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South Africa: Education and Social Reform

Graduate Study Abroad

The course will use South Africa’s post-apartheid social and educational reforms as a case study to explore access and equity issues in education. What are the policies in place, challenges in implementing policies, and successes? There will be a comparison made with the US education context while drawing lessons from other countries in Africa. The course covers policies in K-12, higher education, and informal education systems that provide support for success in education. Participants will gain hands-on experience  through fieldwork. You will learn from people who are grappling with reform issues on a daily basis, explore the country’s diverse cultures, and gain an understanding of the challenges faced by its leaders and policymakers. Researchers, government officials, and other experts will share their own experiences in lectures and discussions.

Location:

Cape Town and Pretoria, South Africa

Program Dates:

July 14 - 28, 2024

Faculty:

Application Deadline:

  • Priority Deadline: February 7, 2024
  • Regular Deadline: March 7, 2024 (admissions continue thereafter on a space-available basis)

Find the application link and instructions on the "How to Apply" page.

Who can participate:

  • NYU graduate students
  • NYU undergraduate students who have:
    • 96+ earned credits by course start date
    • related coursework
    • approval from the faculty director as well as their advisor
  • Non-NYU graduate students and professionals who are both:
    • U.S. citizens or permanent residents
    • Currently hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.

Related areas of study:

  • Educational Leadership
  • Higher Education
  • International Education

This is not a complete list. We value diverse perspectives in our programs and encourage students from other majors and professions.

How to apply:

The application link and instructions, as well as the deadlines and notification timelines, can be found on the "How to Apply" page

This is a credit-bearing graduate Global course. Students self-register in Albert for the following course for a total of 3 credits:

  • AMLT-GE 2073, Section 099 (Class #4112) - International Perspectives: Education and Social Reform in South Africa (3 credits)

Offered through the Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology.

Important Note: All program applicants are encouraged to meet with their academic adviser to determine if and how this course may be applied towards their program requirements and degree completion.

Sample Syllabus

Direct Costs Billed by NYU

Participants will be billed for the cost of the graduate course following the standard per-credit rate for NYU Steinhardt Graduate Study Tuition and Fees. In addition, study abroad courses have a supplemental Program Fee that covers the cost of housing abroad, program activities and visits, group transportation in-country, and international health insurance. Students can expect to be billed:

  • Steinhardt Graduate Tuition (3 credits) - $6,303
  • Steinhardt Graduate Registration and Services Fees - $700
  • Program Fee - $1,950
  • GeoBlue International Health Insurance - Included

Estimated Direct Cost Total - $8,953

Tuition, Registration, and Program fees will be due based on Bursar's Payment Schedule for the current term.

Out-of-Pocket Costs

Students are responsible for purchasing transportation and airfare to/from the program location. Students will be notified when to book flights. We recommend comparing tickets on multiple sites to ensure the best fare. Past participants have used the following flight search engines: KayakGoogle Flights, and Student Universe for student rates.

In addition to airfare, participants should budget for: daily meals (except for included welcome and farewell meals); transportation to and from the airport; passport and/or visa fees (if applicable); vaccination costs (if applicable); and other personal incidentals.

Students are encouraged to budget for study abroad programs based on individual needs. You may use online budgeting tools such as NumbeoExpatistan, and Budget Your Trip to budget for your ideal study abroad experience.

Scholarships

NYU Steinhardt offers several graduate study abroad scholarships and maintains a list of additional external funding opportunities.

Study Abroad Budget Worksheet

Download and use this Study Abroad Budget Worksheet to estimate the cost of your study abroad experience. 

PLEASE NOTE: This spreadsheet lists possible expenses and may not be all-inclusive of program costs. In addition, your costs may fluctuate based on changes in currency exchange rates, airfare, varying personal lifestyles, etc. While this is a good tool for reviewing study abroad expenses, the results should be considered to be an estimate of the total cost of participation.

Housing Accommodations

Students stay in shared-occupancy housing arranged by the Office of Global Affairs. Your accommodation arrangements are included in your Program Fee. Group accommodation dates correspond with the program dates listed above.

Flight, Travel, and Visa Information

Flight: Students book their own travel to coincide with program dates. Please note that the course may begin and end in different cities and that flights arriving in South Africa typically depart New York a day in advance; participants will be provided with the exact details so that they are able to book their airline tickets accordingly. All participants are strongly encouraged to purchase refundable flights. Domestic airline bookings within South Africa are booked centrally (not by the student) and this cost is included in the course activity fee. 

Passport: All program participants are required to have a valid passport, which must be valid for at least six months beyond the program's end date. 

Visa: US citizens require a valid passport and do not require a visa for visits to South Africa of less than three months in duration. All other passport holders should check their visa requirements on the embassy/consulate website respective of their nationality. For further guidance on visas and other non-immigration matters, contact OGS Outbound Student Services at ogs.outbound@nyu.edu.

Helpful linksUS State DepartmentCenter for Disease ControlLonely Planet Guide (Cape Town)Lonely Planet Guide (Pretoria).

Weather: In July, temperatures in South Africa typically range from 45°F to 65°F. Visit BBC Weather to learn more about local weather conditions in South Africa.

Pre-Departure Resources

Visit the Steinhardt Study Abroad Resources website and get a head start on preparing for your study abroad program experience.

Policies

All applicants should review the Office of Global Affairs Short-Term Graduate Courses Policies page prior to applying to study abroad.

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