Address: Victoria Street, Stellenbosch 7600, Western Cape, South Africa
AgriSciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, Military Science, Science, Theology
Stellenbosch University began with the Stellenbosch Gymnasium, founded in 1864 and opened on 1 March 1866. It received full university status on 2 April 1918. The university is in the town of Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape of South Africa, about 50 kilometres from Cape Town, in the heart of the wine region.
It works on five campuses. The main campus is in Stellenbosch. Bellville Park hosts the Business School, Saldanha hosts Military Science, Tygerberg hosts Medicine and Health Sciences, and the Ukwanda Rural Clinical campus serves rural training. The university has ten faculties and 139 departments, and 34 residence halls house students.
The figures differ by source. The infobox lists 25,042 undergraduates and 10,051 postgraduates, the text cites about 32,000 students, and the 2025 enrolment table shows 36,125. International students numbered 3,529 in 2025, or 9.74 percent. The staff counts 1,028 academics and 2,183 administrative employees.
Language is an important part of the identity. Afrikaans, English and Xhosa are used. In 2021, 48.7 percent of students listed English as their home language and 37.4 percent listed Afrikaans. The language policy has been the subject of debate in South Africa, and applicants should check the current rules for each programme on the official pages.
The alumni include Johann Rupert, a businessman who is also the Chancellor of the university, Edwin Cameron, a former Constitutional Court justice, and Jan Smuts, former Prime Minister. Beyers Naudé, a theologian and anti-apartheid activist, and Craig Tiley, chief executive of Tennis Australia, are also on the list. Lulu Latsky was the first woman to earn a PhD at the university, in 1930. Fees differ for South African and international students. Check the current tariff.
The setting is a strong argument for many students. The town is known for its oak-lined streets, its historic buildings and the vineyards around it, and Cape Town is within easy reach for internships and cultural life. Applicants should read the official pages for the language of each programme, the entry conditions and the residence application dates, since the rooms in the 34 residence halls are limited.
Domains taught:
Agriculture, Data Analytics, Engineering, Finance, Food Science, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Military
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Five campuses including Tygerberg for medicine and health, Bellville Park for the Business School, Saldanha for Military Science.
Research:
Agriculture, engineering, medicine and health, science, economics and management.
Famous Alumnis:
Johann Rupert, Edwin Cameron, Jan Smuts, Beyers Naudé, Craig Tiley
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
3211
Current students***:
36125
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Ten faculties, 139 departments, 34 residences, 9.74 percent international students in 2025, wine-region setting about 50 km from Cape Town.
Cons
Town about 50 km from Cape Town, language policy debates, competitive admission.
Best For
Students who want a research university in the Cape Winelands, with Afrikaans and English teaching.
Official Linkedin
Official Facebook
Official X / Twitter
Linkedin Alumni Page
Most Similar Schools Locally
The comparison with University of Cape Town is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on finance, mathematics and life sciences, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba.
The comparison with University of the Witwatersrand is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on finance, mathematics and life sciences, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University of Adelaide in Australia pursues a similar profile in agriculture, food science and mathematics, and it covers chemistry and physics as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 30,279 students against roughly 36,125 here.
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Italy) works on the same fields as this university, chiefly finance, agriculture and food science; it is slightly smaller, at about 30,263 students against roughly 36,125 here, and is private, whereas this university is public.
Seen from abroad, Laval University (Canada) is a close relative on subject matter, since finance, agriculture and life sciences are central to both, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes.
In Portugal, University of Porto teaches much the same core subjects, finance, food science and mathematics, and it covers civil engineering and chemistry as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 30,640 students against roughly 36,125 here.
Beyond national borders, University of Lisbon stands out as a comparable school for finance, agriculture and mathematics; it covers civil engineering and chemistry as well, and is slightly larger, at about 47,794 students against roughly 36,125 here.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is Stellenbosch University?
In Stellenbosch, Western Cape, about 50 km from Cape Town.
When was it founded?
The gymnasium was founded in 1864 and opened in 1866.
When did it receive university status?
On 2 April 1918.
How many campuses does it have?
Five.
Where is the Business School?
At Bellville Park.
Where is the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences?
At Tygerberg.
How many faculties does it have?
Ten, with 139 departments.
How many students does it have?
36,125 according to the 2025 enrolment table.
What share of students are international?
9.74 percent in 2025.
What does it cost?
Fees differ for South African and international students. Check the current tariff.
Agriculture, Biology, Engineering, Innovation, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university. We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.
To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.
