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Postgrad graduates since 2005
Welcome to the
Department of Computer Science
Welcome to the Computer Science Department at Stellenbosch University, a hub of innovative research and exceptional education. Our department is dedicated to advancing computational thinking, developing foundational technologies, and solving real-world problems through computer science. With a commitment to academic excellence, our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offer comprehensive training in core computer science disciplines, emerging technologies, and practical applications.
Join us in exploring cutting-edge research areas including artificial intelligence, software engineering, cybersecurity, and computational science, and contribute to technological innovations that shape our future.
Featured Videos
Discover our department through lectures, student stories, and research highlights.
Computer Science at Stellenbosch University
An introduction to our department — discover the facilities, people, and opportunities that make studying CS at Stellenbosch unique.
Stellenbosch University — A World of Opportunity
See how Stellenbosch University shapes tomorrow's leaders through innovative teaching, research, and community engagement.
Experience CS @ Stellenbosch
World-class research meets an unforgettable student experience — here's what makes us different.
Research
Where Ideas Push Boundaries
Our 27+ research groups tackle AI, cybersecurity, data science, and more — publishing in top-tier international venues. As a student, you don't just study the field; you help shape it.
State-of-the-art research labs
Learning
Hands-On From Day One
From first-year practicals to industry capstone projects, our curriculum blends theory with real-world application. You'll build real software, work with real data, and solve real problems.
Collaborative learning spaces
Community
More Than a Degree
Hackathons, coding clubs, seminars, and social events — our community of students and academics is passionate about computing and about each other. You'll make friends and connections that last a lifetime.
Annual Developer Society hackathon
Global
Connected to the World
Collaborate with leading international universities and industry partners through exchange programmes, internships, and joint research. Our graduates work at Google, Amazon, and startups across Africa and beyond.
Celebrating our graduates
Stellenbosch Campus
Research & Impact
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Research groups & labs
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Publications since 2018
1800
Founded
Our Research Focus Areas
Explore the cutting-edge domains where our faculty and students are pushing boundaries.
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Deep learning, NLP, computer vision, and responsible AI systems shaping the future of intelligent technology.
Cybersecurity
Network security, cryptography, threat intelligence, and digital forensics.
Software Engineering
Agile methodologies, DevOps, system architecture, and quality assurance.
Data Science & Analytics
Big data, statistical modelling, and actionable insights from complex data.
Theoretical Computer Science
Computational complexity, formal methods, and algorithm design.
Human-Computer Interaction
UX research, accessibility, interaction design, and emerging interfaces.
Latest News & Articles
Featured
Research
SU Researchers Advance African NLP with New Open-Source Language Models
A team from the CS department has released open-source language models for five under-resourced African languages, advancing multilingual AI research on the continent.
Department
CS Department Ranked Top 5 in Africa for Graduate Employability
Stellenbosch University's Computer Science graduates continue to rank among the most employable in Africa, with 94% securing positions within six months.
Cybersecurity
New Cybersecurity Research Lab Opens at Stellenbosch
The department has launched a dedicated cybersecurity research lab focusing on digital forensics, threat intelligence, and secure systems for African infrastructure.
Student Life
DevSoc Hackathon 2026: Registrations Now Open
The Stellenbosch Developer Society's annual hackathon returns on 22 March. Teams of up to four will compete to build innovative solutions with prizes from industry sponsors.
Upcoming Events
MAR
15
CS Departmental Seminar: Advances in Large Language Models
Prof. Steve Kroon presents recent developments in LLM research and their implications for African NLP applications.
MAR
22
Annual CS Hackathon 2026
12-hour coding challenge open to all CS students. Form teams and build innovative solutions to real-world problems. Prizes from industry sponsors!
APR
05
Industry Open Day & Career Fair
Meet leading tech companies recruiting SU CS graduates. Featuring talks from Amazon, Naspers, Takealot, and local startups.
APR
19
Research Colloquium: Software Verification & Formal Methods
Prof. Bernd Fischer and Dr. Jaco Geldenhuys present recent advances in bounded model checking with ESBMC and COASTAL tools.
What Our Students Say
The practical modules like CS 344 really set Stellenbosch apart. Building a full compiler from scratch and then applying those skills in my capstone project with Capitec is what got me hired straight out of undergrad.
I came to Stellenbosch specifically to work with Prof. Kroon’s NLP group, and it completely exceeded my expectations. My MSc research on low-resource African language models led to two published papers and a position at Google DeepMind.
Joining DevSoc and competing in the annual hackathon in my second year changed my trajectory. The cybersecurity electives with Dr. Geldenhuys gave me a focus I didn’t know I was looking for — now I’m doing my Honours in digital forensics.