Details

• South Africa
• MAFW&RW-13
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 3 months

1. Preparation

All internal steps were clearly structured and specified. Important tips were also provided by Stellenbosch University. For example, that you should deal with the visa as early as possible.

2. Accommodation

Since Stellenbosch Business School is located in Bellville, I believe the best places to live are in Cape Town or Stellenbosch. I was completely satisfied with my choice of Stellenbosch, especially for a longer period of time. Compared to Cape Town, Stellenbosch is a smaller, very student-oriented town that is also very safe. It is advisable to start looking for accommodation as early as possible, as the selection is limited and prices can rise quickly. In addition to public accommodation such as Academia, there are also numerous private providers, many of which are arranged through Stellies Student Stay. These are usually in very good and safe locations with high security standards.

3. Academic life at host university

I really liked the organization of the host university. However, the selection of modules was rather limited, as were the credit transfer options (at least for FiRe). The course structures also differ depending on the track to which the courses are assigned. All in all, in my experience, the course content was hardly quantitative. The focus was on discussions about course content and exchanges between students. Since the MBA requires several years of professional experience, there are exciting insights from fellow students about their working lives in countries around South Africa. The academic difficulty of the modules I took was manageable and very concentrated in the one to two weeks of block seminars, which allowed me to organize my free time flexibly with travel.

5. Every day life in the host country

Students here generally only use Uber and Bolt as a means of transportation, which is very convenient and pleasant. Alternatively, you can also rent a car, which is relatively inexpensive. Safety plays a major role. For example, you should not go out alone at night and always be aware of your surroundings. In conclusion, I can say that I very rarely felt uncomfortable during my five months here. I found Stellenbosch in particular to be a very safe city. There is a wide range of leisure activities on offer. There are always activities going on in Cape Town, and Stellenbosch also has a huge range of sports on offer, especially through the university, as sport is firmly anchored in the culture here. In general, South Africa is very diverse and there is a lot to discover, so you will never get bored.

6. Testimonial

My five months in South Africa were an unforgettable experience. Through my exchange program, I made some really nice new friends and got to know the country and its diverse and varied cultures. Additional trips through Namibia and to Kruger National Park and Eswatini had a big impact on my time there. The different wines and food were unbeatable, the national parks were beautiful, the safaris and desert tours were unforgettable, and the hikes were wonderfully varied. I would love to relive these five months again anytime and can highly recommend the exchange program to Stellenbosch!