Environmental Studies Study Abroad Programs in South Africa

Live and study in one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa, featuring historic architecture, rich cultural heritage, and easy access to outdoor and sporting activities. Found in the heart of the wine country, Stellenbosch provides the region's cuisine, culture, and stunning scenery. It is surrounded by mountains in the Jonkershoek Valley and offers the best of both worlds: a small, historic university town with convenient access to the amenities of Cape Town's bigger metropolitan area. Stellenbosch University focuses on inclusivity and diversity, using academic excellence and research activities to find sustainable solutions to some of South Africa's and Africa's greatest challenges. Specifically, the university promotes a science-for-society approach aimed at improving people's lives by eradicating poverty and promoting human dignity and health, democracy and human rights, safety and security, and a sustainable environment and competitive industry. Have the opportunity to create an educational program that meets your personal and academic goals, choosing from courses in a variety of topics—many with a South African or African theme.

Take a semester or academic year in the fascinating Stellenbosch with AIFS Abroad. You can earn up to 15 credits studying at the University of Stellenbosch. The courses are delivered in English. Choose your course on the Full Curriculum Program. Focus on South African history and culture through the General Education Program. Global Service Learning and a Learning for Sustainable Community Engagement program are also available. Live in the student residence hall at the heart of campus life. You will have a single en-suite room with shared common areas and laundry facilities. Internet access and a meal allowance are included. You will enjoy cultural and social activities such as: • Beach excursions • Trips to local craft and food markets • Vineyard tour • Day trip along the famous Garden Route • Day trips to Cape Town, Robben Island, Cape of Good Hope Nature Preserve, and Boulder’s Beach (home of 3,000 African penguins) Optional excursions include a 3-day trip to the Cederberg Mountains and a 5-day visit to Addo Elephant Park and Breede River.

Stellenbosch University offers a transformative study abroad experience in one of the most beautiful regions of the world. Renowned for academic excellence, the university provides diverse courses in business, arts, environmental science, and more, making it a top choice for students seeking a global education. Small class sizes and dedicated faculty ensure personalized learning in a supportive environment. This program is perfect for students eager to experience South Africa’s rich culture, history, and stunning landscapes. Participants earn transferable credits while building valuable skills and global connections. Nestled in the picturesque Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch combines vibrant town life with breathtaking natural beauty. From exploring historic vineyards to hiking mountain trails and visiting nearby Cape Town, every day offers new opportunities for discovery. Join Stellenbosch University and make your study abroad experience truly unforgettable!

Affectionately known as the Mother City, Cape Town was founded in 1652 and is South Africa's oldest city. Cape Town is rated as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with a backdrop of flat-topped Table Mountain juxtaposed by the sweep of the Atlantic Ocean in the foreground. Students can hike or take a cable car ride up Table Mountain to enjoy the breathtaking view of the city and peninsula, take a ferry to the historic Robben Island, or visit the Cape of Good Hope. The main teaching campus, known as Upper Campus, is centered on UCT's iconic Jameson Hall. This breathtaking location looks out onto the city and up at Devil's Peak. Upper Campus is home to the majority of academic buildings and our Cape Town office. UCT students get to enjoy over 30 different social clubs and sports throughout the semester.

Unlike traditional study abroad or tourism experiences, Semester at Sea offers a unique opportunity for deep, authentic engagement with countries and cultures around the globe. It's more than just the adventure of a lifetime. It's a transformative experience that will give you a global perspective to take on the challenges of tomorrow. Fall 2026: European, African, South American, and Asian Adventure Embark: September 9, IJmuiden, The Netherlands Disembark: Dec 22, Bangkok, Thailand Itinerary: Portugal, Morocco, Brazil, St. Helena, South Africa, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Hong Kong Spring 2027: Asia, Africa, and Europe Embark: Jan 5, Bangkok, Thailand Disembark: Apr 20, Bremerhaven, Germany Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco, Scotland

CIEE offers the most extensive network of internship programs. Are you a U.S. college student looking to study and intern abroad? We have full-time and part-time placements across 40+ locations worldwide and in diverse fields, from AI and engineering to public policy and business administration. Find the right fit for you! Live, learn, and work abroad on an internship program with CIEE! CIEE Summer Internships CIEE Summer Global Internships are 6-credit, 8-week programs with full-time working hours (approximately 30 hours weekly) and a seminar. CIEE Summer Intern and Study Abroad are 6 to 7-credit, 6-week programs with a part-time internship (approximately 20 hours weekly), a seminar, and a 3-credit academic course. CIEE Semester Internships CIEE Semester Global Internships are 9 to 13-credit, 12-week programs that feature a full-time internship (approximately 30 hours weekly), a seminar, and an optional 3 to 4-credit academic course online. CIEE Semester Intern and Study Abroad Programs are 12 to 14-credit, 12-week programs that feature a part-time internship​ (approximately 20 hours weekly), a seminar, and two academic courses.

