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SOUTH AFRICA

STUDY ABROAD TRIP
ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM

August 8 – 22, 2026

AT A GLANCE

DATES:  AUG. 8 – 22, 2026
DEADLINE TO REGISTER:  March 10, 2026
CREDIT HOURS:  6 c/h
TOTAL TRIP COST FOR CREDIT:  $5,870 CAD + flights
TOTAL TRIP COST FOR NON-CREDIT:  $4,000 CAD + flights
DELIVERY MODES:  readings before the trip, intensive academic sessions with experts in their fields, visiting local organizations with on-the-ground practitioners and community leaders, visiting archival sites, CBS via Parables, communal meals, Eucharistic gatherings, engaging sites of struggle, film screenings, and many more.
EMPHASES:  South African histories, colonialism & Christian Nationalism, apartheid theology (then & now), faithful resistance, decolonizing our faith, decolonizing the land, decolonizing peace & justice praxis, the inner transformation of a peacemaker, contextual Bible study, black consciousness, black theology, the Kairos Movement, anti-racism theology & praxis, spatial imagination & spatial justice, black solidarity (local and global), South African & Palestinian solidarity

PREAMBLE

The following is the registration form for the South Africa study abroad trip (Aug. 8 – 22, 2026) and is meant to help SSU collect the information we need for planning purposes. Students will need to register and pay a deposit of $1,000 CAD before March 10, 2026 to secure their spot on this trip (Note: your spot on this study abroad trip is not officially secured for you until this deposit is paid, so the sooner, the better). Students will then be invoiced for the remaining cost of the trip ($2,500 CAD), which needs to be paid in full before April 1, 2026, and for tuition ($2,370 CAD), which needs to be paid before May 1, 2026 (payment plans are available for tuition, but this must be paid in full before the start of the study abroad trip). The amount on the invoice is all-inclusive for accommodations, meals, internal travel within South Africa, academic sessions, and other related experiences, all of which is prearranged for you.

Students therefore need to make their own flight arrangements to Johannesburg and back home from Cape Town, as this is not included in the cost of the study abroad trip. You will therefore need to arrive in Johannesburg and at our first accommodations at St Benedict’s House Rosettenville on Aug. 8 (NB: Uber is safest and most reliable. If you plan on arriving before Aug. 8, please make sure to reach out to Steve at info@ssu.ca so he can consult with you on locations and safety; some of this information will also be included in the info packet that all students receive), and you will need to make flight arrangements on one of the days after our final night at Volmoed. Your final night of accommodations is at Volmoed on Aug. 21, and departure is therefore Aug. 22. The closest and most accessible airport is the Cape Town International Airport (CPT). All travel arrangements to and from our accommodations and your airport are the students' responsibility.

Name and contact information:

1. Please choose the option below that best describes you.

Travel information:

Spots and accommodations on this study abroad trip are limited, and arrangements for this trip therefore assume that our students are travelling by themselves. However, we also recognize that this is a once in a lifetime experience that you may want to share with someone else. We are therefore prepared to allow travel companions, but we prefer that these are kept to a minimum for the purposes of our own travel arrangements and group cohesion, which means that travel companions require SSU's approval.
 
Nevertheless, below are questions related to how you will be travelling with us. Please note that while we will try our best to fully accommodate your travel companions and this is likely, we still cannot guarantee this, and you may need to make alternative arrangements for them. Having said that, it is crucial that you stay with your fellow students throughout the trip regardless.

Please note that if your travel companion would like to experience the entire trip, including all accommodations, meals, internal travel, academic sessions, events and experiences, the cost for auditing and personal enrichment (i.e., non-credit) is $4,000 CAD.

2. Will you be coming on this trip by yourself or with others?
4. Will you need accommodations, meals, and travel arrangements (e.g., bus and train tickets) for more than just yourself on this trip? (Note: applicable costs will be added to your invoice; if you answered < yes > to this question, someone will be in touch with you for more details.)
5. If you will have travel companions with you, do they also want to participate in the academic sessions and other related experiences, either for personal enrichment or for credit? (Note: applicable costs will be added to your invoice; if you answered < yes > to this question, someone will be in touch with you for more details.)

