Frequently asked questions

Cape Town is attractive all year round. Unlike the rest of Africa, Cape Town has a seasonal climate with spring, summer, autumn and winter. The seasons are opposite to the seasons in the northern hemisphere, so if it is summer in South Africa, it is winter in Europe.

During spring time (September to November) the temperatures are mild and people come from all over the world to visit the west coast during its flower season or to see the whales in Hermanus.

In summer (December to February) the weather is warm and temperatures can reach the lower 30’s; most people go to the beaches and do outdoor sports.

Autumn (March to May) also offers warm weather and there is hardly any wind. This is the best time to enjoy nature a its most colourful, visit wine estates or to do outdoor sports, like surfing.

Winter (June to August) can be rainy and cool at times, but also sunny and warm. Capetonians spend most of their time at one of the city's many great restaurants, bars or theatres.

How do students get around?

Especially when comparing Cape Town with other big cities around the world, public transport isn't great. However a lot has been invested during the past few years and at least during daytime public transport is reasonably ok.

Students (especially those at the Newlands school) mainly use the MetroRail line which connects all the southern suburbs with the city centre of Cape Town. It is also possible to use minibus taxis, which travel along all major travel routes. Metrorail is a reliable and inexpensive form of transport. A monthly MetroRail ticket costs approximately ZAR 168 (€ 18 / US$ 25) for a trip from the southern suburbs to the city centre.

Minibus taxis and MetroRail do not operate at night. For the evenings we recommend our school bus, renting a car or the use of private taxis.

Is it safe to be in Cape Town?

A lot of things have been said about safety and security in South Africa. Although all these problems do exist, they are mostly limited to townships and poor rural areas. 

As a tourist you will experience Cape Town to be a safe city, as long as you follow the same rules that apply to most big cities (don’t display valuable items, avoid deserted streets, especially at nights, etc). We will inform you about these rules on your first day of school. 

1 to 3 students amongst 1.000 experience a problem. In most cases valuables like handbags, cameras, cellphones, etc. are being stolen.

Good Hope Studies started with its first school in Newlands in 1995. We chose this particular location, because we do believe that this is by far the best area for the language traveller. Students can study in a peaceful and relaxing environment, often taking advantage of the good weather by having classes in the gardens. Breaks are spent relaxing in the garden around the pool area. At the same time, it is only a short walk to public transport and the main shopping centres of the suburbs.

Some students prefer the hustle and bustle of a major city. They would like to be close to the main tourist attractions and experience Cape Town city life. For these students, we have opened our City Centre location in the heart of Cape Town.

The schools are identical in terms of their main facilities. The choice of the location is more a personal preference: a lively city centre versus a relaxing, upmarket suburb.

What course would you recommend?

The General English Courses are ideal for students who use English for everyday purposes. They are also the right choice for long-term students and those who want to see as much of Cape Town as possible while learning English. You have a choice of 16 and 20 morning lessons which you can combine with a number of different afternoon options (Skills Focus).

If you use English mostly in a business context we recommend the Business Course.

If you need to do an exam we offer exam preparation courses for Cambridge (FCE, CAE, CPE), IELTS and TOEFL.

Finally, our Private Lessons (5 to 30 lessons a week) focuses exclusively on your personal needs. This is not only the most expensive course, but also the most intensive form of tuition and especially useful for short stays.

What should I bring on my first day of class?

On their first day of school, students need to provide a deposit of ZAR 500 (€ 50 / US$ 70). The deposit covers course book rental, the keys for the Student Residence or the Student House, pre-booked excursions and breakage at the host-family. The deposit can be provided in cash, but we can also debit the student's credit card and release the debit on the day of departure (Visa and Mastercard).

Students should also bring their own pens and paper as well as either a snack or money to buy lunch.

We offer a range of accommodation to suit everyone’s taste. However, we do recommend living with a host-family, as it an excellent opportunity to practise the language, to get an insight into the South African lifestyle and to receive excellent advice about where to go and what to do.

If you prefer to be more independent, we recommend our Student Residence or our Student House. If you are looking for the most affordable form of accommodation, we recommend the Student House.

For more comfort and for the older students, we recommend Homestay-Plus.

We would not recommend the student house or student residence to students over the age of 30.

Questions about Homestay accommodation:

Will I have Internet access at my host family? 

Many South African families do have Internet facilities. There is an extra charge for Internet use, as their costs depend on the download volume. Free Internet access is available at both schools. 

Is there a laundry service at the host family?

Laundry will either be done at the family at an extra charge, or at a commercial laundry service.  

Will my host family have pets?

Most families have cats and/or dogs. If you are allergic to animals, please make sure you state this on your enrolment form. 

What can I expect at my host family?

South African people are known for their hospitality, and our host-families particularly enjoy meeting people from around the world and making students feel part of the family. The host-family may be a single woman, a single-parent family, a young family, a working couple or a retired couple. Our accommodation officer carefully chooses families and inspects them once a year.

Questions about the Student Residence:

Will I have Internet access in my room?

Internet access is available at the Student Residence at an extra charge. Free Internet access is available at both schools. 

Is linen provided in the rooms? 

Yes, linen is provided, but students are asked to bring their own towels. 

Do I need to share a bathroom with other students at the Student Residence?

Yes, 5 single rooms share one bathroom. Male and female students are accommodated in separate sections.

Is there a laundry service at the Student Residence?

A commercial laundry service is located within walking distance of the residence where laundry can be done for a small fee.

Questions about the Student House:

Will I have Internet access in my room?  

Internet access is available at the Student House at an extra charge. Free Internet access is available at both schools.

Is linen provided in the rooms?

Yes, linen is provided, but students are asked to bring their own towels. 

Do I need to share a bathroom with other students at the Student House?

Yes, 2 twin rooms share one bathroom.  

Is there a laundry service at the Student House?

A commercial laundry service is located within walking distance of the house where laundry can be done for a small fee. 

The Good Hope Studies Social Club organises activities for students to get in touch with local people and learn more about South Africa and its culture. Activities are organised based on the students’ interests and on demand.  

The programme for the following week is published in the students’ corner. Students can check availability and book online. Some activities are free of charge; for others, transport and entrance fees apply. All guided tours start at both centres.  

We have a dedicated travel adviser at the school, who manages our social program and also helps students with booking additional services such as car hire, Kruger safaris, overland tours etc. We are also available to assist students in booking sightseeing tours that may not be on the social programme for that week.

What sports are available in and around Cape Town?

Cape Town is great for almost any outdoor sporting activities. Close to the Newlands school, students can play tennis, swim at the Newlands swimming pool, train at one of the well-equipped gyms, or rent a bicycle from the school.
Cape Town is also well-known for the many excellent golf courses, for surfing (at Muizenberg beach and Big Bay, along the West Coast), for the hiking trails up Table Mountain, for diving, horse riding, sky diving, sand boarding and much more.

Do I need Medical Aid Insurance?

Medical Aid insurance is required for certain types of visa, but we recommend it to all students, even where not required. NetworX from Compcare is a medical aid insurance that is specifically designed for students who visit South Africa for 1 to 12 months. The costs are ZAR 306 (€ 32 / US$ 47) per month (as of June 2011). More information and enrolment.