SIT Study Abroad South Africa: International Relations in the Global South
Explore non-western perspectives on South-South and continental relations through lectures, visits, and internships involving diplomats, activists, and intellectuals in South Africa and Mozambique.
WHY STUDY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH?
This program offers an opportunity to learn non-western perspectives in the fields of international and South-South relations and to examine broad policy questions in sub-Saharan Africa through the lenses of youth employment, conflict, and poverty. An introduction to South African politics sets the groundwork for the program focus on international relations and foreign policy, providing an opportunity for you to engage in major contemporary debates in the Global South.
We examine the African Union and other continental influencers including international organizations and non-state actors, and we look at how BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) has emerged as an alternative power block on the global political stage. Central to the program is the opportunity to intern at an internationally acclaimed NGO such as the Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), Institute for Security Studies (ISS), or the South African Institute of International Affairs.
You will visit the Luthuli Museum, former home of the first Black Nobel Prize winner, and the home of Mahatma Gandhi, whose political consciousness was shaped in South Africa. Learn about the role of NGOs in international relations on excursions to Cape Town and Maputo, Mozambique, which offered frontline state solidarity to South Africa during apartheid.
Please visit the SIT Study Abroad website for details on the program courses (including syllabi), educational excursions, and housing.
MONEY MATTERS
SIT is an all-inclusively priced study abroad program – including academics costs, excursions, accommodations and meals, airport transfers, and health insurance. Be sure to discuss how study abroad costs are handled at your school with your study abroad advisor and read the website for more specific information.
SCHOLARSHIPS
SIT has awarded an average of over $1.3 million in scholarships and grants to SIT Study Abroad students in the past three years. All scholarships and grants are need-based. Awards generally range from $500 to $5,000.
CONTACT SIT STUDY ABROAD
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS RESOURCES
To ensure a successful study abroad experience, it is important to research the mental health and wellness resources provided by the study abroad program to determine if they offer appropriate support for your particular needs.
SIT provides health insurance and partners with International SOS to provide medical and security assistance services. SIT also provides confidential remote counseling services for short-term, solution-focused sessions and can refer you to local mental health providers. We urge you to explore these resources via the links that SIT provided below to determine if your needs will be met.
REQUIREMENTS FOR VASSAR STUDENTS
For SIT programs in which students choose between an Independent Study Project (ISP) or Internship and Seminar, Vassar students are required to enroll in the ISP. The Internship and Seminar course is not approved for credit.
