Partner Profile: Stellenbosch University

Celebrating its centennial in 2018, Stellenbosch University is one of the oldest universities in South Africa. The university is among South Africa’s leading tertiary institutions based on research output, student pass rates and rated scientists, and is recognized internationally as an academic institution of excellence.

The main campus is located in the heart of the Western Cape winelands, which is situated about 50 kilometers from Cape Town. Stellenbosch University is home to an academic community of 29,000 students, including 4,000 foreign students from 100 countries, as well as 3,000 permanent staff members on five campuses.

As one of NC State’s key global strategic partners, Stellenbosch University and NC State maintain ties through both student and faculty linkages. Stellenbosch University is a member of the Academic Consortium for the 21st Century, an international network aimed at promoting cooperation in education and research between its member, including NC State. The universities also have a student exchange agreement.

Nestled between picturesque mountains, Stellenbosch University offers a beautiful environment for students who choose to study there. NC State student Parker Savage recently studied abroad at Stellenbosch University and enjoyed getting to meet and live with people from all over the world while living in South Africa. “Stellenbosch University hosts hundreds of international students each year and I had the pleasure of living in a flat with other students from across Europe,” said Savage in a Study Abroad student spotlight.

The program at Stellenbosch also provided an outlet for Savage to explore beyond the university’s campus and into the South African landscape.

“I fell in love with the outdoors again during my stay in South Africa,” said Savage. “If you look at most of the photos I took whilst abroad they were on top of mountains or deep in the valleys around my campus and this was because I spent a lot of time outside. Getting out of the city for a while and spending time with some of my new best friends surrounded by natural beauty was absolutely one of the highlights of my time.”

Learn more about NC State’s partnership with Stellenbosch University that includes student mobility, faculty exchanges and research collaboration.