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

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

  • advice on applying for study visas
  • support in calculating the tuition fee you will need to pay for your chosen programme of study as an international student
  • the appropriateness of working while in South Africa on a study visa
  • advice on securing appropriate accommodation whilst studying at UCT
  • general advice about your stay at UCT as an international student.

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 internationally related initiatives and activities in the following ways:

  • Supporting internationalisation activities which give effect to Strategy 2036 and by so doing, support the core business of teaching and research at UCT.
  • Contributing to UCT's global profile as a research-led, international, 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 at UCT, and incoming international students 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 within the broader UCT policy framework.
  • Providing specialist services for international students.
  • Selecting international exchange students inbound to UCT and assisting them with course selection and enrolment.
  • Supporting and facilitating opportunities for UCT students to experience academic life at international partner universities through student exchange.
  • Developing and promoting the concept of "internationalisation at home" and ensuring that the UCT community benefits from the growing internationalisation of UCT.
  • Providing customised short non-credit bearing academic programmes through our Global Learning Programmes (GLP).

IAPO is responsible for the administration of several international collaborative academic programmes and for international student support. The Office:

  • Manages and supports a dynamic Semester Study Abroad (SSA) programme for students from international partner universities to spend a semester at UCT for international credit mobility.
  • Facilitates administration of student Exchange programmes by managing the selection of UCT students to study abroad at international partner universities for credit transfer towards their UCT degree.
  • Manages the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT.
  • Manages the process for formalising partnerships with international universities, including the establishment of collaborative international academic programmes, through Memoranda of Understanding and Memoranda of Agreement.
  • Advises students on immigration and study visa requirements, and liaises with the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa regarding immigration legislation and compliance.
  • Manages the mandatory immigration clearance process for international students enrolling with study visas at UCT.
  • Manages collection of the initial tuition fee for international students enrolling in UCT qualifications.
  • Manages billing and invoicing for international academic programmes offered collaboratively by UCT and international partner universities.
  • Advises the wider UCT community about matters affecting international students.
  • Liaises with the international offices of other South African universities and advocates for enabling policy frameworks to facilitate international academic programmes and student support through national and regional higher education forums.

For further information please visit the IAPO website.