Before you apply
Please ensure that you are familiar with the Stellenbosch University Admissions Policy and the
Consideration of your application
All applicants are required to submit an official university application form via the electronic application system.
Your application will only be considered once all supporting documents have been received. If your documents are not uploaded by the relevant programme’s closing date, your application will not be processed. Please also upload proof of payment (where applicable) before the closing date.
Student contract
If you are admitted to a programme and wish to accept the conditional offer, you must complete the Student Contract.
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Student support form
Applicants with special needs are required to complete the Student Support Form.
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Additional documentation
Some departments within the University’s ten faculties may require additional documentation beyond the standard application form. These documents must be submitted with your application.
Important: Students applying to the Faculty of Military Science or the Stellenbosch Business School must consult these environments directly.
For details on additional documentation required, please refer to the relevant postgraduate programme listing within each faculty.
Additional document descriptions
- Confirmation of employment and worksite access
- Comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Confirmation of Prospective Supervisor
- Departmental form
- Evidence of academic work
- Final school-leaving results
- Honours research project
- Letter of motivation
- Portfolio
- Proof of English Language proficiency
- Proof of professional registration with an entity
- Research proposal
- Statement of research interest
- Summary of Master's research
Confirmation of employment and worksite access
Letter from the applicant's employer confirming employment status and access to a worksite for the practical component of the programme.
Comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A document that outlines your educational level, employment history, description of work experience, especially that is relevant to your application to study and contact details of three referees.
Confirmation of Prospective Supervisor
Applicants must make contact with a prospective academic supervisor who is active in their field of research interest. Please provide details of a prospective supervisor and evidence, in a form of an email, of contact with this supervisor.
Upload the email evidence (in a .msg format or as a pdf) as part of your formal application to the University.
Departmental form
This document is specific to the programme(s) for which the applicant is applying and requests additional information and/or provides additional guidance to the applicant.
Once you have clicked on one of the faculty blocks below, departmental forms applicable to specific programmes will be illustrated by a hyperlinked Y in the document. The hyperlink signifies that the document is downloadable.
Evidence of academic work
A sample of your best written work (e.g., abstract of a research component completed during your under-or postgraduate studies/published journal article).
Final school-leaving results
Certificate awarded upon completion of High School displaying the percentage or grade symbol awarded for each subject passed.
Honours research project
The research project completed as part of the applicant’s Honours qualification.
Letter of motivation
One-page document explaining what factors are motivating you to apply for the specific programme(s) and describing what makes you a suitable candidate.
Portfolio
A collection of your creative work or accomplishment illustrating your competencies and which is tailored to the specific programme you are applying to.
Proof of English Language proficiency
If English is/was not the medium of instruction during your under- and/or postgraduate studies, you may be required to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency in the form of a formal, recognised English Language placement test result.
For further information see the How to apply page.
Proof of professional registration with an entity
A recognised professional body grants professional registration on the grounds of attainment of a recognised standard of competence and education that permits practice of a profession.
Research proposal
Consult the relevant programme coordinator to enquire about the required length and format of this document for your programme of interest.
Typically, a research proposal is a formal structured document that should address the “what”, “why” and “how” questions. It should include a working title, an overview, aims and objectives, research questions and methods, significance of the research as well as the body of literature (references) that you consulted in your literature review.
Statement of research interest
This is a brief summary of the master’s/doctoral research proposal (1-3 pages in length) which outlines your area of research, aims of the research project and the research methodology you plan to use.
Summary of Master's research
A structured, formal document summarising the research question that was stated, hypotheses that were tested, research methodology and results/recommendations presented (3-5 pages in length).