NYU-University of Cape Town
Diversity Studies Initiative

Student Exchange Program
Application 2007-2008 for Participation Year 2008

NYU Student Application Information and Timeline
The New York University-University of Cape Town Student Exchange Agreement signed in October 2002 authorizes the exchange of students between the two institutions to pursue coursework and conduct research.  Though the exchange is primarily intended for Master's students from the NYU Africana Studies Program or the John W. Draper Interdisciplinary Master's Program in Humanities and Social Thought and the UCT Diversity Studies Programme, other matriculated degree students from the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science and the UCT Graduate School in Humanities are also encouraged to apply.  More junior students from both institutions still completing requirements for the B.A. are eligible, but should discuss application carefully with both their academic advisor and their respective exchange program coordinator.

The following timeline provides an overview of the application procedure for NYU students applying during 2007 to attend UCT's 2008 Semester 1 running from February to June or Semester 2 running from July to December.  At this time, only applications for one-semester (rather than full-year) exchanges are being accepted.

(UCT Students interested in applying to attend NYU as part of this exchange should consult Melissa Steyn, Director, Institute for Intercultural and Diversity Studies of Southern Africa, at UCT at (021) 650-2561 or msteyn@humanities.uct.ac.za.)

Application Procedure

Students interested in the NYU-UCT exchange program should consult their academic advisors about the appropriateness of a semester abroad to their larger academic plans and requirements.  Prospective applicants should also consult with Vielka Holness, Director of the Master’s College, who coordinates the exchange program at NYU regarding details of courses available at UCT during a possible exchange semester as well as financial costs and other administrative considerations.  Ms. Holness is available to meet with interested students by appointment; she can be reached at (212) 992-7960 or vielka.holness@nyu.edu.

(UCT Course listings for the semester beginning in February 2008 have not been officially published as of this writing.  However, roughly ninety percent of courses are expected to repeat from 2007, so students should consult the "Graduate School of Humanities 2007" handbook, at http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/hum/new/hb2006.pdf and the "Programmes" page at http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/hum/new/programmes.pdf.)

The deadline for submission of a completed application for Semester 1 is October 31 and for Semester 2 is March 31 to:

Vielka Holness, Director
New York University
GSAS Master's College
6 Washington Square North, 2^nd Floor, Room 22
New York, NY 10003

A complete application will include the following items:

• NYU-UCT Diversity Studies Student Exchange Program Application Form.
  Application form must be completed and signed by the student, including course selection, and with the signature of the Academic Advisor.
• Personal Statement
• Current resume or Curriculum vitae
• Current NYU Transcript
  Official copy preferred, unofficial versions are acceptable, though not printed from ALBERT.
• Two (2) Passport-sized Photos
• Faculty Recommendation Letter
  (optional for graduate students; required for undergraduates)
• UCT "Semester Study Abroad" Application Form, available online at ww.uct.ac.za/apply/intlapplicants/semester/applications/instructions/ Application form must be completed and signed by the student, also listing course selections.

Early submission of completed applications is recommended.

Upon receipt, completed applications will be forwarded for academic review at the University of Cape Town.  This primarily entails consultation with individual faculty members and program directors responsible for the courses listed by the applicant. 

If accepted into the program, students should receive an Acceptance Letter from the UCT International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO) within 3-4 weeks of the submission of the application, or the first week in December at the latest. 

The UCT Acceptance Letter is required for students to apply for a Temporary Residency Permit for Study from a South African Consulate or the Embassy of South Africa in theUnited States.  Visit online for more details at: 

http://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/trp.htm#study%20permit

In addition to the Letter, students will need several other items, including proof of a roundtrip air ticket to South Africa and funds to support living and studying for the period of the visa.  Please be advised that it is entirely the student applicant's responsibility to apply for and secure an appropriate temporary residency permit, and any other necessary consular credentials, to enable study abroad. 

Shortly after the Acceptance Letter is generated, students will be contacted regarding opportunities for housing.  The University of Cape Town has nearly 20,000 students and institutional accommodations for only 4,000, so the university has made extensive arrangements for off-campus living for exchange students.  UCT has close relations with a host of local landlords, inspects residences to which it assigns students, and affords students the option of paying the university directly for off-campus housing costs.  As detailed below in the section of Financial Costs, students pay, on average, $250-300 per month for a single room accommodation in a secure, furnished, and equipped self-catering apartment shared with other international students and within walking distance of campus.  A $400 deposit will also be required, and is payable by credit card, to reserve accommodation for February.  NYU students participating in the exchange program are strongly encouraged to work with the IAPO Housing Coordinator.  Additional information about accommodations can be found at www.exchange.uct.ac.za

With the Acceptance Letter received and accommodation reserved (and Student Visa applied for), students should be prepared for their semester abroad at UCT.  Air tickets should be purchased as early as possible to insure the most reasonable fares, and itineraries scheduled to allow for at least a day or two to rest after the long flight before the Orientation programme begins in early February.  Students will be met upon arrival at the Cape Town airport and transferred to UCT.  Upon arrival and in order to register officially, students will need to have their SA-government issued visa, proof of available funds to support them for the semester, and proof of medical insurance.  The NYU Student Health Insurance plan card is acceptable.

The UCT 2008 Semester 2 begins in mid-July.

Courses and Academic Status

While at UCT, NYU students will formally have the status of "Semester Study Abroad Students."  Most will take either two or three courses depending on interests and availability of courses.  One of these courses is required to be either "Theories and Issues of Diversity" or "Social Identities"; the others, as outlined above, will be pre-selected on the student application.

Credits for courses taken satisfactorily at UCT will be transferred to NYU as "Special Topics" or "Independent Research" on the student's transcript.  Each standard UCT course will be the equivalent of 4 credits at NYU.  Mindful of the very different evaluative systems in operation at the two universities, grades for the NYU credits will be assigned by the NYU and UCT Exchange Coordinators in consultation with the individual faculty members.  It cannot be emphasized strongly enough that individual students should clarify, with the academic advisor before participating in the exchange program, how such credits will be evaluated in terms of specific program, degree, or distribution requirements.

Financial Costs

The NYU-UCT exchange dictates that an NYU student is responsible for paying her or his typical NYU tuition and fees while participating in the semester study abroad program at UCT.  Those tuition costs and fees vary by individual, as do financial aid resources that might be brought to bear on them, so interested students are urged to consult the exchange program coordinator and address these concerns early in the application and planning process.  NYU students will not be assessed any additional tuition costs by UCT.

Besides tuition, the cost of living in Cape Town for students, as estimated by IAPO per semester in 2008, is:

(* Includes electricity, local telephone, laundry, cleaning, health, toiletries)

Students are responsible for these costs and for their own air tickets between New York and Cape Town.  Roundtrip air tickets average $1500-2000, but can with planning be found at substantial discounts.  Transfers to and from New York and Cape Town airports, including the initial transfer upon arrival in Cape Town to UCT, are provided by the respective universities.

The International Office at UCT has a very useful website that answers additional, frequently asked questions about semester study abroad at UCT located at: http://www.uct.ac.za/about/iapo/overview/intro