Accommodations and meals:

The accommodations for this study abroad trip to South Africa include the following (click on each for more information):
 


Accommodations in each of the above locations on this study abroad trip are normally shared twin rooms, usually but not always with an en suite bathroom, while some rooms will be single rooms. In some cases, it is possible to have a private single room with an en suite bathroom for an additional cost. Please note, however, that we cannot guarantee the availability of private single rooms to our students.

​

Please note that St. Stephen's University will make efforts to ensure the safety and comfort of transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive students, which means that we will design sleeping arrangements that best support each student's emotional and physical safety. Generally speaking, separating students into groups according to their stated gender identity is most appropriate, but the composition of the group and/or the nature of the trip environment may require another arrangement.

6. Gender

Student
Companion 1
Companion 2
Companion 3
8. Please indicate your accommodation preference below.

Other information:

12. Please choose whichever option below applies to you:

Note: for all international applicants, enrolment at St. Stephen's University does not make you eligible for South African residency. SSU has no influence over decisions regarding passports or visas and cannot guarantee you will receive a visa to participate in this study abroad trip. It is solely the responsibility of the student to ensure that you can travel to and within South Africa before the start of the travel abroad trip.

16. Please agree to the following conditions before submitting this registration form.

Refund Policy: If a student decides to withdraw from the study abroad module before it begins, it is important to inform St. Stephen's University as soon as possible so that there is an opportunity for another student to take the newly vacant spot. The refund schedule is as follows:

 

  • Before May 10, 2026 – 100% refund of total cost of the trip and tuition, minus a $300 administration fee ($5,870 CAD);

  • Before June 10, 2026 – 50% refund of total cost of the trip and tuition, minus a $300 administration fee ($2,635 CAD);

  • Before July 10, 2026 – no refund of the cost of the trip; 50% refund of tuition, minus a $300 admin ($885 CAD);

  • After July 10, 2026 – no refund of the cost of the trip and tuition.

 

Refunds require 6 to 8 weeks to process.*

The registrant grants permission for any photography, videos, or other pictures of the registrant to be used in SSU and JFI promotional or educational material without any additional consent. Note: If you do not wish to grant permission, please contact Dr. van Esch at lmvanesch@ssu.ca.
I acknowledge and agree to the following conditions: 1.) I must send a $1,000 CAD deposit to SSU before March 10, 2026 for myself and each of my travel companions (if applicable); 2.) I must send the remaining balance of the travel costs to SSU before April 1, 2026 for myself and each travel companion (if applicable); 3.) I must pay the cost of tuition before May 1, 2026 (payment plans available).
I acknowledge and agree that it is entirely my responsibility to ensure that I have the necessary visa and/or passport to enter South Africa and remain in the country for up to two weeks before the start of the study abroad trip and that SSU cannot provide assistance with this in any way.

I hereby unconditionally release, waive, and discharge my right, whether by contract or under operation of law to file cause of action(s) or claim(s) which I may have against St. Stephen’s University now or in the future as a result of participating in the study abroad trip to South Africa for the period beginning on August 5, 2026 and ending on August 19, 2026.


I am aware of the risks, dangers, and hazards associated with this study abroad trip to South Africa. I hereby assume any and all risk of loss, liability, damage, or costs, including bodily injury or property damage that may incur arising out or in connection to my acts and/or omissions. I fully understand the terms set forth in this form, and I hereby hold St. Stephen’s University and its agents harmless, and indemnify them from any and all liability, actions, causes of action, debts, claims, and demands of every kind and nature whatsoever which may arise from or in connection with this study abroad trip or my participation in such travel study program activities.

 

My agreement to these terms and conditions below is given freely in order to indicate my understanding of the acceptance of these realities and in consideration for being permitted by St. Stephen’s University to participate in the study abroad trip to South Africa.

I certify that the information provided on this registration form is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

If you wish to send your $1,000 CAD deposit immediately to hold your spot, please do so by clicking here.

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