Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

Coastal Durban is a perfect home for those who love the ocean - from one of the world's best diving spots to one of the top 5 locations in South Africa for surfing, the city is an ocean playground with gorgeous beach vistas for relaxing after class.

Explore the history of apartheid at the museum, check out an AmaZulu soccer game at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, and then take in the Durbanite experience through curated walking tours or community runs by BESETdurban, designed to introduce you to Durban's secret gems. The University of KwaZulu-Natal is a research-intensive university whose history mirrors the larger anti-apartheid movement in Durban, starting from segregated schools who themselves were sites of anti-apartheid struggle, to the multicultural, integrated institution it is today. UKZN is ranked 9th amongst the top universities in continental Africa, and 4th in South Africa (QS, 2019; THE, 2019), with nearly 29,000 students. It excels in the fields of Development Studies and Chemistry.

Key information

Language

English

Semester

Fall, Winter, Academic year

Program type

Exchange

Application information

Application status

Open

Apply Now

2023-2024 applications

First come, first considered for remaining spaces

Fall 2024 final deadline: Closed

Winter 2025 final deadline: August 15, 2024

University-specific additional requirements

Minimum GPA 2.7. Two references will be required at a later date to support your application - see the Eligibility section below for details.

2025-2026 applications

Open November 1, 2024

Student experience

Check out this short video from UKZN with some awesome visuals of South Africa!

Program details

Areas of Study:

African Studies, Anthropology, Architecture, Art History, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Development Studies, Drama, Earth Science, Ecology, Economics, Engineering (Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical), English, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science, Finance, Fine Arts, Food Science, Geography, Geology, Graphic Design, Greek & Roman Studies, Health Sciences, History, Human Resources, International Studies, Linguistics, Management, Marine Biology, Marketing, Math, Media Studies, Microbiology, Music, Nutrition, Philosophy, Political Science, Physics, Psychology, Religious Studies/Theology, Social Work, Sociology, Soil/Agricultural Science, Sport Science, Statistics, Supply Chain Management, Tourism, Translation.

Languages: French, Greek, IsiZulu, Italian, Kiswahili, Latin

Course Information:

Courses at UKZN are called "Modules". Module information is available online in each faculty's Handbook in the "Syllabi" section.

This is a list of popular courses:

Culture & Society in Africa

Development in Southern Africa

South/African Literature

African Ethics and the Post-Colonial Condition

Africa: Art of a continent

Contemporary African Art

Topics in African History

Trade Unions in South Africa

Aspects of South African Law

Popular & Traditional Musics: Africa and Beyond

African Philosophy and Ethics

Politics and Public Policy in Southern Africa

African Politics and Development

African Political Thought

Law and Politics in South Africa

South Africa: Apartheid and After

African & International Perspectives (Psychology)

African Psychology

Intro to South African Society

African Theology

Contemporary African Politics & Development

HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa (Master’s level)

South African Development Problems and Policies (Master’s level)

Culture and Society in Africa (Anthropology)

Families and Households

Media in South Africa

African Philosophy and Ethics

Politics & Public Policy in Southern Africa

Politics & Law in South Africa

African Systems of Thought (Religion)

Morality, Ethics and Modernity in Africa (religion)

Hinduism in South Africa (Religion)

Islamic Institutions in South Africa

Religions in Africa

Development Activism in Africa (Sociology)

Biophysical Environments of Southern Africa

The year is made up of two semesters: Semester 1 runs from mid-February to late June and Semester 2 runs from late July to late November. Students can start in either semester, however full year students must start in February.

  1. Costs

    University of Calgary students participating in this exchange pay not only tuition & fees to the University of Calgary, but also residence (approximately $3100/semester) and meal plan (approximately $1900/semester) fees. In turn, they do not have to pay for on-campus housing while at UKZN and they will receive a meal stipend from UKZN to cover the cost of food during the semester. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider. Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations etc in your budget planning.

    Please note: This country's visa application process requires travel to Ontario. Please check the South African Embassy page for details and current information.

  2. Funding

    Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange? 
    Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.

    Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learnng program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.

Students are housed in one of the self-catered on-campus Halls of Residence

This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at UCalgary, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).

Please do not approach your professor for a reference until after you have been accepted by our office. Two references are required.

For applicants from the UCalgary Faculty of Law, one of your reference letters must be written by a Law Faculty Professor and submitted at the time of your application to UCalgary. Please click here to view the reference letter guidelines & submission instructions.

There are five campuses for UKZN. Four of the campuses are located in Durban and one is inland in Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal province. The Howard College Campus, Westville Campus and Pietermaritzburg Campus are the most common campuses that our students study at.

Students with disabilities can consult with the Disability Office.

Student Experience: "Both my education and career path has been altered by this experience. I have a greater respect and gratefulness for education as a whole being so accessible in the West. It has inspired me to work harder as I now can see that not everyone gets this opportunity. The most challenging part was the acceptance that it was all going to come to an end. When you study abroad, you build a life in this new place. You build friendships, a routine, hobbies, habits, etc. It is hard to come to terms with the fact that this exchange is temporary. I loved every second of it." 


Have questions?

Global Learning 101

Please watch this short YouTube playlist before reaching out or booking an appointment. In these videos, you will learn much of the basics about Global Learning, which may answer your initial questions.

Watch Global Learning 101

Academic Advising

Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how this program might align with your degree (e.g. best time to go, what courses you need).

After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/transfer credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.

Find your academic advisor

Global Learning Advising

If you have questions, please reach out to our office! We offer drop-in advising for general inquiries, and if you have questions about this specific program or any others, you can book an appointment with the responsible advisor.

Please use the link below to find the most up-to-date information about our current advising options.

View the Global Learning Advising page

The exchange advisor for this program is: Kathryn Bauer

How to Apply

Download the application guide

This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.

Application guide

Identify three programs of interest

We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.

Check requirements and deadlines

These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.

Start your application

Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!

Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.

APPLY NOW

International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.

For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.

If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.

Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.