Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University, often called Maties, is a research university in the Cape Winelands. It began operating as a university on 2 April 1918 and now has about 35,000 students. Its main campus fills the centre of the town of Stellenbosch, about 50 kilometres from Cape Town.

About Stellenbosch University

The university opened in 1918 with four faculties, 503 students and about 40 lecturers. Those first faculties covered Science, Education, Arts and Social Sciences, and Agriculture. Law followed in 1921, and a commerce faculty began in 1925 with just 15 students. That faculty grew to more than 7,000 students by 2015.

Today, Stellenbosch is a large research institution with students from across South Africa and the world. Its own pages put enrolment at about 35,370 students.

Faculties and campuses

The university now teaches through ten faculties across five campuses. The main campus is in Stellenbosch. Medicine and Health Sciences sit at the Tygerberg campus, the business school is at Bellville Park, and Military Science is based in Saldanha. There is also a training site in Worcester. As a result, the campus where you study depends on your field.

Applying to Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch closes its undergraduate round early. For the 2027 intake, undergraduate and residence applications closed on 31 July 2026, and the university did not accept late undergraduate applications. The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences also does not consider late applications.

Postgraduate dates vary by programme. For example, its postgraduate diploma in mechanical engineering accepted South African applicants until 1 December 2026. So check the page for your exact programme. If you are in Grade 11 now, plan to apply early in your matric year.

Fees and funding

Fees differ by programme, and residence costs add to the total, since many first-years live in university housing. Stellenbosch runs its own bursary and loan support, and qualifying students can apply for NSFAS. Postgraduate students can also apply for the university's SU Funding Opportunities, which closed on 30 November 2026 for the 2027 round. Browse our bursaries for more options.

Is Stellenbosch right for you?

The university suits students who want a classic campus town, with strong programmes in agriculture, engineering, medicine and economics. Because its undergraduate round closes in July, timing matters more here than at many other universities.

Before you apply to Stellenbosch

The early closing date means that most applicants apply using their Grade 11 results. So make sure your Grade 11 marks are as strong as possible, and check the admission requirements for your programme in the university's admissions booklet. Some programmes, such as those in Medicine and Health Sciences, follow their own selection guidelines. Residence applications close at the same time as study applications, so complete both together if you plan to live on campus.