Cape Town, Mother City of South Africa and the vibrant center of one of the most beautiful regions of the Western Cape, is rich in cultural diversity. The country's oldest European settlement is a melting pot of local Khoisan tribes, Bantu tribes from the north, and French, Dutch, German, British and Indonesian settlers. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery and set against a tapestry of architecture, cuisine, art, music and dance, Cape Town offers students an abundant and exciting study abroad experience.

Cape Town is a bustling hub of activity with modern infrastructure and excellent universities. The University of Cape Town is the oldest university in South Africa, and has a world-class reputation for academic excellence, particularly in the areas of science, engineering and business. International students from almost 90 countries make up nearly 20% of the 21,000-strong student body, and nearly 6,000 of UCT's students are at the graduate level.

Located just 15 miles from the city center in the town of Bellville is the University of the Western Cape. Established during apartheid as an educational institution for people of mixed race, UWC later played a significant part in the fight against apartheid and the creation of a new democratic order. It now hosts undergraduate and graduate international students from more than 60 countries, and offers a broad range of academic disciplines that include the arts, community and health sciences, dentistry, economics, natural sciences, education and law.

Cape Town is an excellent venue for students interested in South African languages and studies. Programs for the study of local languages, such as Afrikaans and isiXhosa, are readily available for students at all levels of proficiency. Offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, many African studies programs are designed to appeal to students from a variety of backgrounds. Aimed at enhancing communication in a multilingual society in key areas related to public policy and social issues, these multidisciplinary programs often include a stimulating research component.

As the country's legislative capital and center of business, industry, politics and services, Cape Town offers abundant opportunities for international students interested in pursuing internships and engaging with the community. Although South Africa has the most developed economy on the continent, the country still faces a number of social, political and economic challenges. For students of all levels, there are many rewarding long- and short-term service-learning opportunities in education, health services and land reclamation projects through both UCT and UWC.

U.S. students can apply for study abroad at either of these universities through Arcadia University, Center for Education Abroad. Arcadia's Cape Town orientation program provides students with an in-depth look at the city's cultural diversity, and includes field trips to areas such as the historic District Six, the up-market Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, and the traditional Muslim neighborhood known as Bo-Kaap or the Cape Malay Quarter.

Nestled between the dramatic Table Mountain and the powerful South Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town has had a turbulent history. Before the Dutch arrived in the 17th century, the Khoikhoi and San lived in today's Cape Town, trading cattle, iron and copper with Bantu groups living nearby. Devastated by battle and disease after initial contact with Europeans, indigenous tribes later intermarried with newly arrived peoples to form today's "Cape Folk."

Other Europeans quickly recognized Cape Town's potential as a major trading post as a result of its strategic location at the tip of South Africa. Conflicts and battles ensued, and out of these struggles emerged a booming industrial city. By the mid-1880s, railways were built, the harbor was developed, and industries such as boat-building, soap production, fish smoking and wool processing sprang-up. Caught up in World Wars, internal strife and Apartheid, Cape Town saw conflict through much of the 20th century.

With the end of Apartheid and the 1994 inauguration of South Africa's first black President, Nelson Mandela, Cape Town began to regain its position in the world. Today, Cape Town offers an array of restaurants, musical venues, art galleries and architectural styles to tantalize the senses and inspire the imagination. The stretches of white sandy beaches, imposing mountains and lush forests are irresistible, and the city offers a seemingly endless list of activities, such as surfing, horseback riding and hiking.

Contemporary, cosmopolitan and complex, Cape Town and its vibrant culture, excellent educational facilities and fascinating history will excite and inspire.

ONLINE RESOURCES

IIEPassport.org: www.IIEPassport.org
Study Abroad Funding: www.StudyAbroadFunding.org
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: www.iie.org/gilman
National Security Education Program: www.iie.org/NSEP
Arcadia University, Center for Education Abroad: www.arcadia.edu/abroad
Study South Africa: www.studysa.co.za
Welcome to Cape Town: www.cape-town.info
Cape Town Directory: www.cape-town.org