► STEP 1: Explore your options
- Read up on all the programmes we offer at Stellenbosch University by visiting What can I study on
www.maties.com. - Make sure that you understand the selection criteria of the different faculties. Large numbers of
prospective students apply for our programmes. Unfortunately we can accept only a limited number of
students. Even though you may meet the admission requirements of a programme, you are not
guaranteed admission to the programme of your choice. The criteria are available at Admission and
selection requirements on www.maties.com. - Also familiarise yourself with the University’s Admissions policy.
► STEP 2: Take note of the application dates
1 March: Applications open for all programmes.
1 April: Applications open for financial assistance at Stellenbosch University.
30 June: Applications close for all undergraduate programmes.
30 June: Residence applications close.
1 August: Applications open for NSFAS bursaries.
31 August: Applications close for Stellenbosch University financial assistance.
30 November: Applications close for NSFAS bursaries.
15 December: Applications close for Diploma in Public Accountability (Telematic Education).
Please note that no late applications will be considered.
► STEP 3: Select your programme
- For Stellenbosch University you may select three programme choices. The reason you may indicate
three programmes, is that there are programmes with extensive selection criteria and it is possible that
you will not to be selected for your first choice, but you may still be selected for your second or third
choice. - Note however, that you can only be admitted to one programme at a time. If you are admitted to your
second choice at first, and then admitted to your first choice, your second choice will lapse as soon as
you are admitted to your first choice. - If you would rather continue with your second (or third choice) offer, you must let us know before the
end of September at info@sun.ac.za. The offer you decline will expire. After September, your request
will only be considered if places are available. - All our programmes have selection criteria, but the following programmes all have extensive selection
processes: All programmes in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; all programmes in the Faculty
of Law; BA (Visual Arts); BA (Drama); all programmes in Music; BSc (Sport Science); BEd (GenEd); all
pogrammes in Engineering; BCom Actuarial Science and BCom (International Business).
4.1 If your first programme choice is from the extensive selection programmes, we recommend a
second choice. If both your first and second choices are from the list of selection programmes
above, we recommend that you indicate a third choice which is not from this list.
4.2 If you want to change your programme choice, send an e-mail containing your request to
info@sun.ac.za. Please remember that, after the closing date, you can only be considered if there
are places available in the programme. - To help you place your programme choice in the correct order, bear the following in mind:
Medicine and Health Sciences
This faculty will only consider your programme choice if it is indicated as your first choice.
Education
This faculty will only consider your programme choice if it is indicated as your first choice.
Law programmes
Selection for the programmes BA (Law) and BCom (Law) will only be considered if it is your first
programme choice.
The undergraduate, four-year LLB programme will be considered as a first or a second choice on
your application.
Arts and Social Sciences
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) will only consider first and second choices.
Third choices will only be considered if the first and second choices are from the list of extensive
selection programmes (see above).
BA (Sport Science) must be your first or second choice.
Economic and Management Sciences (EMS)
This faculty will consider first, second or third programme choices. If you have more than one EMS
programme on your list. EMS will consider them in your order of preference.
BCom (Law), Com Actuarial Sciences and BCom (International Business) will, however, only be considered if it is your first choice.
AgriSciences
This faculty will consider your application for one of their programmes as a first, second or third
choice, with the exception of the programme in BSc Food Science, BScAgric Animal Science or a
programme where Food Science or Animal Science is offered as a subject. For these programmes,
your application will only be considered as a first or second choice.
Science
This faculty will consider your application for one of their programmes as a first, second or third choice.
The programmes BSc Human Sciences, BSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and BSc Sport Science,
will, however, only be considered as a third choice if places are available.
Engineering
This faculty will consider your application for one of their programmes as a first, second or third choice.
You may apply for more than one BEng programme, e.g. BEng Civil as first choice and BEng Industrial
as second, since their selection thresholds may differ.
Theology
This faculty will consider your application for one of their programmes as a first or second choice.
Third choice will be considered based on availability of places.
► STEP 4: Complete your application
- Electronic/ Online applications
1.1 To apply online at www.maties.com, you will need a valid email address and cell phone number.
Correspondence will be sent to the email address and sms’s to the cell phone.
1.2 As soon as you’ve lodged a formal online application, you will receive a username (student number)
and 8-digit password to continue your application.
1.3 All compulsory screens, with red ‘Outstanding’ buttons, must be completed. The ‘submit’ button
will only be available once ALL the compulsory screens are completed (a green ‘Completed’ button
will be displayed).
1.4 Please ensure that the information you provide is correct. If the information is incorrect the
University is entitled to reject your application or cancel your registration immediately.
1.5 Should there be an electricity outage, data will not be lost and the application can be completed at
a later stage before the closing date.
1.6 After you have completed all the compulsory screens, click on the ‘Submit’ button.
1.7 You will now receive your official SUN-password along with your given username (student number)
to access your application status to upload all your supporting application documents and monitor
your application.
