Eligibility: B average in the fall and spring preceding the semester abroad (Princeton requirement); overall B average (UCT requirement)

The application to study at the University of Cape Town is a four-step process. Before you begin the application process, please check that your passport is valid for the entire time that you plan to be living in South Africa and renew it if necessary. If you do not yet have a passport, you should apply for one immediately.

1. UCT Application (due October 8).
Submit the following items to the Office of International Programs:

• UCT Application. Note that a parent's signature is required for students under 21, so please plan in advance if you need to secure a signature to complete the application.
• A copy of your resume.
• An essay of approximately 500 words explaining your reasons for wanting to study abroad and how it will benefit your undergraduate program in general and your departmental studies in particular.
• Letter of recommendation from a faculty member. A cover sheet for the recommendation is available in the Office of International Programs, 36 University Place, Suite 350.
• An official Princeton transcript. Please remember to request the transcript at least three days before your application is due.
• Two identical passport size photograph.

2. Application for a Study Permit
The University of Cape Town will send offers of admission to Princeton's Study Abroad Office. Students who are not residents of South Africa or who are not citizens or permanent residents of South Africa must obtain a study permit to enter the country for the purpose of studying at UCT. The offer of a place by UCT does not guarantee that the Department of Home Affairs will allow a student to reside in South Africa, nor does it remove the need to obtain official permission to enter the country.

Information and forms to obtain a study permit are available in the Office of International Programs or at http://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/trp/study%20permit.htm. The South African Consulate General is located at 333 East 38^th Street, 9^th floor, New York, NY 10016, phone number (212) 213-4880. (Note: The visa office is open from 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Monday through Friday.)  Please take care of this paperwork in a timely manner. You will need a valid passport, a copy of your birth certificate, your letter confirming enrollment at UCT, a ticket for return fare (or confirmation thereof), and a letter from your parents stating that they will be providing you with medical coverage and will support you financially during your time in South Africa. The cost of a permit is $72, payable by cash or money order only to the South African Consulate General, plus $16 mailing fee. By law, UCT cannot register students who do not present a study permit. Students should not enter South Africa on a tourist visa with the intention of changing it to a study visa while in the country. Individuals who do this are sent back to their countries of origin and are made to apply for a study permit.

3. The Princeton study abroad approval form (due November 1)
Your final acceptance to the study abroad program at UCT cannot be processed until you submit the Princeton Study Abroad approval form to the Office of International Programs (36 University Place, Suite 350). Juniors need to secure their department's approval for taking courses to fulfill departmental requirements and for completing junior independent work abroad. Elective courses are approved by the Office of International Programs.

4. Acceptance of UCT's offer:
Once you receive UCT's offer ot come as a visting student, you must accept or refuse the offer as soon as possible. Once you accept the offer, a housing deposit of 3000 Rand (approximately $400) will be paid by UCT on your behalf. Should you later decide not to go to UCT, you will be responsible for a $100 withdrawal fee and the housing deposit. Please be advised that the longer you wait to accept UCT's offer, the greater the chance there will be that the most desirable housing will be taken.