Stellenbosch University

About Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University (SU) is a public research university in the Western Cape. Its main campus is in the town of Stellenbosch, and it also has campuses at Tygerberg, Bellville Park, Saldanha and Worcester. It has ten faculties, including AgriSciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, Military Science, Science and Theology.

SU aims to be a leading research-intensive university. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and a large share of its students study at honours, master's and doctoral level. For more on studying at SU, see our Stellenbosch University guide.

The university's Postgraduate Funding Office, part of its Division for Research Development, manages postgraduate funding and helps students find scholarships.

How Stellenbosch University supports students

SU runs several scholarship programmes for postgraduate students. Its flagship scheme is the Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, which supports emerging research talent among honours, master's and doctoral students. Each faculty sets its own criteria and scholarship values. You can read the full terms on our Stellenbosch University Postgraduate Scholarship Programme page.

The university also helps students apply for national funding, such as the DSI-NRF postgraduate scholarships, and it lists other opportunities, including international scholarships for study abroad. Undergraduate students can apply for bursaries and loans through the university's financial aid office.

In the 2027 call, many faculties offered R70,000 to R140,000 for one year of honours, R75,000 to R150,000 a year for up to two years of a master's degree, and R80,000 to R170,000 a year for up to three years of doctoral study. Master's and doctoral applicants usually need at least 65% in their previous degree, a short concept note and a letter of support from a prospective supervisor.

Scholarships at SU often come with expectations. For example, master's and doctoral students who receive the Postgraduate Scholarship Programme award are expected to prepare articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

What to know before applying

Applying for a scholarship is separate from applying to study. You must apply for admission to your postgraduate programme, and you must also complete the scholarship application for your faculty. For the 2027 programme, scholarship applications opened on 10 August 2026 and closed on 30 September 2026.

Most scholarships are for full-time students, and students who work more than 20 hours a week are not eligible for the Postgraduate Scholarship Programme. Late, incomplete or inaccurate applications are not considered. For questions about postgraduate funding, contact the Postgraduate Funding Office.