Cape Town, South Africa

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 set against the Atlantic Ocean in the foreground.

Students will attend the historic University of Cape Town. Founded in 1829, UCT has a proud tradition of academic excellence and affecting social change and development through its pioneering faculty and students.  UCT has about 17,000 undergraduate students, and 4,600 international students per year. The University is also renowned for its striking beauty, with its campus located at the foot of Table Mountain's Devil's Peak, with panoramic views of much of Cape Town.  UCT is very similar to the city of Cape Town: it has a vibrant, cosmopolitan community. Their staff and students come from over 100 countries in Africa and the rest of the world.  The university offers courses in a wide variety of majors. 

Loyola students will participate in the International Studies Abroad (ISA) program in Cape Town. Their program offers excellent support, and students benefit from the support of both the on-site ISA office as well as the International Students office at University of Cape Town.

This program runs in both semesters (Fall and Spring)

• Fall Semester dates: early-July to late-November (typically before Thanksgiving)
• Spring semester dates: late-January to mid-June
• Students should keep these dates in mind when considering summer course options/summer internships.

*Keep in mind that due to South Africas location the seasons are inverse

Consult your academic advisor and the Office of International Programs as early as possible to get assistance on course selections at Loyola so that you are prepared for University of Cape Town.

• Loyola students in UCT Program will take a full semesters worth of courses. Students must have at least one free elective, ideally students will have two or more free electives.
• Students must enroll in at least one African culture related course
• Nearly all majors are served.

• Group airport pick-up and drop-off at Cape Town International Airport (CPT).
• On-site and online orientation.
• Housing in off-campus studio apartments in Cape Town-Campus Key.
• Cultural excursions:
  • Aquila Game Reserve
  • Cape Peninsula
  • Community Visit & Robben Island Tour
  • Hermanus
  • Table Mountain Hike

*Meal plans are not available to students.

A resident director is on-site for students to contact throughout their time in Cape Town.

Students must register for required lectures and tutorials. LUM students should expect larger lecture class sizes at UCT. This is a rigorous program, and students should dedicate an appropriate amount of time in and out of the classroom in order to be successful.

• Students live at the ISA accommodations called https://campuskey.co.za/
• Apartment style living, each student gets their own room with their own kitchen and bathroom, fridge and other living amenities.
• There are four common rooms, a gym, game rooms, and more in the building for students to use as they wish.
• Campus Key has 24- hour security and biometric entry.

Loyola financial aid applies and students are eligible for consideration for all forms of federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid except the Federal Work Study Program. Students studying abroad for either a semester or full academic year will forfeit the value of a Federal Work-Study assignment for the semester/s that they go abroad. If the student qualifies for federal work study, they can use the award for the semester they are on campus during their abroad year.

If you receive GI/Veterans benefits, please contact our Registrar’s office as soon as possible before you apply!!

Students/parents pay to Loyola the following charges:

• Loyola Tuition
• Loyola Housing
• Study Abroad Program fee
• International Insurance Premium
• Airline supplemental fee
• Students responsible for the student visa costs

LUM students receive International Health Insurance Coverage. 

Medical insurance is also provided for all students during the program term by Loyola University Maryland through Chubb Insurance. This insurance coverage includes medical evacuation and repatriation, as well as 24-hour support services for medical issues. This insurance functions as a primary insurance while abroad.

Students are required to submit a copy of their U.S. health insurance card/policy. Please be sure not to cancel your US insurance policy while abroad since the provided insurances only function while on program and outside of the US.

Once accepted into the program, students must call their bank and credit card carriers to tell them that they will be abroad for the semester. Students should carry debit or credit cards with them. Both Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted forms of payment, Discover and AmEx are less commonly accepted. Cash in Europe is also widely utilized. 

All students are required to apply for their study permit in person based on South African consulates jurisdiction. Students will be required to obtain a student visa before going to Cape Town for their semester abroad. Visas cost vary year to year and will allow students to stay in South Africa during the entirety of their program term.

If you are not a U.S. Citizen, please contact your local consulate for visa requirements and regulations and the OISS office at Loyola.

*You cannot stay in South Africa legally more than 90 days without study permit(visa)

• Group flights are arranged for students traveling to Cape Town (program requires an airfare supplemental fee). 
• Upon arriving to Cape Town,  students are picked up by ISA's onsite staff and brought directly to the student housing, Campus Key.

Application Requirements 

Students must submit an online application AND a Course Planning form by 11:59 pm on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving break of their sophomore year to study abroad in the fall or spring term of junior year. 

• Attend a Study Abroad 101 information session.
• Declare a major before applying to the study abroad program.
• Discuss with your major advisor the possible courses you could take abroad and see if there are any potential problems, he/she sees with your plans to study abroad; Students cannot be on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.

Criteria for Acceptance

• Minimum cumulative CQPA average of 3.00.
• Students who can find courses which fit their Loyola program and allow full-time participation and who are neither on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.
• ROTC candidates can apply as freshman to study abroad in the spring of their sophomore year. 
• An academic interview with the program coordinator at Loyola University Maryland is required.