Seamester is the educational adventure of a lifetime! For more than 40 years, we have offered unparalleled educational voyages where students spend a semester at sea sailing between islands, countries, and even continents. We design our programs to provide engaging learning experiences with real outcomes in ways that are impossible to replicate in the traditional classroom. Living as part of a close-knit team on an ocean-going vessel, our students learn fundamental lessons beyond academics: teamwork, leadership, and personal responsibility. They receive academic credit from the University of South Florida, along with PADI scuba certifications and IYT sailing certifications. Our programs are designed to inspire students to realize that it’s the journey, not the destination, that matters the most.

IES Abroad offers 140+ programs in more than 35 locations worldwide for undergraduate students. We're a little obsessed with study abroad, and not at all ashamed to admit it. We are a highly-charged force of study abroad enthusiasts. Every day we have the privilege of witnessing how study abroad changes our students' lives. That's the reason we do what we do: to provide once-in-a-lifetime educational adventures. Everything we do is about the IES Abroad student. Our goal is to provide personal support and guidance throughout your application and enrollment process. Whether it's housing or cultural events or field trips, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible. Study with us for a summer, semester, or year. No matter the term, our world-class faculty and courses will engage you as you discover new ways of learning both inside and outside the classroom. How will study abroad redefine you? We can't wait to find out.

Explore urbanization and social justice in New York, Buenos Aires, Barcelona, and Cape Town. Through coursework, field visits, and homestays, examine how politics, economics, culture, and geography shape cities and influence the lives of urban citizens. Meet with academics, officials, NGOs, and grassroots movements to see how urban citizens organize to envision, build, and create more just and sustainable cities. Focus on fieldwork methods and ethics while completing a comparative research project on a topic of your choice. This program offers the choice to do a minor in urban studies. MONEY MATTERS SIT has given an average of over $1.3 million in scholarships and grants to SIT Study Abroad students in recent years and is committed to ensuring you have the information necessary to apply for such funding. Our program costs include academics, excursions, accommodations, airport transfers, meals, and health insurance. Be sure to discuss how study abroad costs are handled at your school with your study abroad advisor and read the website for more specific information.

Learn to integrate policy, scholarship, ethics, and participatory practice to achieve sustainable development goals. Starting in Quito, Ecuador, explore the challenges of one of the most biodiverse countries in the world while learning from faculty, guest lecturers, and experts in the field. Study ecological impacts, forest regeneration, sustainable land practices, and conservation on an excursion to northern Ecuador’s patchwork of cloud forests. The second semester unfolds in Africa, with time split between Cape Town, South Africa, and Lilongwe, Malawi. Over 15 weeks, you will engage in comparative analyses of design thinking, monitoring and evaluation, economics, resource management, health policy, and trade. In the final semester of this one-year program, you will spend 10 to 12 weeks in a full-time practicum in a role and location of your choice.

Are you a student or young professional looking to enhance your career prospects through international work experience and hands-on learning? At Intern Abroad HQ, we help students and young professionals turn career aspirations into reality. We organize affordable internships in 20 destinations across 24 career fields that are tailored to meet each individual’s academic, professional, or personal requirements. With over 200 internship programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America and South America to choose from, and options to intern from 2 weeks to 6 months either full-time or part-time, in-country or virtually, we facilitate career-enhancing experiences that work for you, not just the host organization. Intern Abroad HQ is proudly brought to you by the team behind International Volunteer HQ. We have collectively supported over 120,000 program participants since 2007 and are the only B Corp certified provider in our field.

The foundation for a wild career! Is your goal to become a safari guide, wilderness guide, or wildlife guide? The IFGA Professional Safari Guide course (6-12 months) is the most comprehensive and immersive course available. Train with the industry’s award-winning instructors and wildlife experts. This is also an excellent sabbatical or gap year program. Course overview: Imagine driving a 4x4 game viewer across a riverbed, pointing out rare bird species to your guests. You slow to a stop – is that a leopard you see? Later, you serve sundowners and take in another vibrant African sunset. An afternoon spent sharing wildlife knowledge, nothing’s better! The IFGA Professional Safari Guide course (6-12 months) develops highly skilled professionals in the guiding industry. It is specifically developed to provide vocational skills and qualifications required by employers in Southern Africa. In addition, our top-performing students can also qualify for the IFGA qualification at no extra cost to their training. Training is held in Big Five territory, where you’ll observe animals in their natural habitat.

Take part in a field study program offered by Ecolife Expeditions in South Africa. This is ideal for students from the fields of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and is approved for academic credits through the North-West University in South Africa. The expeditions are provided in the form of a camping safari that runs for three weeks. Students get the chance to interact with researchers, veterinarians, and rangers working in the field. In addition, they will gain valuable insights into life, problems, and successes related to conservation in Africa.

The Wildlife Field Research & Ecology Program at Baobab Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) is an immersive two-week experience designed for anyone looking to build real-world research skills and ecological insight in Africa’s bushveld. Whether you're preparing for an independent research project, considering a career in conservation, or simply eager to move beyond the classroom, this intensive program will train you in core field techniques, from ethical data collection and species tracking to interpreting ecological patterns in wild environments. Based on a 1,200-hectare private reserve in Limpopo, South Africa, the program blends guided fieldwork with practical workshops and daily mentorship. Participants leave with the confidence, skills, and context needed to pursue more advanced research or further study. We don’t just teach you about wildlife. We show you how to read the bush.