• Education

Want to study at Stellenbosch University?

Desiree Gases





The high school careers of many learners will soon come to an end. Many are about to be faced with indecisiveness about choosing the right university and finding funding for an important phase of your education.

My Zone caught up with Fanuel Shinedima and Urisper Pashita, two Namibian students studying at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, who narrate their personal experiences and give advice about studying at the institution.

This is what they had to say:

“My name is Urisper Pashita, I am a 19-year-old first-year student studying for my bachelor of accounting degree at Stellenbosch University in Stellenbosch, South Africa. I completed grade 12 in 2020 at Haimbili Haufiku Secondary School in Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region, and that is where I fell in love with general commerce. The degree for which I am studying is the first step in my journey to become a chartered accountant. I secured a PwC bursary as well as the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) fellowship. It was not easy at all, especially for the AGOF fellowship which has a very rigorous selection process with many interviews. What I would advise current grade 12 learners is that they should research about all possible sponsors because it is very difficult to come to study in South Africa without a bursary or scholarship. They should then select a good university and apply for a certain degree programme and work towards meeting the admission criteria. From there, it is only a matter of sorting out study visa issues, but of course that is the over simplified version of the actual truth. My advice would be to sort out your documentations in time and do as much research as possible. It is also important to maintain a good academic record by working extra hard. Getting into Stellenbosch or any other university in South Africa is difficult due to increased demand for places. I must admit that settling into this new community was very challenging because of the myriad of cultures and different people in Stellenbosch. The weather too was strange. The people here are quite friendly and supportive, contrary to a belief that xenophobic attacks are common here. I have not witnessed such things yet,” Pashita said.

Meanwhile, Shinedima had this to share: “My name is Fanuel Shinedima, I am 19 years old as well and I am a first-year Accounting student at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. I completed grade 12 at Hage Geingob High School in Windhoek. I always loved accounting since grade 8 and that is how I ended up majoring in commercials in grade 12 and discovering the chartered accountancy route I am studying towards. I am currently studying through a bursary that I received from PwC Namibia as well as the AGOF fellowship. The advice I can give any learner is that anything is possible if you are up for it. Put in the time, put in the effort and learn from your failures. I am advising students to invest much time in their careers, research what you want to do and seek the opportunities around you. Stellenbosch University is such an amazing university with so much to offer. I am advising anyone that wants to come here to apply on time and make sure you have your documentation sorted out. Research available funding for whatever career you want to take on and, finally, get those grades. It’s not easy being here, so just be prepared to work extra hard and smart, but I promise you will enjoy everything. I love the culture here in Stellenbosch and the student community is just amazing. You will meet different people from so many different backgrounds who are going to be amazing friends at university. Settling in Stellenbosch came with its challenges as well - life is so different here; different cultures, new people and being far away from my friends and family, but as time passed I adapted. If you are planning on coming to South Africa, I suggest you take Stellenbosch as your first choice”.