Occupational Therapy Internships: Intern abroad in Cape Town, South Africa
Learn practical occupational therapy skills and life experience assisting qualified therapists in clinics, care facilities, hospitals and schools. Help to provide treatment and diagnosis, learning from experienced professionals and assisting individuals with a range of specific care needs.
What to expect from your Occupational Therapy internship:
- Gain experience applying your theoretical knowledge in real life therapy sessions
- Contribute to rehabilitation and treatment for people with a range of conditions
- Enjoy spare time exploring the unique and eclectic city of Cape Town, and wider South Africa
Your internship abroad host organization:
- Healthcare clinics
- Care facilities
- Hospitals
- Schools
Internship details
Learn practical occupational therapy skills and gain real life experience assisting qualified therapists in clinics, care facilities, hospitals and schools as an Occupational Therapy intern. Help to provide treatment and diagnosis, learning from experienced professionals and assisting individuals with a range of specific care needs.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation provided.
Interns on this Occupational Therapy internship in Cape Town build upon your theoretical knowledge foundations by experiencing practical applications alongside local professionals. Gain insight into a wide range of treatments as you help those that are struggling to improve or regain skills and mobility. You’ll gain insight into the stigmas and obstacles faced by individuals within marginalized communities, help to increase independence and self-esteem, while contributing to reversing negative societal attitudes about disability.
Typical placements for Occupational Therapy interns include children’s hospitals, special education schools, or care facilities for those with disabilities. You can also hone your skills at occupational therapy centers, which provide specialist care for those with issues such as traumatic brain injuries, trauma, oncology, burns, feeding disorders, autism, facial palsy, Down syndrome, and lymphedema.
Although daily tasks will vary widely and are influenced by your own skills and experience, interns generally assist with the day-to-day care and rehabilitation of patients. This can include physical therapy or treatment, educational and vocational training, and counseling. Interns are matched to a suitable placement that matches your skills, experience, educational background, and duration of your stay.
In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.
Understand and expect that individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability.
What are the career benefits of interning abroad as a Occupational Therapy Intern?
Occupational Therapy interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Shadowing and assisting in therapy sessions
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Educational and workplace training
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Counseling in assistance with professional staff
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Assisting with general clerical support
Professional development opportunities:
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Learn how experienced therapists conduct therapy sessions
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Gain specialized knowledge in the treatment of specific conditions
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Understand how patient relationships are built and managed
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Gain understanding of the day-to-day life of an occupational therapist
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Build communication skills
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Are you eligible for this internship?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
South Africa photo gallery
Academic credit available for all internships
Get course credit from your college or university while completing your internship abroad or a remote internship program. It's a great way to meet your academic requirements and gain valuable experience at the same time.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
Applying for our Occupational Therapy Internship is completely free! The support package covers the assistance we provide in finding your internship and arranging your living accommodations in your host country, ensuring you thrive during your program.
Please note that a deposit of US$499 is required to confirm your place. The remaining balance (minus your initial US$499 deposit) is due at least 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | $2,292 Equivalent to $81 /day |
| 5 weeks | $2,477 Equivalent to $70 /day |
| 6 weeks | $2,687 Equivalent to $63 /day |
| 8 weeks | $3,057 Equivalent to $54 /day |
| 10 weeks | $3,760 Equivalent to $53 /day |
| 12 weeks | $4,131 Equivalent to $49 /day |
| 16 weeks | $4,883 Equivalent to $43 /day |
| 20 weeks | $5,624 Equivalent to $40 /day |
| 24 weeks | $6,366 Equivalent to $37 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- All meals
- All in-country transportation
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
Free-time experiences & tours in Cape Town
Take your internship to the next level with Intern Abroad HQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Cape Town! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto an internship program.
Stand at the southernmost tip of the African continent and experience Chapman’s Peak, cute African Penguins at Boulders Beach and Muizenberg’s golden shores with our Cape Point Tour.
Embark on the Garden Route Tour for an adventure of emerald forests, turquoise coastlines and a rich tapestry of wildlife and culture.
Embark on an unforgettable journey with our Safari & Wine Tasting Adventure in South Africa! Experience wildlife encounters and wine tastings against stunning landscapes.
