safe and welcomed. I would definitely recommend CEA CAPA to anyone considering studying abroad, especially students who may be nervous about living in another country for the first time. It made the entire experience feel more comfortable, supported, and exciting.

My experience studying abroad in Barcelona with CEA CAPA was one of the best experiences I have had in college. I chose Barcelona because I have always loved Spain and wanted the opportunity to experience Spanish culture, travel, try new foods, and explore a new city. From the beginning, CEA CAPA made me feel welcomed and supported. Moving to a new country can definitely feel overwhelming, especially at first, but the CEA CAPA staff were always there to help and made me feel much more comfortable throughout my experience. One of the things I appreciated most about CEA CAPA was how safe and supported I felt while abroad. The staff were welcoming, approachable, and made it easy to ask questions or get help whenever I needed it. Knowing that I had people there who cared about my experience made being so far from home feel much less intimidating. I also loved that CEA CAPA helped create a community where I could meet other students and feel like I was not alone in a new country. I was able to become more independent while still knowing I had a support system if I needed one. Overall, studying abroad in Barcelona was an experience I will never forget. CEA CAPA gave me the opportunity to experience a new culture, meet amazing people, travel, and grow as a person while also making me feel safe and welcomed. I would definitely recommend CEA CAPA to anyone considering studying abroad, especially students who may be nervous about living in another country for the first time. It made the entire experience feel more comfortable, supported, and exciting.

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!

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.

Traveling to Buenos Aires was an incredible experience! I was nervous initially since it was my first study-abroad experience. I was unfamiliar with the culture, environment, and language and did not know what to expect. The warm hospitality and generosity I received from on-site program staff and locals guided me through all the ups and downs of the experience. The program challenged me to come out of my comfort zone both academically and socially. We attended physics classes at a local university and a sports and contemporary culture class right after. We learned about the history of the country and experienced the Argentinians' passion for futbol firsthand by attending games. My friends and I explored the city after classes, trying out some of the many cafes and restaurants on every corner. Buenos Aires had a very reliable transportation system as well, so it was easy for us to travel from our apartment in Palermo to other neighborhoods in the city like Belgrano, La Boca, and Recoleta. Each neighborhood had something different and wonderful to offer. We often ran into cultural fairs, art festivals, fresh farmer markets, and live performances. There was something fun to discover every day. On the weekends, we traveled outside of the city to see the numerous natural landscapes in Argentina. We saw the falls at Iguazu, went horseback riding in Mendoza, went hiking at the Perito Moreno Glacier and El Chalten, and even visited a cute portside town in Uruguay. Although my time in Argentina was short, the incredible people, food, and music are a memory I will never forget.

Truly changed my perspective on the world of engineering and potential career path in a world I never would have thought possible. Broaden my world view and met truly amazing people that I connected with for a lifetime.

Seamester was the adventure of a lifetime. I went into it not knowing how to sail but wanting to learn, and came out of it not only with that knowledge, but also with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me so many new things about myself. The staff members were amazing with their teaching and support, especially when times got rough. Their diligence ensured we all made it safely across the pacific. I also loved the places we visited, with my favorites being the Galapagos, Mo'orea, and the Panama Canal. The class schedule could be challenging at times, and waking up for watch in the middle of the night was definitely not my strong suit, but overall I had an amazing semester. I couldn't recommend Seamester enough and I'm so grateful for this wonderful experience.

I took a gap year after high school and chose to spend my Fall onboard S/Y Argo and sail from Palau, through Indonesia, to Bangkok Thailand. I had some scuba diving experience, but had never even been aboard a sailboat before. The Seamester staff was supportive and amazing. I made some of my strongest friendships and had the most amazing experiences, from diving with oceanic manta rays to long night watches sailing through the rough South China Seas. I learned so much about diving, sailing, and marine sciences, as well as so much about myself as a person. I would recommend Seamester to anyone considering it!

My study abroad experience with CEA program was truly transformative. From excellent academic offerings that seamlessly integrated local culture to meaningful cultural immersion experiences, this program exceeded my expectations. Living with a host family and engaging in various activities allowed me to embrace the host culture fully. The personal growth I experienced, from increased independence to a broader worldview, was invaluable. The support from program coordinators and the close-knit community of fellow participants made this journey even more memorable. I returned home with lifelong friendships, a richer perspective, and a newfound confidence. I wholeheartedly recommend the CEA program to any student seeking a life-enriching study abroad adventure.

I had a great experience. I learned a lot about the culture in the Netherlands as well as the surrounding counties. I made connections with friends that will last a lifetime. I would highly recommend this program!!!

I would recommend it to a friend. The staff took care of a lot of logistics. I like that we had excursions planned. And that the accomodations were very nice and up to my standards. I liked my internship placement as well. I had difficulty being placed but it worked out in the end.

Tremendous staff. Environment is like none other and they accommodate well. For Seville, the city has been tremendous and CIEE gives you a proper introduction to this magnificent city. Whether an intern or a student during one of the sessions, you can get along with everyone and overcome the anxieties of a new city

I would be very likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because this program gives you many opportunities to explore the city you are in as well as the surrounding areas. All of the employees are very kind people who will be their to uplift and support the students who are abroad.

On-site staff were excellent and very helpful. Housing was pretty good and my roommates were great. I’m glad there were several trips to other parts of Italy they organized since it allowed me to learn more about Italy. However there were some issues with the organizers and my university in the USA.

The housing was great. I enjoyed meeting my flat mates. Some of us will remain friends. My Thermodynamics class was tough for me. I think most students struggled some. For those of us engineering students who really need to capture this material for later classes and our fields in engineering; I would nit take this course in a 6 week class. The college and CEA should state that somehow to students before they sign up for it, I will pass the class but feel like I might need to take the course again OR restudy somehow The excursions were great. I enjoyed seeing other parts of Italy. The only think I was not impressed with was the food/dinner places that were a part of the program. I get feeding a lot of students...but I feel there could have been some better restaurant choices. Overall this was great. I am hopeful there will be no issues with getting my transcripts over to my school. This is the last week of class...so I have not done that yet. The communication from the beginning to the end has been outstanding. I didn't miss a beat. They let me know about everything. I would surely do another CEA program if time permitted. Possibly even an internship program. I would also surely let other students know this is a great program, and my experience was a 10 overall. Thank you CEA staff and faculty (USA and Rome, Italy).

Best think I have ever done in my life I have learned so many new things the people the places the school it was all so amazing. From waking up in the morning to 25 other random people from around the world with the biggest smiles on their faces was so awesome. This made me realize what I want to do with my life and it was the best thing I’ve ever done