Study Abroad | Stellenbosch

Housing

Student Residence

The main university campus is located in the town itself. Student housing (the “res”) is at the heart of campus life allowing you to make new friends, be part of the community and be independent while having the convenience of access to classrooms and other university services.

• Single en-suite rooms
• Fully-equipped kitchenettes
• Bedding provided
• Shared common room area for socializing, watching TV or just hanging out
• Access to laundry facilities
• Courtyards and/or gardens for play and relaxation

Internet access is included in all AIFS housing in Stellenbosch

City Facts

Geography

Surrounded by rolling vineyards and dramatic mountains, Stellenbosch, only around 30 minutes from Cape Town, offers the best in Western Cape warmth and hospitality. 

Cuisine

Restaurants are plentiful in Stellenbosch. The prices are competitive, and the variety is great! 

Culture

South Africa’s constitution recognizes 12 official languages, which is among the highest number of any country in the world! 

Site Staff

AIFS in Stellenbosch Director, Academic Year and Semester Programs

Hestea de Wet

Hallo! I’ve been the Program Director here in Stellenbosch since 2003 and I previously worked in the International Office handling student accommodations. I received both my BA (Hons) degree in Psychology and a post-graduate diploma in Education from Stellenbosch University. I previously worked as a high school English teacher, a tour guide for Americans visiting South Africa and in a school and home for disabled and disadvantaged children and adults. I am a bit of a traveler myself and have visited the U.S., Europe and Africa. The office is only a 5-minute walk from the Student Center—feel free to drop by and say “hallo!” Students refer to me as “Mama H”; their mother away from home! I’m here to help you adjust, to embrace a new culture, and to guide you into one of the most fulfilling and meaningful experiences of your life.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Cultural Activities

In addition to day trips and excursions, a cultural calendar of activities and events is included in your program fee. These will include both typical tourist sites and attractions and lesser known visits which take advantage of the expert knowledge of our local AIFS staff to give you a more authentic view of South African life. Activities may include hiking, a vineyard tour, beach days and more.

ISOS – International Student Organization Stellenbosch
University offers events to help international students experience South African culture.

For a small membership fee students can join subsidized events such as wine tours, weekends away to a local beach town, hikes in surrounding nature reserves and visits to food festivals.

Volunteer Opportunities

Stellenbosch University offers a 20-hour, non-credit bearing Volunteerism and Community Engagement (VCE) Program which is designed to deepen practical engagement with Stellenbosch during your semester abroad. Students volunteer at a local school within the wine farms, learning more about the people and the socio-political realities of the region and themselves. A certificate is issued on completion of the program. Over 10 weeks students volunteer at the school designing an after-school activities program in groups alongside VCE staff, teachers and students. This program includes mandatory training sessions designed to help students reflect on the experience. 

Additional Opportunities

SPORTS FACILITIES 

South Africa is a proud sporting nation and Stellenbosch University has great sporting facilities including a gymnasium with weight training and cycling studios, an indoor pool and six aerobic halls offering a variety of classes. Students interested in using these facilities can purchase student gym membership when on-site. 

INTER-CULTURAL COMPETENCY PROGRAM 

Stellenbosch University has introduced a 10-week not for credit Inter-Cultural Competency Program which will enhance the experience of visiting AIFS students on campus and in the wider community. Inter-cultural competencies are communicative skills that are learned and developed through experiences in environments that are not one’s home-culture, which positively enhance one’s ability to communicate with, and navigate cultural difference. These skills give students a flexible framework with a foundation in Africa for engaging with the diversity of a globalized world. Working in small groups, this discussion-based program will involve SU “buddies” (Stellenbosch University students) and students from around the world looking at the question of “What makes you X?” (The X being your nationality.) Students will have the opportunity to share aspects of their language, cuisine, politics and the cultural practices which may inform their national identity. In addition to the group work this course will include 3 excursions to different environments in the Western Cape in order to engage with various cultural, historical, political and social contexts and develop the skills needed to positively communicate in different cultural environments.