TRAVEL REPORT

University of Stellenbosch Business School

Carita Riutta

International Business

Aalto University School of Business

July 2014

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This travel report summarizes my experiences at University of Stellenbosch Business School

(later: USB) and in Cape Town, South Africa from January to June 2014. The reports is aiming

to give a comprehensive and honest picture of the whole exchange period from application

process to home coming. If you are considering University of Stellenbosch Business School as

your exchange location, don’t hesitate to contact me after reading this report. Contact details

are provided at the end of the paper.

1) Preparing for Exchange

Application process for my South African exchange semester started in January 2013 when the

exchange application form was submitted to Aalto University International Student Services.

After Aalto University had nominated me to USB in March 2013, I had to fill-out USB’s online

application form with several attachments.

The attachments for USB included:

Letter of recommendation from Aalto University

Comprehensive CV

Proof of medical insurance (travel insurance covering my length of stay in South Africa)

Transcript of academic records from Aalto

Proof of English language skills (document written by International Student Services at

Aalto), and

Copy of passport

All the documents were submitted online simultaneously with the USB online application form

which made the application process smooth and straightforward. Also because Aalto University

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had made the selection for the exchange students beforehand, the USB application process

was more of a formality than an actual application.

After all the application paper work, the actual planning for the trip could begin. The most

important thing was to apply for the study permit (student visa) at South African Embassy in

Helsinki, and of course, book the flights to South Africa. However, the visa application could

not be completed before USB had sent the official letter of acceptance. USB sent the letter in

September 2013 by email and it was until then when I could submit all the required papers to

South African Embassy for the student visa.

All the documents needed for South African student visa were (according to 2013 regulations):

Acceptance letter from the host university (send by USB in September)

Radiological examinations of lungs (taken by Student Health Services in Helsinki; should

not be older than three months)

Bank statement of funds (screen shot from online bank was enough)

Copy of travel documents (two-way tickets; if one-way ticket, a deposit required)

Receipt of student visa payment

(needed to be paid to the Embassy

before applying the student visa),

and

Copy of criminal records (needed to

be applied from Legal Register

Center of Finland).

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After collecting and submitting all the paperwork in person to the embassy, the actual visa was

ready in three weeks. Note that the visa application process is very important but the rules and

regulations in a country like South Africa might change every year, so make sure you will check

the latest visa process information from SA Embassy in your home country. Also, it is important

that you will start collecting all the required documents beforehand, e.g. the document of

criminal records, even though clean, will require two weeks in Finland. In total, I visited the SA

embassy three times during the process; first to ask what all was required for the visa

application, second to submit all the papers, and third to collect my passport with the visa.

2) Arriving to Africa

Before arriving to USB and South Africa, I had a bit time to travel in Africa. The first week of

January 2014 I visited Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from where I flew to Cape Town. After arriving to

Cape Town, I first stayed in a hotel in city center. Straight after the arrival, I started to look for

places to stay for the exchange. USB campus does not have any student housing available so

the students have to look for the rental apartments on their own. Best places for the apartment

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search were www.gumtree.co.za website and the local real estate agencies which all where

used by the previous exchange students at USB. I found the apartment search quite

challenging. This was because at the time there were few affordable flats/apartments available

for rent. I went to view a couple of apartments before I found a place in Durbanville,

approximately 10 kilometers from USB campus in the Northern suburbs of Cape Town.

Because USB campus was close to Durbanville and because I like to run and bike, I decided

to stay next to campus. All the rest of the exchange students stayed and shared apartments

either in Sea Point or Greenpoint near Cape Town city center. I can recommend all the

mentioned suburbs for housing.

Note: University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) is a satellite campus of University of

Stellenbosch and is located approximately 25 kilometers from Cape Town city center and 30

kilometers from Stellenbosch main campus (See: USB location marked in red on the map

above).

