Biography
Program: University of Cape Town
Major: Economics
Certificate: Data Science
Siddhesh studied abroad at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa, during the spring of 2026. With a passion for learning about new cultures, traditions, and cuisines, he found Cape Town to be the perfect place to meet people from around the world while experiencing life in one of the world’s most vibrant and beautiful cities. His coursework in political philosophy, poverty and development, and crime and deviance in South African cities gave him the opportunity to engage with South Africa’s complex history and contemporary society, which he explored further through experiences such as visiting the District Six Museum, taking a Cape Malay cooking class, and volunteering and teaching math at Langa High School. Outside the classroom, he became involved on campus through badminton and spent his free time playing padel and exploring Cape Town’s breathtaking landscapes, from Kloof Corner and Maiden’s Cove to Clifton Beach and the Cape of Good Hope.
Some of Siddhesh’s favorite memories from his semester abroad include seeing the penguins at Boulders Beach, ziplining through the Elgin mountains, road-tripping along South Africa’s Garden Route, and seeing the towering dunes of Sandwich Harbour in Namibia. Through his semester at UCT, Siddhesh was able to combine academic learning, cultural immersion, outdoor adventure, and travel while building friendships with people from across the world. His experience in Cape Town strengthened his appreciation for stepping outside his comfort zone and experiencing new places.