PhD Student Life
Starting you on the right track
Please find general orientation information on Stellenbosch University, at this link, and postgraduate orientation, at this link.
Watch the video on the right for a visual overview of Tygerberg campus facilities.
This interactive map (select Tygerberg campus) should help you find your way around campus. More information on our campus is available at this link.
New PhD students, please join our quiet Whatsapp group (follow this link using your phone):
https://chat.whatsapp.com/GvfvhNDAgT2914x69rrDJmInternational PhD students may also want to join this Whatsapp group (follow this link using your phone):
https://chat.whatsapp.com/DxGVKJiK0fL41fnr5IadWyAs a new doctoral student, introduce yourself, in person, to Brigitta Kepkey or Tamarra Adriaanse by visiting the Tygerberg Doctoral Office at Office 1073, 1st floor, Clinical Building, on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning between 9AM and noon;
Browse our PhD Support pages, which contain expected milestones and guidance for every step of the doctoral journey;
Reach out to your academic environment on a priority basis, to confirm the details of your postgraduate coordinator and your supervisor, and meet your supervisor, preferably in person, as a prerequisite for success;
Gain imperative skills, get to know your research network, and alleviate the mental isolation of the PhD journey by joining the monthly doctoral discussion group (at any stage). Details are available on our Choice Events page; invites are distributed via Impromptu as well as our Whatsapp group.
The Tygerberg Postgraduate Student Council (TPSC) offers certain organised activities.
Supporting your success throughout
The Medicine and Health Sciences Library and the Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) both offer free, on-campus work space for doctoral students (first come first serve).
Please attend the bi-annual Spotlight Series which creates contact opportunities for the wider cohort of doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in the FMHS; advertised in Impromptu and via our Whatsapp groups.
Please consider attending (selected) meetings of the Global Health seminar series or the CERI seminar series.
Various options are available for advancing your skills set, many of them cost free.
Contact details for the range of student services are available on our FAQ Contacts page.
You are sure to enjoy the hikes and other activities of the Tygerberg Postgraduate Student Council;
You have the option to join campus societies, and for organised sport, serenade, and similar student activities, the Tygerberg commuter student community, Osler.
You are invited to a rich variety of events on offer to the wider SU community.
All SU postgraduate students also have access to wrap-around support.
If you are struggling with basic needs, food security support is available via campus social workers at [email protected], and via the Tygerberg Pantry Project at [email protected] or via Osler student community.
Transport
You can help cut carbon emissions by walking, cycling, riding on campus shuttles, or sharing rides.
Should you want to travel by bicycle, secure bicycle facilities are available in the basement parking between the Clinical Building and BMRI.
Please visit this page to learn about the stops and schedules of the Tygerberg campus shuttle.
For more information, contact the SU travel and mobility service desk at telephone number +27 21 808 4666 or e-mail .
You could also consider ride hail services, Uber or Bolt. In both cases, download the official app from the Google play store or Apple app store on your own smartphone or tablet and add your profile and bank card details before first-time use. Do protect the device with a screen lock. Be safety conscious at all times: Always check the registration number of an Uber vehicle before you accept a ride; Walk away if anyone other than the driver is present in the car. Please research safety and culture prior to exercising an informed decision.
Food outlets
The following options are available for buying food on Tygerberg campus:
The Tygerberg Student Centre has various outlets:
OK Urban offers healthy and sustainable options such as fresh fruit and vegetables, salads, and sushi, as well as burgers, pasta, pies, wraps, etc. Prepared options range from sandwiches starting at around R40, to cooked or cold meals with an average cost of R100 per meal.
MyBrew Coffee Roastery offers cold and hot beverages and snacks, while Planetsavvy sell cold beverages, sandwiches, pizza slices, pie, wraps, pasta, chicken and steak.The hospital and student cafeteria can both be accessed using your student card.
Cups and Saucers located near the entrance of the clinical building. It offers a variety of coffees, cold drinks, breakfast and lunch meals and snacks, while platters may be ordered in advance;
Synergy Cafe situated on the ground floor of the BMRI offers light meals and drinks;
Vida Cafe coffee shop situated in the foyer of the education building sells cold and hot beverages, sandwiches and snacks.
For off-campus social food outlets, you may want to consider the Tyger Waterfront, the Tyger Valley mall, the Willowbridge shopping centre, or one of the wine farms in the Durbanville region.