1.8 To complete your application all the correct supporting documents must be uploaded before the
closing date. Your application will only be processed AFTER your application has been completed.
Your application cannot be considered if all application documents have not been uploaded before
the closing date.
1.9 Submitting a completed application and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee
admission. - Hard copy applications:
2.1 We recommend that you apply online, but if you do not have internet access, you may complete a
hard copy form instead. You may obtain a hard copy application form from our Contact and Client
Centre at 021 808 9111 or via email at info@sun.ac.za.
2.2 If you utilise a hard copy application, please complete all the applicable fields and send in all the
necessary documents along with your application form. We cannot consider your application if we
do not have all the correct information. Your application form and supporting documents must reach
us before the closing date.
2.3 Please do not apply by both using the hard copy form and applying online. If we receive both types
of application from you, we can only accept the online application as the intended one.
STEP 5: Make sure that you upload all the required
documents
YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
- Certified copies of the original qualification documents, as specified in the table below, must be
provided. Please take note of the following regarding your documents:
1.1 Copies of your original academic documents, which must be stamped and signed by the awarding
school, institution, notary public, or a Commissioner of Oaths (e.g. attorney or diplomatic official)
must be provided. If you go to the police station or the Post Office, a Commissioner of Oaths must
certify your documents. No police or post office stamps will be accepted.
1.2 No online results obtained from self-serving portals or password protected documents will be
accepted.
1.3 Electronic copies provided should be clear and legible (not blurred, cropped or obscured). Only pdf
and jpeg format will be accepted. - Stellenbosch University reserves the right to request original and additional supporting documentation
should this be deemed necessary at any point. - Your signed contract, your application documents (e.g. your grade 11 results) as well as proof of payment
(if applicable) should be uploaded online at your application status link on www.maties.com before the
closing date. If you apply with a hard copy application, you should include all the required documents
with your application. - If we do not receive all your documents by the closing date, your application will unfortunately not be
considered. - It remains your responsibility to make sure that the University receives these documents in time. You
can monitor your application status on www.maties.com to ensure that your application is complete.
Use your username (student number) and official SUN-password to sign in.
NON-ACADEMIC DOCUMENTS WE REQUIRE
All documents are available on the Prospective Undergraduate Student website (www.maties.com)
- Signed contract (please print out, sign and upload). No electronic signatures accepted.
- Proof of permanent residence (Not applicable to South African citizens).
- Student support form (students with disabilities who need additional support).
- Additional faculty specific documents (If applicable):
BA (Sport Science) and BSc (Sport Science) non-academic form
Speech Language and Hearing Therapy, and Dietetics visitation form
Portfolio requirements for BA (Visual Arts)
Selection form for BA Drama and Theatre Studies - Proof of payment (R100 non-refundable application fee)
South African citizens only;
Not applicable to applicants from quantile 1 to 3 schools. Quantile 1 to 3 schools are schools
who are identified by the Department of Basic Education as schools situated in disadvantage
environments.
Cash payments may also be made in person at the cashiers at the Administration A building
(Stellenbosch Campus) or on the first floor of the Clinical Building at Tygerberg Campus.
Read more about payment options on www.maties.com.
ACADEMIC DOCUMENTS WE REQUIRE
Currently in final school year:
South African school system: Final grade 11 results
International school system: Grade 11 results as well as final-year school subjects with levels
Also note: Applicants enrolled in a foreign (international) school system, for example International
Baccalaureate (IB) or a USA High School Diploma, must apply using grade 11 (pre-final year) results, but
also supply a list of subjects taken in the final year of school (grade 12 /13) with levels for the official
subjects and predicted results (confirmed by the school). Please note, however, that applicants from
the Cambridge school system do not need to provide the predicted results for the final year subjects.
They still need to provide the list of subjects and indicate the level they are taking them in their final
year, for Exemption purposes. To make sure you meet the requirements for Matriculation Exemption,
please visit the Universities South Africa’s website http://mb.usaf.ac.za for more information on
Matriculation Exemption.
Completed final school year:
South African school system: National Senior Certificate (NSC) or IEB / Statement of symbols of final
school results.
International school system: Final school results from International Curriculum (Cambridge
International, International Baccalaureate, etc.), including School of Tomorrow.
If you follow the international school system, also note:
Cambridge applicants must also include IGCSE or O level or GCSE certificates.
If you completed your schooling in an international school system, you must meet the
requirements set by Universities South Africa (USAf) for Matriculation Exemption for that
system by the time you come to register.
To determine whether you meet the requirements, please see: http://mb.usaf.ac.za and select
the relevant country’s information.
Applicants following the American system must provide the necessary exemption documents as
per the USAf website at https://mb.usaf.ac.za/united-states-of-america/.
It is normally only possible to apply for a formal certificate of University Exemption during your
first year of registration so you might not yet have it available when you come to register for
the first time. You will, however, be able to register, provided that you do qualify for
Matriculation Exemption.
Additional subjects or rewrites (all school systems): If you have completed additional subjects or
rewrote subjects (or are busy rewriting the subjects this year), please include the subjects and grades.
