Student exchange application form | University of Cape Town

The applications for the semester exchange programme are open from 11 August until 8 September 2023. Avoid disappointment by submitting your application well in advance of the deadline.

Apply for an exchange opportunity to the following universities:

Please note these details may change as international partner universities update us about the availability of their exchange programmes on a regular basis.

Discipline/ faculty	Academic contact (for curriculum alignment)	Academic level	Partner university
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Amsterdam, University of
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT	Autonomous University Barcelona
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Universidad Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Copenhagen, University of
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Geneva, University of
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Groningen, University of
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Lausanne, University of
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT	Leeds, University of
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Leiden University
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Lund University
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Tampere University
All	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	Vrije University Amsterdam
Archeology	Deano Stynder	UGT PGT	Toulouse-Jean Jaures Universit
Anthropology	Susan Levine	UGT PGT	Ljubljana University o
Building & Civil Engineering	Kevin Winter	UGT PGT	Rotterdam University Applied Science (RUAS)
Commerce & Humanities	Supervisor	PGR	Yale University (Fox Fellows)
Commerce & Humanities (strong in Music, Dance, Theatre and the arts/ social sciences)	Curriculum/ programme/ faculty advisor	UGT PGT	North Carolina at Greensboro, University of
Civil Engineering	Mark Alexander	PGR	Indian Institution of Technology Madras
Computer Science & Electrical Engineering	Joyce Mwangama	PGR	Technical University of Berlin
Economics	Eftychia Nikolaidou	UGT PGT	Perugia University of
Film and Media	Adam Haupt	UGT PGT	Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU) Munich
Health	Graeme Meintjes	PGR	Medical University of Graz
Health	Virna Leaner	UGT PGT	Naples University, Frederick I
Information and Communication Technologies	Amit Mishra	UGT PGT	Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senfteberg
Languages and Literatures (French)	Markus Arnold	UGT PGT (TBC)	Paul Valery Montpellier, University of
Law	Fatima Khan	UGT PGT	Koc University
Mathematics	George Janelidz	UGT PGT (TBC)	Louvain Catholic Uo
Mechanical Engineering	Corinne Shaw	UGT (TBC)	Applied Sciences Dusseldorf, University of
Music	Patrick Tikolo	UGT PGT	Stockholm University of Art
Physics	Mark Blumenthal	PGR (TBC)	Paris-Saclay, University of
Social Development	Ndangwa Noyoo	UGT	Catholic Foundation of Applied Sciences Munich (KSH)

A series of Information Sessions will be hosted from 11- 31 August 2023 to help students understand how the exchange programme works. The information session will showcase all available funding opportunities, the universities in UK, Europe and US that students can apply to.

Please read the guidelines and eligibility criteria for exchange program. You will be required to acknowledge you understand and accept these guideline to submit your application. Join the student exchange info group to get all the latest notifications on the information sessions and further international exchange opportunities. www.international.uct.ac.za/opportunities/student-exchange/contact-us

I understand and accept these conditions.

Please read the notes and guidelines below. You will be required to acknowledge you understand and accept these notes to submit your application.

You must be registered for a UCT qualification to submit an application for exchange.
You must be registered for a UCT qualification to go on an exchange at an international partner university. Students selected for exchange will forfeit their place if they cancel their registration or complete their studies before the exchange.
Bachelor Commerce and Bachelor Business Science students are restricted in their choice of international partner university placement. Students will only be placed with partners who offer courses with content equivalent to BUS2010 and with academic calendars that allow students to return to UCT in time to enrol in the UCT Summer Term for ECO2004.
Unless otherwise indicated, your exchange will take place in the subsequent year of studies.
If you are in the final year of study for a Bachelor’s degree, you are not eligible for exchange. Undergraduate students can only go on exchange in 2^nd year (AYOS 2) as final year exit level courses cannot be completed through credit exemption and transfer; they must be taken at UCT.
If you are in the final year of study for a 4-year Bachelor’s degree or are an Honours student, and intend to progress to Masters, you can apply for a waitlisted place. You will need to include evidence of acceptance to a UCT Masters programme as part of your application. We will review your application and confirm the selection outcome following your registration in the UCT Masters programme.
International partner universities can withdraw exchange placements at short notice. We cannot guarantee that all advertised exchange opportunities will be available. If you are selected for an exchange placements, we will notify you of any changes.
You should not withdraw from your courses or cancel your student housing until you receive a formal letter from the Exchange Selection Committee that your application has been successful and your placement with an international partner university has been finalised.
Students in an exchange must remain registered at UCT for the full duration of the exchange. You will be required to withdraw from the regular courses required for your curriculum and to enrol in an ‘exchange’ course. You must pay the full exchange course fee – there are no tuition fee reductions during an exchange.
The semester exchange is for one semester only, and cannot be extended for another semester period.

