Stanford University offers a variety of programs in South Africa, providing students with unique opportunities for academic enrichment, cultural immersion, and professional development. These programs include the Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP), the Digital Medic program, and Seed internships. Let's take a closer look at these initiatives and their impact.
Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP) in Cape Town
The Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP) offers the opportunity to study away while remaining enrolled at Stanford and is considered an integral part of the Stanford curriculum. One of the locations for BOSP is Cape Town, South Africa.
The academic objective of the Cape Town program is to introduce students to intellectual analyses of the socio-economic and political challenges in post-apartheid South Africa. Students are not only exposed to historical analyses, but also engage with how inequality is manifested in terms of poverty, unemployment and access to basic services such as health care. Sustainability remains one of the key challenges as water and electricity shortages continue to place huge strains on the country’s natural resources and its economy. As such, the socio-economic and political costs are interrogated in the program’s academic offerings. Pertinent issues such as land rights and reparations for apartheid atrocities, also provide students with the opportunity to engage intellectually with the ways in which the country continues to grapple with its past.
The Cape Town Program offers courses that provide credit toward Stanford graduation and most classes also count toward an undergraduate major. Students must enrol in a minimum of twelve units from the courses offered through the program. For a list of all BOSP courses offered in the current academic year and planned for the next, and for information on which courses earn departmental credit or fulfill General Education Requirements, please refer to the BOSP course database.
Program participants live in a self-catering residence in the neighborhood of Rondebosch. Participants are required to share apartments as single accommodation is not available. They are housed in two-bedroomed apartments with shared kitchens and bathrooms. Each apartment houses two participants in their own private room. Shops, restaurants and a laundromat are easily accessed from the residence.
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Financial Assistance for BOSP
BOSP is committed to ensuring access for all students, regardless of financial circumstances, to global learning opportunities. Financial need will have no impact on program admission decisions. All applicants will be automatically considered for financial assistance towards the program fee and travel grant. Students with demonstrated financial need, as determined by the Financial Aid Office, will be notified by BOSP regarding their eligibility for a fee waiver of up to 100% of the program fee. Award amounts will be announced after acceptance, and students will have time to consider their plans before committing to participate.
Stanford provides program participants with:
- Housing for the duration of the program
- All meals for the duration of the program
- Onsite transportation for all program activities
- All program excursions and activities for the duration of the program
Stanford does not provide program participants with:
- International travel costs to and from the program location
- Immigration expenses, including passport and visa costs
- Recommended immunization/vaccination costs
- Course materials
- Other incidental expenses (such as laundry and souvenirs or personal travel)
Cape Town: The Foreign Student Experience
Digital Medic Program
The Digital Medic program in Cape Town is a joint School of Medicine and Stanford Center for Professional Development program (Stanford Center for Health Education). It explores the practices and approaches of a range of health practitioners in South Africa, including medical and indigenous health practitioners who operate in various institutions and interact with different communities, including university students, chronic patients, research participants and ordinary citizens. Finally, we investigate the ethics of care required to work with different patients and why these ethics matter.
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Stanford Programme (Cape Town) NPC houses the administrative support for the Digital Medic program in Cape Town. The Stanford Programme (Cape Town) NPC is a non-profit entity in South Africa. It was established on December 21, 2009 (“SPCT”) initially under the Companies Act, 1973 as a S21 company, and revised in 2013 under the Companies Act 2008 as a not-for profit company.
SPCT is a standalone non-profit entity incorporated under the South African Companies Act 2008. As such it is required to have its own Board of Directors. These Directors are comprised of a local Director (an employee of SPCT) together with Stanford University representatives from the programs that are operated as well as from a central office (Financial Management Services). Global Business Service provides compliance services.
Because of this Presence, activities carried out in-country may trigger additional compliance requirements.
Seed Internships
Stanford also offers Seed internships in South Africa, providing students with the opportunity to work closely with talented entrepreneurs in Africa. These internships allow students to gain high-level work experience while making an impact in an emerging market.
Examples of Seed internships include opportunities in:
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- Strategy
- Software Engineering
- Product Design
- Operations
These internships provide students with a chance to immerse themselves in a new culture and contribute to the growth of businesses in Africa.
Course Information for Cape Town Program
Here's some general information about the course for the Cape Town program:
Prerequisites and Expectations: Students are required to attend every session and actively participate in class discussions and activities. Students should come prepared and are encouraged to actively engage with all course materials, including readings, videos, and supplementary resources. Students are expected to treat their peers and instructors with respect. Students should approach the program with an open mind, ready to explore diverse perspectives and engage in constructive feedback. Students must adhere to all academic deadlines. Timely submission of work is essential to maintain the flow of the program and ensure equitable participation.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade. Grading will be based on 3 fieldwork reports. 40% of the overall grade will be given for preparation and active participation in class. Letter grades will form the basis of the final overall assessment, with some marks being given for familiarity with reading material and active participation in class discussions.
Faculty
Prof. Tammy Wilks is a professor in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town. Her research examines the dynamics of conflict and coexistence amongst religious communities in Nairobi, Kenya. She was a visiting professor at Yale University and Colgate University before her tenure at the University of Cape Town.
Stanford Programs Supported
- Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP)
- School of Medicine Digital Medic
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