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in Cape Town begin every Monday and interns may choose to spend a minimum of 4 weeks, up to a maximum of 24 weeks. (Exceptions to start date availability may occur when start dates are closed due to public holiday disruptions or if the program has already reached capacity). Fewer internship positions are available during late December and early January, due to the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. The accommodation is covered from the Saturday night before the Monday start date. Interns are asked to arrive on the Saturday before their Monday start date, to allow sufficient time over the weekend to rest and become oriented before beginning on the Monday. The last night of accommodation that is covered by the Program Fee is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns to depart on the Saturday morning. Extra nights of accommodation can be pre-arranged upon request and paid for separately.
All participants fly into the Cape Town International Airport (CPT), in order to receive their airport pick up and be transported to the accommodation by a pre-arranged driver. Upon arrival to the accommodation, interns are met by a local team member, who will greet them and assist with settling in. Note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.
Orientation typically takes place on the Sunday before the Monday start date. It covers important details for the internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more. Interns join their placement on the following day.
If you are planning to spend time in Cape Town prior to your internship and will not require an airport pick up, we can arrange an alternative pick up from another location within the central city.
Check what's required to visit South Africa
Check out the widget below to learn about the visa requirements for the Occupational Therapy internship in South Africa, based on your country of residence.
Accommodation and WiFi
Internship placements are spread throughout Cape Town’s main city center and surrounding suburbs. Accommodation arrangements will be confirmed, once your internship placement has also been assigned. In most cases, accommodation will be situated in the suburbs of Observatory and Mowbray, enjoyed for proximity to the CBD and other attractions. Alternatively, accommodations may also be situated within the Newlands district.
Interns are accommodated within shared lodging, making it easy to connect with fellow program participants. Interns can expect to share a room with another intern (of the same gender). Bathrooms are also shared with a hot water shower and western toilets. WiFi is available and is also accessible at nearby cafes and restaurants. All accommodation provides cooking facilities.
It is important to note that an accommodation bond is requested at check-in. The cost of the bond is US$200, so you must budget for this. This bond is refundable, less a US$30 cleaning fee, upon your departure, provided that an inspection has been completed to confirm that you have not caused damage to the property or a need for extensive deep cleaning.
Transportation is not provided for in-country commutes between the accommodation and internship placements, so all interns must budget for this independently. Efforts are always taken to place interns near to main transport systems to provide convenient commuting options. The maximum travel time is typically no more than 60 minutes each way (depending on traffic congestion in the city). In all cases, internship placements will be assigned in consideration of commute logistics and opportunities to ride-share with other interns, where possible.
For convenience and safety, local coordinators can arrange a dedicated shuttle service for ongoing placement commutes (Monday through Friday). The cost for this service ranges from approx. US$200 - US$300 a month, per person, depending on the location of your placement. If you want to organize this service, please communicate with coordinators when your placement details are being arranged in advance. Alternatively, for the use of Uber, it is possible to spend US$10-US$20 per day on rides, depending on where you’re going. Please budget for this, especially if you intend to use this transportation method a lot during weekends and free time.
Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since - depending on capacity - we can work with more than one accommodation address, the exact accommodation location or room that you’re assigned may differ from the photos. Rooms sizes, along with storage space, varies. However, you may expect similar arrangements to those that are demonstrated here. If you have particular requests/questions in advance, please communicate with us in advance.
Meals
It is important to note that internships in Cape Town do not include meals. The accommodation is located within short walking distance to an affordable supermarket, as well as great cafes and restaurants. All accommodation also provides cooking facilities.
You can readily drink the tap water throughout the city. However, it is advised to bring your own water supply when traveling to and interning in the townships.
You should aim to budget approximately US$100 per week for food. If you like to go out frequently (rather than going to the grocery store to prepare some of your own meals) then you need to budget up to US$150 per week, at least (this budget can vary depending on personal spending habits). Note that, when you go to a restaurants, there is a cultural expectation to tip at least 10%.
Essential country information
| Capital | Pretoria (Executive), Bloemfontein (Judicial), Cape Town (Legislative) |
| Population | 55.91 million |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swati, Tswana |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 |
Weather and climate:
South Africa is generally temperate, however due to varied topography and oceanic influence, a great variety of climatic zones exist. This ranges from the extreme desert of the Namib (northwest South Africa), to the subtropical climate along the Mozambique border and the Indian Ocean (eastern South Africa). Winters in South Africa occur between June and August.
