The International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO) works to facilitate and promote all facets of internationalisation at UCT.

It aims to be the first port of call for all international students and provides a wide range of services including:

  • general enquiries from prospective students
  • advice on the safety of the area you wish to stay in
  • the appropriateness of working while in South Africa
  • application for study permits
  • general advice about your stay at UCT.

IAPO strives to ensure that:

  • UCT is the preferred study destination for international students
  • through integration, students from diverse cultures and backgrounds will get a high quality academic and life changing experience
  • UCT remains a highly sought after university for international academic partnerships.

The role of IAPO within the broader UCT context

IAPO acts as the central coordinator and facilitator of all internationally related initiatives and activities in the following ways:

  • Ensuring that internationalisation activities contribute to as many as possible of the university's 10 policy objectives and by so doing, support the core business of teaching and research at UCT.
  • Building UCT's global profile as a research-led, international, African university.
  • Generating opportunities for improving its position as a world-class African university.
  • Benchmarking local needs and global standards for a university.
  • Striving for the integration of the global and local in such a way as to add value to both: with international activities enhancing student life and staff development at UCT, and incoming international students and staff being integrated into the local environment.
  • Performing a consultative and facilitative role in assisting the university community in negotiating individual, departmental, faculty and institutional linkages using UCT sanctioned guidelines.
  • Providing specialist services for international students and applicants.
  • Developing and promoting the concept of "internationalisation at home" and ensuring that the entire UCT community benefits from the growing internationalisation of UCT.
  • Seeking, supporting and facilitating opportunities for UCT staff and students to experience academic life at international partner universities through mobility exchanges.
  • Providing customised Global Short Academic Programmes (GSAP)

In addition, IAPO

  • Manages the University Science, Humanities and Engineering Partnerships in Africa (USHEPiA) Programme and other collaborative programmes in Africa.
  • Houses resource information on linkages between UCT and other African academics.
  • Runs a dynamic Semester Study Abroad Programme.
  • Runs an Exchanges programme for UCT students to travel and study abroad at partner institutions.
  • Maintains a database of Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding.
  • Runs an annual international student pre-registration service.
  • Assists students with immigration issues.
  • Monitors events in higher education in Africa and provides advice to UCT academics working with other African institutions.
  • Produces information booklets and pamphlets specifically for international students.
  • Provides a resource centre on international universities and education opportunities for local students.
  • Liaises with the Department of Home Affairs Department regarding immigration legislation and compliance.
  • Maintains links with embassies and donor organisations that fund international students.
  • Actively participates and is a member to local and international professional bodies on international education e.g. International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA), the National Association for Foreign Student Affairs: Association of International Educators (NAFSA), the European Association for International Education (EAIE).
  • Ensures participation and representation on appropriate UCT committees dealing with international students.
  • Liaises with the international offices of other tertiary institutions in South Africa.
  • Manages the invoicing, collection and administration of fees of all non-SADC students at UCT.

For further information please visit the IAPO website.