Graduation Week

Stellenbosch University hosted another graduation week, with a record-breaking 5,865 qualifications conferred across 13 ceremonies at the Coetzenburg Centre.

Among the qualifications are 106 doctorates, 592 master’s degrees, and 920 honours degrees, alongside a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas and certificates. Undergraduate qualifications have increased to 3,417, while 2,448 postgraduate qualifications will also be awarded. The Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences leads the tally with 715 undergraduate and 702 postgraduate qualifications. Notably, the faculties of AgriSciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Law, and Medicine and Health Sciences will award their highest-ever number of undergraduate qualifications.

Mathematician Danielle Kleyn has been named the winner of Stellenbosch University’s prestigious Chancellor’s Medal. For her honours project, which involved the mastery of a significant amount of algebraic number theory and some creative work in adapting ideas from one setting to another, she was awarded 94%.

Additionally, Stellenbosch University conferred four honorary doctorates on exceptional individuals whose contributions have profoundly impacted society:

  • Wendy Ackerman: Doctor of Philosophy, honoris causa, for over 40 years of transformative philanthropy benefiting individuals, communities and the arts.
  • Strive Masiyiwa: Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, for reshaping Africa’s business and technology landscape through visionary entrepreneurship and philanthropy as founder and executive chair of Cassava Technologies.
  • Prof. Deirdre Nansen McCloskey: Doctor of Commerce, honoris causa, for advancing the discipline of economics through groundbreaking interdisciplinary work that bridges economics, history and communication.
  • Damon Galgut: Doctor of Literature, honoris causa, for a distinguished literary career spanning over four decades, culminating in international recognition, including the Booker Prize for The Promise.

The University will also celebrate 13 staff members with the prestigious Chancellor’s Award, recognising excellence in research, innovation, teaching, social impact and professional service.