"Welcome. Welkom. Wamkelekile"
We are delighted to welcome you to Stellenbosch University (SU)! The Centre for Global Engagement, part of SU International, is excited to host you and support you as you embark on this new journey.
Our goal is to help you settle into student life, make the most of your time here, and enjoy a truly transformative experience—both academically and personally. We wish you every success in your studies and hope you feel at home in our vibrant campus community.
To help you settle in smoothly at SU, SU International has designed a two-part orientation programme.
- Part 1 of the orientation will consist of pre-recorded sessions that will be made available beforehand.
- Part 2 of the orientation will take place once you are in Stellenbosch.
Important things to remember:
- Watch the prerecorded orientation sessions before the Welcome and Orientation Week.
- All students must arrive in Stellenbosch on time for the orientation and welcoming programme. (Alternative arrangements will be made for late arrivals.)
- Take note that classes start on 9 February 2026.

Prerecorded Orientation Sessions for Semester Students
Below you will find various pre-recorded sessions to help orientate yourself in terms of starting a new semester at Stellenbosch University. It is important to review them before attending the live sessions in the welcoming week. You can also later return to these sessions if you need a recap.

Pre- Registration Information
Find information on what you need to be able to register as a semester student at SU.

Safety and Security
Learn how to navigate safety and security on campus.

Student Life at SU

Intercultural Adaptation
This presentation provides an introduction to key concepts in intercultural understanding and competence, including:
- Stages of Intercultural Adaptation – Understanding how individuals adjust to new cultural environments.
- What is Culture? – Exploring the definition and dimensions of culture.
- Developing Your Intercultural Competence – Practical strategies to enhance your ability to navigate diverse cultural settings.
Technical Requirements for the IT Orientation Session
All live and in person sessions will also be conducted on the Microsoft Teams platform at the same time and for that reason it is important to take note of the following technical requirements.
Installing Microsoft Teams:
We strongly recommend that you install Microsoft Teams on your device beforehand.
Go to this link and click on Download Teams.
Follow the prompts to install the app on your computer. When prompted, enter your Stellenbosch University email address and password. It is not a problem if you don’t have a Stellenbosch University username or account, just follow these instructions.
Session Requirements:
- ‘Arrive’ 5 - 10 minutes before the start of the session.
- Make sure that your speakers are not muted.
- When entering the session mute your mic and turn off your video using the buttons at the bottom of your screen.