While mid-year at Stellenbosch University (SU) usually signals quiet lecture halls and a deserted Rooiplein during the winter recess, however, the corridors of SU International (SUI) tell a very different story. Throughout June and July 2026, campus came alive with an unmistakable buzz as over 400 international students and local Maties filled the quiet "hibernation" season with energy, shared connection, and discovery.

Throughout the recess, SU hosted a dynamic mix of short-term initiatives — including semester exchange orientations, the SU International Summer School, intensive English language modules, and tailored faculty-led study tours from partner universities in West Africa and the United States. As these groups cross paths in shared residence spaces like Harmonie, classrooms, and shared Cape Town excursions, the winter downtime naturally transformed into a vibrant hub of human connection and "Internationalisation at Home."

"Local is the New Global": The 24th SU International Summer School

From 19 June to 14 July 2026, the 24th annual SU International Summer School welcomed more than 80 participants from 15 nationalities, including student elective groups from Wuhan College (China) and Queen’s University Belfast (Northern Ireland). Through academic electives ranging from South African History and Politics to Biodiversity and Social Justice, international and local students learned alongside one another while living together in Harmonie Residence. A highlight was a Games Night hosted by the Wuhan College students, who introduced their peers to traditional Chinese folk games and calligraphy. 

For Yang Yi Fan, a Financial Accounting student from Wuhan College, studying alongside local students and sharing a room with SU student Robert Mashilo boosted his confidence in speaking English and deepened his understanding of South African culture.

"The most striking thing that I experienced when meeting the local SU students was their enthusiasm. My English is not the best; I came to this summer school to improve my English, so the students’ enthusiasm to meet me and fellow international participants really put more confidence in me,” Yi Fan noted. “Also, the best part of this journey was sharing new experiences with my roommate, Robert. Through him, I got to learn more about the country’s culture, but more than that, he challenged me to practice my English, and I made a new friend that I will keep in contact with long after I have returned to China." 

For Robert, an Honours in Education student at SU. The programme demonstrated that "local is the new global." Interacting with international peers challenged his perspectives while an elective in Global Surgery revealed the value of interdisciplinary learning, inspiring him to explore the links between education and healthcare in his future research.

"Before participating in this summer school, I had only participated in online intercultural programmes," Robert explained. “What stood out for me most was that, although the international students travelled a far way to Stellenbosch, they also bring with them lived experiences from which us local students can learn and relate, even though the cultural context might differ. This journey has truly shown me how one should appreciate perspective and challenge your own bias.” 

Strengthening Continental Ties: The INPHB Intensive English Programme

During this period, SU also welcomed 25 final-year Commerce students from the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INPHB) in Côte d'Ivoire for a four-week Intensive English Programme, now in its fifth cohort since launching in 2023. Alongside intensive language training, students participated in UNESCO Story Circles, Games Nights, the Amazing Race, and regional excursions, contributing West African perspectives to the broader international community on campus.

Adding further diversity were faculty-led study tours from the University of California, Davis and 15 Levine Scholars from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Although academically distinct, these groups shared residences, excursions, and cultural activities with other cohorts, creating one interconnected international community.

Welcoming a new exchange cohort

On 14 July, 315 incoming exchange students hailing from over 30 countries, including Brazil, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, arrived for Welcome and Orientation Week, preparing to embark on their semester abroad during the second half of 2026. For these students, studying at SU is designed to be far more than an exercise in earning academic credits. Through experiential modules offered by SUI’s Global Education Programme (GEP), students engage directly with South African history, political landscapes, local languages, and global service learning. 

 Economics student Lasse von Waldthausen, from the University of Bath (UK), this interdisciplinary flexibility was both surprising and liberating:

“I chose to come to SU to experience more about South Africa from both an economic and social perspective, so taking the GEP 'History of South Africa' module is very exciting. Mixing and matching subjects will enhance my academic perspective and contribute to the immersive cultural experience I came for. One aspect that makes me a little nervous” he added, “is that I learned that at SU you have to compile your own timetable, so I am both excited and nervous to take that accountability upon myself to make sure my classes don’t clash!”

For friends Lotta and Oda, Communications students from the University of Agder (Norway), choosing SU was a decision sparked by a single, captivating image during an online search. Sitting together and exploring their study abroad options, Lotta was immediately drawn to a photograph of the Rooiplein framed by Stellenbosch's iconic mountains, prompting her to call Oda over and declare, “I think we found our choice!”

Reflecting on why SU stood out among global options, Oda explained:

"First, we wanted to choose a destination where it is warm, given that we come from a cold Norway! It will also be my and Lotta’s first time traveling outside of Europe. However, we mostly chose SU due to it being an institution where the research environment is unique, and that offers courses that we do not have available back home.”

To make the most of their experience, Lotta and Oda enrolled in an introductory Afrikaans language module offered through the GEP. Academically and personally, both hope the semester will push them out of their comfort zones.

“When I return to Norway at the end of the semester, I want to bring back more confidence to speak in front of large groups of people, especially when talking about my studies," Lotta noted. "Taking Afrikaans will be such a fun, hands-on way to learn a new language, and being in a completely new environment will help us build confidence both inside and outside the classroom.”

Beyond lecture halls, social connections were fostered through activities organised by SUI and Matie Buddies. A standout highlight of the welcome week was a lively Games Night, facilitated with the AMANI Student Board, a student body representing SU’s international African full-degree students. Bringing diverse student leaders together to welcome the incoming cohort set a warm, inclusive tone for the semester ahead. 

A Campus Alive with Purpose

Welcoming the new cohort, Senior Director Robert Kotzé encouraged students to, “reconsider your social media life — live your life here in the moment, make a difference in the lives of the people around you, and exploit real-life possibilities.”

His message reflected the spirit of the winter recess. Rather than hosting isolated international programmes, SU created overlapping spaces where students from different countries, disciplines, and cultures learned, lived, and connected. From shared residences and interdisciplinary classrooms to cultural evenings and campus adventures, Winter 2026 demonstrated how brief academic visits can grow into lasting global relationships.