Pre-Med Study Abroad Programs in South Africa

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.

Studying abroad was an experience full of uncertainties and firsts for me as someone who hadn't previously had the privilege of traveling internationally and intentionally. I could not have picked a better and more fitting program for me than the SIT IHP Health and Community program that ran course in India, South Africa, and Jordan during the Spring of 2022. The supports we had available to us students were well-thought out and ready for use. When issues came up, we were able to discuss them either with ourselves or our staff. Having homestays in India and Jordan allowed me to have deeper connections with the community and cultures that we were engaging with, which I still foster today. Our group culture was to strive for our best in our assignments, learning, discussions, and immersive experiences outside of the traditional classroom since the world is the true classroom. Every day of the program provided another lesson, another moment of growth, and another moment of connection with people who are gracious enough to provide us with their knowledge and care. My life has not been the same since study abroad and I am beyond grateful for the challenging and wonderful experience I had with people who are passionate about enhancing their worldview through meaningful action and community-building.

I had the time of my life studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa! The city has every type of vacation you could want in one: beaches, beautiful landscapes and mountains for hiking, a vibrant nightlife, downtown shopping, art, and events, historical sites and museums, vineyards and wine-tastings, and much more! There is so much to explore and the time truly flies by. For classes, I took community health, and nutrition & HIV. The teachers were passionate and engaging, and I learned so much from them not just about South African healthcare but also about their culture and life. The classes are fascinating and you truly learn a lot and are at times academically challenged. The final week of the program is class-free, and really just about traveling the country (including a safari!) before you unfortunately have to head back home. If you choose this program, you will make lifelong friends, live in the most incredible city on earth, and change your entire perspective on health, healthcare, and equality.

Before I left to study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, I was expecting to learn about public health in a new setting. My experience in Cape Town exceeded all of my expectations. Arranged by IES, we lived in a new hotel/dorm setting in a safe and upscale area of Cape Town (it even had a market inside!). Every weekday, we did service learning at different hospitals and clinics around and outside of Cape Town. We were able to shadow doctors, dentists, physical therapists, and pharmacists. I learned more than I could ever possibly imaging through service learning, and I gained an appreciation for and better understanding of different fields in health care. In the afternoons, we took a class from a local professor. We got to learn about public health as a whole in South Africa, and I think the class really complemented our service learning. Outside of academics, IES arranged many amazing field trips that allowed us to explore South Africa in a safe way. I greatly appreciated all that IES did to ensure that we had a complete and safe study abroad experience. I really fell in love with the country, and I can't wait to return one day!

I am so incredibly happy that I decided to take this program. It involves a lot of field trips already scheduled within the program, consisting of all the places you have to see if you're in South Africa. If I were to schedule these things on my own, I wouldn't have known to cover every single item, and each experience was higher than my expectations ever were. We stayed in a nice and safe area, but it was also important to explore and understand the townships and the levels of disparity within the community. This experience really taught me a lot and showed me a lot into the life of South Africa. Shadowing the hospitals and clinics gave me a lot of insight into their health care system as well as different diseases or conditions patients face. My favorite part was the nature!! Table Mountain, Lion's Head, and Devil's Peak were always visible when you walk out your door, and hiking these three mountains gave amazing and unbelievable views. I highly recommend this location to anyone!!

Enjoy the perfect mix of education and fun in this magical city in one of the culturally richest countries in the world. To start you get to live in comfortable apartments in a gated community so on top of the luxury of the living arrangement you also get security. In my case we had roommates who inevitably became my best friends on the trip. Being so close to University of Cape Town you also get to be around college students from the area and surrounding regions of South Africa. With this close proximity it was easy to befriend and learn from locals about the real issues facing the people of South Africa. Half of the educational side of the abroad program is class and the other half is volunteer hours in the public healthcare system. Classes are focused on learning about the history and public healthcare system of South Africa and how South Africans are trying to change the system for the better of all people. Learning from people who currently are involved in reforming healthcare in South Africa made the course more engaging and meaningful to me and all my classmates. The volunteer work took place in a primary health clinic in Cape Town and allowed for hands-on experience with patients and engagement with fellow medical staff from doctors to nurses. Going in the summer for American students however means being in South Africa for their winter, but have no fear, the highs are around the 70s and lows around the 50s with occasional rain. Good news is the beautiful days outnumbered the rainy days and with each beautiful day comes a breathtaking sunset which can viewed from any number of beaches and mountain tops. Bottom line if you have any interest in healthcare like pre-med, pre-pharm, pre-PA, and nursing students or in public health you will not only get hands on experience in the field with your volunteer hours but also gain great insight into the issues facing the public healthcare system in South Africa and the rest of the world.