Overall, living expenses are lower in Cape Town than in Finland and Europe. Particularly, eating

at restaurants is cheaper and the quality of food great. Also groceries, clothing, and gas are

relatively inexpensive compared to Europe. However, internet (even though often slow) and

housing can be costly particularly in Cape Town city center and Stellenbosch. Thus, the other

exchange students shared a flat and a car to keep the living expenses lower. A car is a must in

South Africa because lack of public transportation. I decided to rent a car from Avis which gave

me the best monthly rate at the time. USB partners with a local car rental agency which offered

rental cars for a cheaper price than Avis; however, the quality of the cars was often poor so I

decide to rather pay little extra for a better and safer car.

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Below listed are some of my living expenses (monthly in local currency Rand):

2 bedroom and bathroom apartment rental (including water, electricity, basic TV

and housekeeping once a week): R7500

Car: R4500 (with basic insurance)

Internet: R300

Gym membership: R650

In addition to the living expenses mentioned, one-time international student fee of R5460 was

to be paid when arriving to USB. This fee covered studies, internet usage at the USB campus,

tea and coffee served daily, printing, and class trips e.g. company visits. The fee did not include

books or other study materials; however, I was able to share books with other students and

borrow one from the library so I did not spend any money on study materials.

3) Exchange Studies

The exchange studies began on January 15 with a half-a-week-long orientation with the

exchange students. The orientation took us to the main campus in Stellenbosch, Spier Wine

Estate and around Cape Town on a sightseeing bus. The exchange students totaled 15 and

most of them were from France. A Finn (me), two Germans and a Belgian completed the group.

The orientation week gave us a good overall picture of the surrounding areas but we were never

given a tour around the USB campus in which all the classes took place which I found quite

funny.

On the second week, starting from January 21, the actual classes started and we got to know

all of the local students better. The exchange students at USB are part of full-time MBA group

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which mean that the local students are studying a quite intense two years program. As working

experience is one of the requirements for a MBA program, most of the local students were older

compared to us exchange students. In addition, some of local students had a background in

other fields than business which sometimes made communication a bit challenging. Things

such as group work, business presentations and academic writing were new to some of the

local MBA students.

Studies at USB are divided into two semester which both consist of two terms; the exchange

student will thus participate in two terms during a six months long exchange. The first term in

2013 was 11 week long and the second 12 weeks making the exchange semester end at the

end of June. Some of the classes went through the both terms and the weekly timetable could

change in the middle. Also the second term timetable was not given until a couple weeks before

the second term started which was quite unusual - at least for me. Unfortunately, when studying

at USB during the first semester (Note: European spring semester is fall and first semester in

South Africa, and vise versa), the class selection is very limited. Class participation is

compulsory too which together with changing/unknown timetable made planning of trips and

other activities harder. There were, however, two one week long holidays during the six months.

Despite of the limited selection of the classes, I had to complete enough USB credits for my

Master’s degree at Aalto. For my minor in International Studies (or International Study Module,

suom. Kansainvälinen opintokokonaisuus), I needed to have total of 60 SA credits in order to

fulfill 24 ECTS credit requirement for a minor at Aalto. Preliminary selection of the classes were

given to USB via email before the exchange but the class selection could be altered in the

beginning of the terms. The classes I selected at USB are described below.

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Business Fundamentals 10 SA credits / 4 ECTS, Lecturer: Johan Burger

Business Fundamentals class focused on basics of business strategy. Particular attention was

drawn to comprehensive understanding of business within its environments. The class

introduced basics strategic management tools such as Porter’s five forces model, and SWOT

and PESTEL analysis. The lectures totaled eight and in addition online Business Strategy

Game (BGS) was played in groups outside the lectures. Class assessment was based on the

Business Strategy Game results (+ presentation of the results) and Key Learning Journal and

Individual Company Analysis papers. The papers were approximately 15 pages long. The class

was taught by Johan Burger whose strong personal opinions kept the class discussions

interesting. Mr. Burger took us to one company visit at Backsberg Wine Estate which surely

was the highlight of the course.

