The majority of undergraduate courses at Stellenbosch University are taught in Afrikaans. To this end, International Programmes Stellenbosch University (IPSU) was created to address the need for courses which are presented in English that could accommodate the incoming non-degree seeking students as well as full degree students (international as well as South African). Some of the mainstream university courses are duplicated in the IPSU programme but we also designed special courses to fit the needs of international students. Through IPSU we ensure that international short term students have enough credit bearing courses to choose from that are offered in English (in order to support our exchange agreements).

Courses (not necessarily available in the mainstream) offering an overview of South African history; politics; economics; sociology; and public theology are available each semester. Introductory courses in Afrikaans; Xhosa; German; French; Spanish; and Mandarin are also offered each semester. Popular mainstream postgraduate modules are repeated under IPSU in order to ensure that short term students can follow the modules especially when class sizes are limited and preference may be given to full time degree seeking students requiring the modules.


Please look at the different language courses on offer and especially the Intensive Afrikaans courses that run at the beginning of each semester before the official start of classes. Other exciting courses are the HIV/Aids course and the very popular course Learning for Sustainable Community Engagement.

Most incoming students follow courses selected from the IPSU offering. The mainstream university course offering does have a limited selection of courses which are taught in English and could thus be accessible to the incoming audience. Please see the downloads below for a list of the Mainstream Courses in English.

Please familiarise yourself with the coding of mainstream and IPSU courses in order to make a course selection. The codes will tell you when the course is offered (in the case of undergraduate course). The code consists of three digits. The first indicates the year-level of the course, the second indicates which semester the course is offered in (1, 2 and 3 indicates a course taught in the first semester; 4, 5 and 6 indicates a second semester course. 7 or 8 indicates a course that runs over a whole year). The third digit is irrelevant for your purposes. For example: English 348 is a third year course (3); offered in the second semester (4). The codes for postgraduate courses are more complicated, as the digits do not correspond to the semester it is offered in.

Downloads

 

 

 

IPSU Course Information Semester One -	Mainstream Courses.
Please note that IPSU course choices for 2013 semester two (July to December), should be based on the current semester offering. The updated 2013 II IPSU booklet will be available close to the start of the new semester. Only minor changes may occur in the course offering.

Marks and important announcements will be placed here.

Academic departments may choose various language options in learning and teaching situations. The language of instruction will be indicated on the relevant department’s website. To search for courses outside of the IPSU offering you could browse Departmental websites directly from the A-Z index. Should you select courses from Departmental websites, please indicate the name of the course and any reference number very clearly on your application form.

Click here to preview our index

View the Faculty Yearbooks for more detailed course information.

Art and Social Sciences
Science
Education
Agrisciences
Law
Theology
Economic and Management Sciences
Engineering
Health Sciences

IPSU Language & Culture

“Pretproe” Intensive Afrikaans Course for Beginners

03 -22 January 2013

This course targets new students / lecturers with absolutely no prior knowledge of Afrikaans who are enrolled to study / teach at the University of Stellenbosch for the first time.  In practice this means that they have not had any exposure to Afrikaans and Afrikaans is a totally foreign language to them.
Although postgraduate students do not need Afrikaans for academic purposes, there are many interpersonal reasons which make a basic understanding of the language advisable. Firstly, the mother tongue of the majority of the inhabitants of Stellenbosch and the Boland region is Afrikaans. Your language skills after this course will demonstrate your goodwill and enable you to interact successfully. A further benefit is the possibility of forming meaningful and enduring friendships. Members of the general public are welcome (if numbers permit).
This is a fun-filled course offering you a linguistic and cultural taste of Afrikaans as a language in a wider cultural context here in the heart of the Western Cape. The programme comprises lively interpersonal activities in the classroom, as well as an instructive extramural cultural component. For the out-of-classroom programme we are planning various trips to introduce you to the campus, Stellenbosch and its surroundings. This cultural orientation may include activities such as a visit to a wine farm and cellar and exposure to South African art and entertainment.
The interactive methodology is based on the whole-person approach to language learning. The class atmosphere is informal and conducive to the assimilation of enough vocabulary for everyday usage. Teaching techniques such as role-play, communicative games, songs and free movement are used. Learning Afrikaans this way will bring the proverbial twinkle to the eye. If you are not having fun, the presenter is doing something wrong!

The classroom experience will enable you to

• speak social Afrikaans
• understand the gist of conversations and announcements
• read and understand the gist of notices and advertisements

Application & Registration:

Due to the interactive methodology used in this course we can accommodate only 15 participants. If you wish to apply, your prompt attention is strongly advised.

Cost:

• R4,880 members of the public
• R2,440 registered students and post-doctoral researchers at Stellenbosch University

Closing date for application: Friday, 23 November 2012

Programme

Wednesday, 03 January 2013

• 09:00  Meet at the International Office, Victoria Street Foyer, South Entrance;
• First meeting and classes in Die Skatkamer,  Room 602, Arts & Social Sciences Building (Lettere)

Course hours (Monday – Friday):

• Morning session 09:00 – 13:00
• Afternoon session 14:00 – 16:00

Please note:

Participants will not be able to join the course after the first meeting on 03 January 2013.

Please do not hesitate to contact Ms Elize Lizamore should you have any further enquiries:

• Tel: +27 21 808 2912
• Fax: +27 21 808 3799
• Email: ael1@sun.ac.za