In Cape Town, the summers are warm, dry, and mostly clear; the winters are long, cool, wet, and partly cloudy. It is windy year round and common to see windsurfers enjoying the surf. Over the course of the year, the temperature in Cape Town typically varies from 48°F (9°C) to 76°F (24°C). The warm season in Cape Town usually ranges from December through March and the coldest months are June through September.
What recent Occupational Therapy interns said about their experience
My internship experience was incredible! I loved learning and working every day and being pushed out of my comfort zone by working in a whole other field, with age groups I have not had a lot of experience with in the past. The diversity meant I had something to learn no matter where I looked. I went into my Occupational Therapy internship with an open mind and an open heart and like a sponge, I absorbed everything I could. My original intentions were to intern within a more physical setting, performing ADL's (Activities of Daily Living) and working on fine motor skills, spatial skills, verbal skills even, or everyday tasks - but never did I imagine I would get the chance to experience a psychological setting as well! In general, I'd say the experience was just what I needed. It taught me so much about communication, patience, and compassion. All things that are applicable no matter how I choose to use my degree/title. I now feel more empowered to be successful within my field, as this internship has given me tools that I didn't know I was missing. It shook me out of my comfort zone, and it made me look at everything differently. I have an edge now, and I feel empowered to use it and make a difference within my field. The advice I would give to others is just to do it. There’s nothing I can write that can explain the magnitude of the experience. It is so worthwhile and enriching to both personal and professional lives alike. Covid-19 had little effect on my trip and we were on Level 4 lockdown. We found ways to have fun - and we had different experiences, sure - but they were awesome nonetheless. We had to be creative, and it was still unforgettable. It’s safe, and everyone is very careful. The only thing I recommend is to always follow CDC guidelines, just like you would at home.
Intern Abroad HQ is an amazing organization. Their team was phenomenal in providing as much information as possible when I was very sceptical and unsure. After all, one wanted to make sure they weren't being thrown into another continent without any support or idea! Dallas was very helpful in helping me prepare for my internship. Their online journal assignments were a great way for me to document and ponder my experiences as they happened and were very good at keeping tabs on me and my family when I had a medical emergency. This I cannot emphasize enough; they have your back from start to finish. My liaison-contact there, Elisha, is such an amazing guide and overall a chill dude to hang around with. For him, it is a matter of who he doesn't know him in Cape Town, which helped a lot when seeking the most beautiful locations and the best activities. The housing there is very college dorm-like. You may live with students, both from abroad or local, and the area of Obs (Observatory) is a unique and interesting community. One thing is for sure, there is always someone down to have fun with at the Freeland lodge. I am preparing to become an occupational therapist and chose this program to intern under. The Kaya branch of Akeso Clinics in Cape Town has a great team of psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers that had great methods in treating adolescents with mental health disorders and a whole variety of issues pertaining to being a troubled youth. I came to work every day caring for the patients and was privileged to see their progress as they worked out very difficult issues in a communal setting under professional guidance. Great people at Akeso - Kaya, they are very accommodating with interns and felt just like family. I cannot state enough how great my experience was. If anyone wanted to have a good experience interning in Cape Town I recommend coming with an open mind. Be accepting that things can be uncomfortable and different. Learn how to flourish with the idea that plans don't always go as they were intended and that the best moments can be spontaneous.
I spent 6 weeks in Cape Town, South Africa doing an occupational therapy internship. I had the best 6 weeks of my life, and learned so much in such a short time. I was able to experience the incredibly welcoming culture of SA, gain valuable observation hours which will help me in the future, meet tons of awesome fellow interns and students, and experience many of the awesome activities and beauty of Cape Town and the surrounding area has to offer. I wish I could have spent so much more time here. Thank you to InternAbroad for answering all of my questions and making sure I was prepared and informed before my trip, as well as providing support during the trip if I ever needed it. To anyone who is thinking of doing an internship - don't let fear hold you back! Take an open mind, be flexible and enjoy your experience abroad!
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
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