I studied abroad in Cape Town for seven weeks this summer. It was the most amazing experience I have ever had. I took public health classes that focused on the different aspects of health care in South Africa. These classes were supplemented by being able to volunteer in both a primary and tertiary health care facility. I worked in a small public clinic in Cape Town along with a primary Hospital in Nelspruit. Volunteering in both of these were amazing experiences because I got to see all aspects of the healthcare system including; surgeries, the pharmacy, work done by both doctors and nurses along with the more specific public health facilities specializing in Tuberculosis. This program helped me confirm my desire to be a part of the healthcare system along with providing me with many other unforgettable experiences. Whenever I was not in class or volunteering I was taking advantage of all the wonderful sites at attractions Cape Town has to offer. I got to do so many amazing things including being on a beach with penguins, going to an ostrich farm, paragliding, going on wine tours, hiking, going on a safari and much more. I would recommend this program to anyone interested in any time of health related field and anyone who wants to live in the most beautiful place in the world for a summer.

This was a fantastic program for anyone interested in Public Health or Medicine. We were able to work in various hospital environments, observing much more than we as undergraduate students would be able to see in the United States. We also attended lectures that focused on health issues in South Africa, as well as the changing healthcare system. When we were not in class or at the hospital, IES organized many excursions and experiences that allowed us to make the most of our time in and around Cape Town. It was a great experience, and I would recommend it to everyone.

I did a 7 week long health studies program in Cape Town through IES. This included a a course about healthcare in South Africa as well as a service learning component in primary and tertiary hospitals in South Africa. The class component could have been better planned however I learned a lot from the service learning component. IES organized for us to observe at several healthcare clinics around Cape Town. We were able to experience a lot of things that we would not be able to observe in hospitals in the US. In addition IES did a good job planning activities for us the were included in the tuition fee such as a peninsula tour and wine tour.

I had an absolutely amazing experience with CFHI’s HIV/AIDS program in Durban, South Africa. As an incoming 3rd year medical student at the Ohio State University, this was one of my first hand’s on clinical experiences. Our coordinator, Maureen, housed all 6 of us with local Zulu families. They provided us with a place to stay and home cooked traditional Zulu meals. Many of them had children our age that we were able to spend time with. This greatly enhanced our understanding of the Zulu culture and language. Over the following 3.5 weeks I rotated through various departments at King Edward Hospital in Durban, a public secondary hospital. During the first week I was able to participate in Pediatric morning rounds, Intern lectures, and assist in my first Caesarean section. I spent the following week with a team of general surgeons. I was able to observe various endoscopic procedures, observe general clinic days and stay on overnight calls to observe and assist in surgeries. I was able to assist in a leg amputation and observe an appendectomy, gastrectomy, lymph node biopsy, inguinal hernia repair, exploratory laparotomy, as well as other smaller procedures. I learned procedural skills for the first time as well as continued to expand my medical knowledge. During the 3rd week I rotated through various departments including Psychiatry, Urology, and Casualty. Although many of the conditions were similar to those seen in the US (burns, asthma, GSWs, hydrocele, etc) many cases were complicated by concurrent HIV/AIDS and/or Tuberculosis. Virtually every patient is screened for both of these conditions- something that is rarely done in the US. It was incredible to see how these diseases can manifest in hundreds of different ways-ways that I may never observe in the US. In my final week I worked at the Blue Roof Clinic, a clinic providing free HIV/AIDS care to the community. I was able to shadow a HIV specialist and observed how she incorporated education and wellness into each of her patients care. Aside from the clinical experience there was ample time to explore South Africa. On my first weekend, I went on a Safari in St. Lucia and Hluhlwe Game Reserve. Maureen helped coordinate this experience with a local tour guide. On the second weekend, our group stayed in Durban to go horseback riding , experience the local nightlife and attend a township tour organized by CFHI. On my third weekend, I went to Cape Town-which was certainly a highlight of my time here. During the week days, we had most of our afternoons free. We were able to go to the beach on various occasions (Durban weather is warm almost every day of the year), Victoria Market, Durban Botanical Garden, Pavilion Mall, and Florida Road. Overall, the CFHI clinic schedule allowed for a balance of educational clinical experience and social and cultural exploration of South Africa. With no reservations, I would recommend this program to any student interested in pursing a health care related field that has an interest in exploring a new culture and health care system.