Courses Offered at Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography (Stellenbosch Academy) for 2027

Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography is a private higher education institution that focuses entirely on visual communication: graphic design, photography, illustration, art direction and multimedia. It opened its doors in January 2003 in a historic building on Dorp Street in Stellenbosch and, as student numbers grew, moved to Techno Park on the edge of town, the area known as Stellenbosch's technology and innovation hub. That is still its only campus.

The Academy is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution (registration number 2004/HE07/002) under the Higher Education Act of 1997. All of its qualifications are full-time and taught in person, with small classes and a strong studio culture. The director is Barbara Fassler.

What the Academy offers

- Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication (NQF 7, 3 years): first-years try all five disciplines before narrowing down, and choose one major from Applied Illustration, Art Direction, Graphic Design, Multimedia and Photography, or Photography.
- Bachelor of Arts Honours in Visual Communication (NQF 8, 1 year): a research-led postgraduate year built around a self-directed creative project, a thesis, a publication and an exhibition.
- Higher Certificate in Commercial Photography (NQF 5, 1 year): a practical year covering camera technique, lighting, many photographic genres, editing, business basics and video.
- Higher Certificate in Drawing (NQF 5, 1 year): an intensive drawing year covering figure, constructional, conceptual and digital drawing, useful as a stepping stone into a design or animation degree.

Alongside the accredited programmes the Academy runs a few non-credit short courses, such as a live online Content Creation course and cruise ship photography training.

What it is known for

The Academy positions itself as a studio-based school where theory and practice go together. Degree students take Visual Studies, Discourse, Marketing, Business Leadership and technical software training next to their practical major, so that graduates can both make work and explain it. The final year of the degree is spent building a personal, industry-ready portfolio, and the honours year includes a Creative Exchange trip where the whole class works with creatives in another Southern African city. Students and graduates regularly enter and win national and international design and photography awards.

Admission and selection

Entry is selective and every programme asks for a portfolio or set of creative tasks, plus a written motivation. For the degree you need an NSC or IEB certificate with an APS of at least 24. The higher certificates ask for a matric pass with at least 40% for English and an APS of 21, and no specific subjects. Honours applicants need a relevant visual communication degree with an average of at least 60% in their final year for both theory and practice. Cambridge (AS and A-Level) school leavers are also considered, and international qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA. Applicants older than 23 without the formal entry requirement but with relevant work experience can ask about Recognition of Prior Learning, and students moving from another institution can apply for credit transfer.

Fees and funding

Fees are set per programme and published each year in finance forms. For 2027 local tuition ranges from about R126 000 for the Higher Certificate in Drawing to about R180 000 for the first year of the BA. A non-refundable R15 000 administration fee secures your place, and you can pay once (with a discount), in two payments, or in monthly instalments after a R34 000 enrolment payment.

How to apply

Download the application pack for your programme from the Applications and Selections page, complete the portfolio tasks and apply online through the Academy's student portal, paying the R800 application fee. Campus tours can be booked with the admissions team, and general queries go to info@stellenboschacademy.co.za or 021 880 2623.

Useful documents (official PDFs):
- DigitalBrochure StellenboschAcademy SmallFile: https://www.stellenboschacademy.co.za/s/DigitalBrochure_StellenboschAcademy_SmallFile.pdf
- BA Application Pack ty9p: https://www.stellenboschacademy.co.za/s/BA-Application-Pack-ty9p.pdf
- Honours Application Pack fphj: https://www.stellenboschacademy.co.za/s/Honours-Application-Pack-fphj.pdf
- HC Drawing Application Pack j2d9: https://www.stellenboschacademy.co.za/s/HC-Drawing-Application-Pack-j2d9.pdf
- HC Photography Application Pack 6pgg: https://www.stellenboschacademy.co.za/s/HC-Photography-Application-Pack-6pgg.pdf
- BA1 Finance Form 2027 wrfc: https://www.stellenboschacademy.co.za/s/BA1-Finance-Form-2027-wrfc.pdf
- Honours Finance Form 2027 mmm2: https://www.stellenboschacademy.co.za/s/Honours-Finance-Form-2027-mmm2.pdf
- HC Drawing Finance Form 2027 lbae: https://www.stellenboschacademy.co.za/s/HC-Drawing-Finance-Form-2027-lbae.pdf
- HC Photography Finance Form 2027 8tsd: https://www.stellenboschacademy.co.za/s/HC-Photography-Finance-Form-2027-8tsd.pdf