Admissions Policy and the Rector’s Discretionary Placement

1 April 2023

The Executive Committee of Council is familiar with a matter that involves a complaint that the Rector and Vice-Chancellor had in October 2022 exercised his discretion under the Stellenbosch University's (SU) Admissions Policy to offer a relative of his wife a place in the MBChB programme for 2023. The offer was retracted that same month - long before registration in 2023. This matter is being addressed internally and will be on the agenda of the upcoming Council meeting.

Stellenbosch University follows a clearly defined Admissions Policy. Academic admissions to SU are governed by the SU Admissions Policy and faculty-specific admission/selection guidelines that are made available annually on the SU webpage for prospective students.

The Admissions Policy explicitly provides for the Rector's Discretionary Placements.

The Rector acknowledges that even though he acted in good faith and consistent with the current guidelines, he made an error of judgement. The Rectorate will review the guidelines for discretionary placements under the Admissions Policy.

As a world-class institution for higher learning, SU is a national asset with global reach, and SU's students and staff represent the best on offer in and to South Africa. The academic integrity of our institution, the quality of our qualifications and research, and practical and proper administrative governance follow best practice.

Statement issued by Stellenbosch University, 1 April 2023

Wim de Villiers admitted his nephew to study medicine with an average of 87% even though cut-off was 93.4%. He admitted his relative over both more meritorious and more disadvantaged students. Would he have done so if it was not his nephew? Is this “social justice?” https://t.co/IfffeIIGY1

— Leon Schreiber (@Leon_Schreib) April 3, 2023