South Africa: Stellenbosch (USAC)

Through UNI's partnership with USAC (University of Study Abroad Consortium), students are able to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. With a majority of courses taught in English, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and plenty of activities for students to get involved in (including clubs, organizations, sports, and volunteering opportunities) Stellenbosch University provides students with a fantastic study abroad experience!

Not only will UNI students be advised through the process by the UNI Study Abroad Center, but they will also receive help and support from USAC staff as well. They will also have the option to connect with up to 15-20 other students from around the US before the start of the semester who will also be participating in this program.

Dates & Deadlines

Term: Summer and Fall 2025
App Deadline: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Program Dates: TBA

The application cycle for Spring 2025 is currently closed. Summer and Fall 2025 applications will open later this semester. Students can click the link below to schedule this meeting beginning in November.

Schedule First Steps Meeting

Interested in studying abroad in the summer of 2025 or later? Please fill out the waitlist form below and the study abroad center will notify you when applications for future terms open. You can also schedule an informational meeting with our office to learn more about the programs we offer and find one that works best for you!

Study Abroad Waitlist Schedule Info Meeting

Unsure where to begin? Visit our Application Process page to learn more!

Location

Stellenbosch is located in South Africa's Western Cape Province, and is the second oldest town in the entire country. It's close proximity to Cape Town provides students additional opportunities to explore and be immersed into the South African culture. Being so close to Cape Town also makes it easier to utilize public transportation to see and explore the rest of the country as well. Stellenbosch itself is a major destination for art, culture, dining, outdoor recreation, and wine connoisseurs.

Stellenbosch University (SU) is located in the beautiful Boland Mountains. The university is eager to welcome students from all walks of life to their campus, and is committed to increase sustainability and the quality of life for all its citizens. SU is considered to be leading the way in education in South Africa.

Academics

At Stellenbosch University (SU), a variety of courses and programs are offered to study abroad students. Students will enroll in 4-5 classes in a semester for a total 12-15 US credits. A majority of the classes are taught in English, but there are a few that may be lectured bilingually in English and Afrikaans. All study materials will be available in English though, and live translation services are available for these courses.

SU has 2 different types of courses: Mainstream and Global Education Programs (GEP). Mainstream are regular courses students take to complete graduation requirements for their field of study, and are taught along side degree-seeking students at Stellenbosch. GEP courses are additional classes the university provides just for study abroad students. You may either enroll in all mainstream courses, or a combination of both. However, students are only allowed to take 2 GEP courses while at Stellenbosch.

Along with this, USAC also requires all of its participants to take one course designed to familiarize students with South Africa's unique history, culture, and political climate. This course could be either a mainstream course, or GEP.

Between Mainstream and GEP courses, SU offers a variety of courses in a wide range of topics for students to choose from, some of which are listed below:

Language (Afrikaans, Chinese, French, German, or Spanish)
Arts
Social Sciences
Economics
Management
Education
Engineering
Law
Theology

Participant Info

Meet your Advisor:

Jamie is a full time study abroad advisor who will help you throughout the application process to Finland, including documentation, finances, scholarships, and more. From your first steps meeting until you take off for your new adventure, Jamie will help you every step of the way.

Important information to review:

Study abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be challenged by new experiences in new environments and cultures. UNI study abroad programs are designed to prioritize educational opportunities for students. Students are encouraged to embrace the adventure of exploring how housing, meals, and daily routines differ abroad.

Immigration Information:

Students going to South Africa for more than 90 days will need to apply for a visa.

Your study abroad advisor and USAC will help you through this process but it is the student's responsibility to stay on top of the visa application process and to review the last updates related to their destination country.

Entry and Exit Requirements:

Review and follow the travel recommendations of the U.S. State Department for travel to South Africa

Housing & Meals

Study abroad students are guaranteed on-campus apartments during the semester. Apartment buildings will have a private bedroom with a shared kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities. Additional amenities include 24/7 security, internet access, on-site shops, barbeque areas, and a variety of sport/exercise equipment.

Summer School

USAC also offers a unique 5 week summer school program to Stellenbosch during June-July as well. Students can enroll into either the General Elective Program (GEP), or into a Specialized Academic Track. No matter which option students elect, all are required to take the 'Introduction of South Africa's Political History' course designed to familiarize students to South Africa's unique history and culture and political climate. In total, students will take 2-3 courses over the summer term, earning 6-9 US credits.

GEP course offerings

Students will choose 1 course from each of the following groups in addition to the required culture class:

Block 1:

Bio-Diversity: Plants for the People in the Western Cape
Social Justice in the Global Classroom
Violent Histories and Repair
Visual Narratives and South-North Interactions

Block 2:

China in Africa
Transitional Justice
Travel Photography
Understanding HIV in South Africa

Specialized Tracks

Students can choose one of the following options, and will take this course along with the mandatory cultural class:

Global Service Learning (GSL): This is an experiential learning, writing-intensive community engagement program that includes both theoretical and practical work

Doing Business in Southern Africa: This is a class that will allow students to investigate the unique institutional and policy conditions in Southern African countries to better understand the challenges that will confront future businesses and impact economic growth.

Public Health: This is a class that focuses on public health within South African context, using a thematic approach that allows students to learn about multiple key topics. Students will also supplement their coursework through visits to healthcare facilities within the Western Cape Province.

Program Costs

Estimated Program Cost will vary

Costs for the USAC program to South Africa will vary depending on students preferences and necessities. Students will go over projected costs with a UNI study abroad advisor during their First Steps meeting.

USAC is a nonprofit, so they make it a priority to keep costs affordable to allow more students to gain an international experience. They also offer a wide variety of scholarships, grants, and discounts to students, as well as assistance to students who need help applying for financial aid.

UNI study abroad center also has many scholarship resources available for students. Visit our "Finances and Scholarships" page for more information.

Cost of Studying On Campus at UNI*

*per semester, estimated, will vary per person

Tuition & Fees	$4,527
Room & Board	$4,580
Books	$400
Personal Expenses	$878
Transportation	$320
Total	$10,705

Source: https://admissions.uni.edu/cost-aid

Eligibility Requirements to Study Abroad

The Study Abroad Center reserves the right to determine participants' eligibility to study Abroad. Students must have a completed study abroad application, including supportive recommendation form(s). Additionally, students must meet all of the following in order to be eligible to study abroad:

Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher at the time of application and maintain this cumulative GPA prior to departure and throughout the study abroad process
If your cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5, submit the following to the Study Abroad Center (103 East Bartlett):
- Letters of reference from two academic contacts (e.g. academic advisor and former or current professor) supporting your pursuit of study abroad. If you are attending a faculty-led study abroad program, one of the letters must be from a course leader. However, if the program has two course leaders, only one of the letters can be from one of the course leaders.

Must be over the age of 18 years old
Must meet the course prerequisites (participation in the program is dependent upon meeting these)
Must be in good standing with the university
UNI's partner institutions may require additional eligibility requirements to be met, these vary from institution to institution. Please consult with the Study Abroad Center staff to discuss these additional requirements, if applicable.
Applicants traveling to a region of a country or a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel) will not be eligible.