Read our full FAQ on student exchange

Join the student exchange info group

Surname

First name

UCT email address

Contact number

ID/Passport number

Nationality

For reporting against the UCT Equity plan, please select a Race category

For reporting against the UCT Equity plan, please tell us your Gender identity

If you selected “Self-identification” above, please provide the gender identity term you prefer

UCT student number (Campus ID)

Faculty

Qualification or programme of study

e.g. Bachelor of Business Science

Specialisation or Majors

e.g. Finance and Accounting

Year of study in current qualification

First choice international partner university

Why have you selected this partner as your first choice?

Brief motivation – no more than 50 words

Second choice international partner university

Why have you selected this partner as your second choice?

Brief motivation – no more than 50 words

Third choice international partner university

Why have you selected this partner as your third choice?

Brief motivation – no more than 50 words

List any positions you have held in student representative forums

e.g. SRC President in 2020; class representative; school prefect

List your extra-curricular activities

e.g. Mountain and Ski Club member in 2019

List involvement in community or volunteer programmes

e.g. Rotary Club volunteer in 2020; SHAWCO volunteer

List other leadership positions or activities where you have acted as an ambassador for UCT

e.g. Youth leader; community leader; orientation leader

Notes on missing documents

e.g. I do not have a valid passport

1. Motivation for the exchange (maximum 2 page)

Your motivation should offer your thoughts on ‘global citizenship’; how an exchange will contribute to your academic, personal and professional (career) development; which international partner university you chose and why; and a full plan (with timelines) for raising money to fund your exchange.
One file only.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf, doc, docx, odt, ppt, pptx, jpg, jpeg, png.

2. CV (2-3 pages)

Detail your education to date, work experience, experience volunteering, your skills and awards or representative positions.
One file only.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf, doc, docx, odt, ppt, pptx, jpg, jpeg, png.

3. Scanned copy of the biographics page of your current passport

If you do not have a valid passport, make a note in the application form under ‘Notes on missing documents’.
One file only.
2 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf, doc, docx, odt, ppt, pptx, jpg, jpeg, png.

4. Academic reference letter

A UCT academic staff member (preferably the Head of Department or a curriculum advisor) should comment on your academic performance to date and indicate whether they support you going on exchange. Letters for undergraduate and Masters by coursework students should confirm whether the chosen partner university offers courses that can be taken for credit exemption and/or transfer against UCT courses required for the programme of study. Letters for postgraduate research students should be from your supervisor and should confirm their support for the exchange and any arrangements for co-supervision at the partner university.
One file only.
2 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf, doc, docx, odt, ppt, pptx, jpg, jpeg, png.

5. Non-academic reference letter

This letter serves as a personal and character reference and can be written by an employer, a spiritual advisor, a high school teacher, or a mentor acting in a professional capacity (e.g. UCT staff member acting in a non-academic capacity). Your referee should comment on why they believe you should be considered for an exchange and how they believe it will contribute to your personal development. Where possible, they should include details about your ability to act as a representative and ambassador for UCT.
One file only.
2 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf, doc, docx, odt, ppt, pptx, jpg, jpeg, png.

6. Letter confirming curriculum alignment

For undergraduate and Masters by coursework students, the Head of Department should indicate that the courses you have identified at your preferred partner universities are eligible for transfer against the courses required for your UCT curriculum. You can use the Course alignment confirmation sheet form for this (one per chosen international partner university combined into a single PDF document). For postgraduate research students, provide a copy of your last MOU and Planned Progress Activity report (combined into a single PDF document).
One file only.
2 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf, doc, docx, odt, ppt, pptx, jpg, jpeg, png.

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