Currently enrolled for first year at a tertiary institution (excluding Stellenbosch University
qualifications):
Final school-leaving results (See “completed final school year”)
Proof of registration in first year when no academic transcript is not yet available
Currently enrolled at a tertiary institution (excluding Stellenbosch University qualifications):
• Final school-leaving results (See “completed final school year”)
• Proof of registration, including a list of subjects you are enrolled for with provisional
grades if available at the time of application
• Full academic transcript for each academic year completed, including grades
Please note that online results obtained from self-service portals will not be accepted.
Tertiary academic qualifications completed (excluding Stellenbosch University
qualifications):
Include final school-leaving results where applicable
• Relevant certificates PLUS full academic transcript for each year of enrolment,
including grades
• Diploma(s) PLUS full academic transcript for each year of enrolment, including grades
• B degree certificate(s) PLUS full academic transcript for each year of enrolment,
including grades
• Honours degree certificate(s) PLUS full academic transcript for each year of enrolment,
including grades
• Master’s degree certificate(s) PLUS full academic transcript for each year of enrolment,
including grades (where applicable)
• Doctoral degree certificate(s) PLUS full academic transcript for each year of enrolment,
including grades (where applicable)
If you have obtained a qualification outside of the South African Higher Education system and your final
degree certificate is not available when you apply, please provide us with official proof that you have
completed the qualification. Please note that the proof of completion should not be older than five years
from the date on which the degree was conferred.
► STEP 6: Write the national benchmark test (NBT’S)
The NBT is applicable to prospective first-year applicants to Stellenbosch University. SU uses the National
Benchmark Tests for selection and/or placement purposes. For more information and/or make a booking
to write the NBT’s please visit www.nbt.ac.za or call 021 650 3523. The table below indicates who needs to
write and how faculties will be using the NBTs:
Medicine and Health Sciences
All first-year applicants The NBT results will be used for selection
purposes for all programmes in the Faculty of
Medicine and Health Sciences. To be considered
for these programmes, all applicants need to
write the NBTs by end of June at the latest.
Law programmes
All first-year applicants The NBT results will also be used for selection
purposes for all programmes in Law. This includes
the following programmes: BA (Law), BComm
(Law) and LLB (four-year programme). All
applicants must write the NBT’s before the end
of June in order for the Faculty of Law to take the
results into consideration when compiling their
selection lists.
Arts and Social Sciences
All first year-applicants with an
average application mark of
between 60% and 69%
(excluding Life Orientation)
The NBT results will be used for additional
information with regards to placement in
extended degree programmes, as well as
decisions regarding transfers from the extended
degree programmes to main stream
programmes.
Theology All first year-applicants with an
average application mark of
between 55% and 59%
(excluding Life Orientation)
Applicants could write the NBTs to support an
application for placement in the extended
degree program.
Science All first year-applicants will
write the NBTs at the
beginning of the academic year
after registration.
The Faculty of Science will not use the NBT
results for selection or placement in
programmes. Applicants therefor do not need
to take the NBTs in the application year.
However, provisionally accepted prospective
students in the Faculty of Science, who qualify
for registration, have to write (if not taken
yet), the National Benchmark Tests on the SU
campus at a session that will be scheduled at
the beginning of the academic year.
The Faculty will use the results to allocate first
years into academic support groups.
Economic and Management Sciences
All first year-applicants with an
average application mark of
between 60% and 69%
(excluding Life Orientation)
and/or applicants with a
Mathematics mark
of between 50% and 59%
The NBT results will be used for additional
information to give provisional acceptance to
programmes.
AgriSciences All first-year applicants The NBT results will be used for additional
information with regards to placement in
extended degree programmes, as well as
decisions regarding transfers from the extended
degree programmes to main stream
programmes.
Engineering All first-year applicants The NBT results will be used for additional
information for applicants to both mainstream
and extended degree applications.
Education Not applicable Applicants are not required to write the NBTs for
placement in the Faculty of Education
School of Tomorrow (all faculties)
All first year-applicants All School of Tomorrow candidates need to write
the NBTs. The NBT results will also be used for the
selection and placement.
► STEP 7: Monitor your application status
When you have successfully completed the steps and received acknowledgement of your complete
application from the Admission Office your application is ready to be considered. Use your username
(student number) and official SUN-password to sign in and monitor your application status on
www.maties.com. Please keep in mind that there might be a notification for additional information
required.
IF you have not written the final NSC examination yet at application, your final Grade 11 marks will
determine whether the University will admit you conditionally to a programme. Conditional admission
means that you are admitted on condition that your final results for the NSC meet the basic admission
requirements for university study and the minimum admission requirements of the programme you
applied for. Only then can your admission to the University be finalised.
SHOULD YOU NEED HELP OR INFORMATION
Should you need help with your application, or you require more information, please contact the
University at 021 808 9111, send an email to info@sun.ac.za or visit www.maties.com.