FAQs Pledge Ceremonies

The Pledge Ceremony is arranged by the faculty where all new graduands can take the interprofessional Health Professional’s Pledge.

This is a pledge made in public to uphold the values of the faculty and the profession that they are joining. This pledge is one of the most important commitments made by an individual entering a health profession. Graduands’ participation in this ceremony allows them to make a commitment to be a health professional who respects people, cares for themselves, and treats others with dignity, integrity, and compassion.

Graduands will be invited to stand and read the Pledge together with a senior health professional, whereafter they will sign the faculty’s pledge book.

The pledge book remains in the safe keeping of the faculty.

All graduands receive a copy of the pledge in the three official languages of this province, English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa, which they are welcome to sign afterward.

Graduands who qualify for graduation for the undergraduate Nursing, MBChB, Health Sciences programmes, as well as graduands of the BScHons in Biokinetics programme may take the health sciences pledge. All health professionals attending the ceremony are also welcome to take the pledge with the new graduands.

Graduands listed above and their guests.

There are two pledge ceremonies, and graduands may choose which one they would like to attend.

The December Pledge Ceremony takes place soon after the conclusion of the end-of-year assessment period.

The March/April Pledge ceremony is held the day before the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences’ graduation ceremonies.

The March 2026 Pledge Ceremony is held at the JN De Villiers Auditorium, Clinical Building, Tygerberg Campus.

It is compulsory for graduands to wear a black academic gown for the FMHS Pledge Ceremony. Please note that no hoods are required for the pledge ceremony. Hoods are only required for graduation. 

To hire your black academic gown, please contact Dippenaar & Reinecke, the vendor for Stellenbosch University, at 012 343 2945/7 or [email protected]. The academic attire can be collected and returned at the following venues: 

Tygerberg campus 
Collection of academic attire only: Wednesday, 25 March from 08:00 to 16:00 | Lecture Hall 7, Education Building                                                                                                                                                                                          

Stellenbosch campus
Collections and returns of academic attire: Dippenaar & Reinecke will be at the Athletics Refreshments Kiosk (no 2 on the parking map), adjacent to the Coetzenburg Athletics Stadium, from Friday, 20 March to Thursday, 26 March 2026. Kindly visit the  dedicated graduation webpage for the schedule.

Official communication for the March Pledge Ceremony will be emailed to graduands before 28 February 2026.

You can also access the information on the dedicated Stellenbosch University Graduation website.

An RSVP link will be made available on the official Pledge Ceremony invitation.

For the March 2026 Pledge Ceremony four (4) guests per graduand are allowed in the JN De Villers Auditorium. This is an in-person ceremony with no live streaming.

Guest tickets will not be issued for the March 2026 Pledge Ceremony. 

Please advise us as soon as possible of your cancellation of attendance. Please send an email to [email protected].

Yes, a Pledge certificate can be emailed to you. Please send a request to [email protected].

Your name printed on the Pledge and Graduation certificates is derived from the University’s Student Information System.

If your name is spelled incorrectly on your student profile, it will print incorrectly on the Pledge certificate, as well as your Graduation certificate.

It is each graduand’s responsibility to ensure that their name is spelled correctly on the University’s system. If you need to correct your details, please send an email to [email protected].

Requests for changes must reach us two (2) weeks before the graduation and pledge ceremonies.

Stellenbosch University’s official photographer, Stellenbosch Centre for Photographic Services (SCPS) will take photographs during the handing over of the scroll, as well as at the signing of the pledge book.

Unfortunately, photographers hired by families cannot be accommodated during the ceremony. There will be time available after the ceremony for families and friends to take photos at the pledge book.