The University of the Western Cape (UWC), situated in Bellville, approximately 15 miles from Cape Town city center, is a leading research and teaching institution in South Africa and is known for having played a unique role in the struggle against apartheid. UWC was founded in 1959 as the University College of the Western Cape for the purpose of educating non-white youth of the region. The campus of the University of the Western Cape has a clear view of the impressive Table Mountain and there is a nature reserve integrated into the campus. The student body of UWC is the most representative of the population of South Africa in the Western Cape. The largest percentage of students now come from homes where an African language is spoken, followed closely by English and then Afrikaans. UWC's mission statement includes this summary of the institutions: "A place of quality, a place to grow from hope to action through knowledge." UWC's faculty are willing to "walk the extra mile" for the committed student and that is apparent both inside the classroom and outside. This is a student centered institution where teaching takes priority over research at the undergraduate level.
All courses are taught in English with the exception of advanced language courses. While Liberal Arts and Humanities hold an important place at UWC, equally as important and strong are the faculties dedicated to practical fields such as Education, Law, Health Sciences, and Nursing. UWC has the only schools of Pharmacy and Dentistry in the Western Cape - open to undergraduates as well as graduate students. The UWC faculty is well known internationally and has many partnerships with universities and institutes elsewhere in Africa and around the globe. In addition to your coursework at UWC, all students are required to participate in the core seminar, "Contemporary Issues in South Africa", which is intended to provide a forum for reflection and analysis on current issues and challenges facing South Africans.
The Arcadia Advantage
An Arcadia program isn't just about enrolling you in an overseas institution however. It's about all of the services that we provide. Before you go, you can contact our program manager for advice on the application process, choosing courses, or simply what you should pack. Once you arrive, our resident director will lead an orientation program in Cape Town that will introduce you to the culture, history and politics of South Africa as well as prepare you for the academic challenges of studying in a different educational system. During the semester, you can expect to participate in excursions that are designed to allow you to reflect on the learning that is taking place outside the classroom.
Application Deadlines
First Semester and Academic Year: March 15
Second Semester: November 15
http://www.arcadia.edu/abroad/westerncape
450 S. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038-3295
© 2008 Arcadia University.
