The UWC faculty is well known internationally and has many partnerships with universities and institutes elsewhere in Africa and around the globe. Arcadia study abroad students will have access to all faculties and courses at UWC, provided the prerequisites can be met and will take an average of six modules per semester of study. All courses are taught in English with the exception of advanced language courses. While Liberal Arts and Humanities hold an important place at UWC, equally as important and strong are the faculties dedicated to practical fields such as Education, Law, Health Sciences, and Nursing. UWC has the only schools of Pharmacy and Dentistry in the Western Cape – open to undergraduates as well as graduate students.

In addition to your coursework at UWC, all students are required to participate in the core seminar, "Introducing South Africa: History, Politics and Culture," which is intended to provide a forum for reflection and analysis on current issues and challenges facing South Africans.