Study Abroad in Stellenbosch: Student Life

University life is interwoven with the atmosphere of the town. The people of Stellenbosch show a friendly regard for students. Beyond what the town and area offer, this active campus has more than 40 cultural, sporting, religious and political clubs and societies. Students edit and publish newspapers and magazines and run a University radio station.

The student center, affectionately known as The Neelsie, is the hub of student life with a food court, sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, a pub, two cinemas, a dance area, a post office, banks, a fax and photocopy center, a bookshop and stores.

Orientation

The International Office organizes an orientation for foreign students before classes begin, complemented by special sessions and extra activities organized by AIFS.

Volunteering

Many students undertake volunteer work with children in the township of Kayamandi, a predominantly black township with a population of 20,000. This project was started 10 years ago by the international students of Stellenbosch University under the supervision of the International Office. Volunteer opportunities include::

  1. English tutoring and teachers' assistants
    • Provide the students with an extracurricular opportunity to use and develop their abilities through additional English activities and relevant projects.
    • Help create an educational environment conducive to various teaching methods and styles for the benefit of the students.
    • Provide additional material support so as to improve the educational tools available for the students' development as well as give the opportunity for educational excursions and relevant field trips.
    • Work in cooperation with school staff in addressing the relevant issues facing the school and community.
    • Assist the pre-primary school by providing teacher's assistants, creating a lower student to teacher ratio to give the children personal attention and address their individual needs.
  2. Volunteers plan and implement arts and crafts activities with the help of a primary school teacher
    • Encourage the creative development of students through various artistic activities.
    • Provide basic material support so as to improve the educational tools available for the students' development.
    • Provide the students with an extracurricular opportunity to use and develop their artistic abilities through additional activities and experiences.
    • Work with the school in creating more opportunities for students to pursue artistic avenues.
  3. Volunteers arrange athletic activities and sports training sessions
    • Promote extra-curricular activities for the athletic development of the students.
    • Provide additional material support so as to improve upon the athletic tools available for the students' development.
    • Work in cooperation with school staff and coaches in developing structured athletic opportunities for primary school students.

Animal encounters

Many students are attracted to South Africa because of the close interaction they can have with the country's wildlife. Although visiting a game reserve is a priority for most, there are other special encounters not to be missed.

South Africa is known for the "Big Six" (lion, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, rhino and whale). Hermanus, a coastal town about an hour away from Stellenbosch, boasts the best land-based whale watching in the world. Walker Bay has become the nursery and breeding grounds of the Southern Right Whales from July to November. A Whale Festival in September celebrates whales and spring fynbos (an indigenous plant found only in the Western Cape).

Students will also have the opportunity to see 17 species of monkeys in their 12-hectare, free-range environment in the forest on the other side of Plettenberg Bay. A guided tour takes you to see monkeys from all over Africa and neighboring islands. They are not in cages (one or two might even come and sit on your shoulder). Students also visit the Knysna Elephant Park.

Cultural activities

Varied activities organized by AIFS and the International Office have included social get-togethers at a local pub Wednesday evenings, vineyard tour and wine tasting, visit to Parliament in Cape Town, bowling, soccer and cricket, trips to Robben Island and the Cape of Good Hope, weekend hiking, a beach sports day and picnics.

Study Permit

Students must apply to the South African consulate for a study permit. Consulates are located in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Chicago.