Marketing Management 20 SA credits / 8 ECTS,

Lecturer: Professor Frikkie Herbst

Marketing Management was the best class I selected

at USB. Even though the course was built on basics

of marketing, the South African emphasis made the

course very interesting. Particularly, Professor Herbst

made the course very interactive and he had invited

several of quest lecturers to enrich content of the

course. Assessment was based on a mid-term exam,

10 online quizzes, a group marketing plan (written

paper and presentation), class participation, and a

final exam. Both of the exams were case studies and

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the group marketing plan could be done for a company of the group choice. Online book was

used as the main material and the online quizzes were based on the book chapters.

Managerial Accounting 20 SA credits / 8 ECTS, Lecturers: Roelf Pienaar and Nicolene

Wesson

Managerial accounting class was divided into two parts which were taught by different lecturers.

The first part touched upon the basics of cost accounting and was taught by Mr. Roelf Piernaar.

The second part of the class was taught by Mrs. Nicolene Wesson and focused on financial

management. As a non-accounting student I found some lectures a bit challenging. The

assessment was based on four tests, five quizzes and financial evaluation of a company (group

assignment). The class was a lot of work, but yet still because of the challenge, I enjoyed this

class. For an accounting or finance student this class would have been very easy.

Economics for Managers 10 SA credits / 4 ECTS, Professor Andre Roux

Economics for Managers class touched upon the basics of the economics starting from macro-

economic trends to micro economics. The assessment was based on two class tests and one

individual paper comparing three different nations according to given economic indicators.

Unfortunately this class was also taught on a very basic level which did not enhance my learning

significantly. Professor Andre Roux was however one of the best lecturers and speakers who I

have listened which made the course very good. Also the South African emphasis was great

and one lecture focusing on the economic development of African continent was particularly

interesting.

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Personal Skills Development 1 SA credits / 0,4 (?) ECTS, Lecturer Barbara Forscher

This class focused on written and oral business communications skills. Lectures totaled only

four but the assessment was based on 15 online quizzes, one written assignment and individual

oral presentation with PowerPoint slides. I think this course was an awful lot of work compared

to the credits earned; that’s why the question mark behind the ECTS credits. Because of being

a business student for several years, the course did not give me much new. Lecturer was

however great and new her field of business communications well.

4) Free Time and Other Information

Weather

No matter whether studying during the fall or spring, South African climate will show its best

and worse parts. When arriving to Cape Town in January, weather is beautiful and hot. Average

temperature is between 25-30 Celsius all the way to March-April. Fall will start in April which

makes the weather bit rainier but yet still it is relatively warm. May and June are considered the

first winter months making the temperature

drop to 10-15 Celsius. Houses are often not

well prepared for the winter so 10 degrees

with rain might feel colder than it actually is.

Winter will end around August-September

which are considered the first spring months.

Summer starts in November-December

making the temperature rise to 20 degrees

and above.

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Safety

Before travelling to South Africa some advised me to be careful because of the safety issues in

the country. I personally did not feel unsecured – not even once. However, as always when

travelling to new places, is it important to keep eyes open, take care of belongings and avoid

shady places. It is good to keep in mind too that Cape Town and surrounding small towns (e.g.

Stellenbosch, Paarl, Hout Bay, Franschhoek) can be considered one of the few most

developed areas within the whole African continent so when travelling outside Cape Town extra

cautiousness is needed. Roads and driving - after learning how to drive on the left-side of the

road - is safe and roads well-kept. However, local police cannot be trusted and thus following

traffic rules is particularly important.

Things to do and see

There are plenty of things to do in and around Cape Town. Sporting activities which are close

to my heart are everywhere in Cape

Town. Particularly, running, hiking,

biking, surfing and paragliding are must-

do activities to try in Cape Town. Table

Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens, and

Lions Head in Cape Town and

Jonkershoek in Stellenbosch were my

absolute favorite locations for running,

hiking and biking. In addition to sports,

weekend markets such as Old Biscuit

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Mill and Bay Harbour Market are places to visit! American type of shopping malls in V/A Water

Front, Tyger Valley, Century City and Cavendish have stores to spend money.

As mentioned I travelled to Ethiopia before flying to Cape Town. In addition to that I did not do

any major trips to the neighboring countries. However, I visited Franschhoek, Stellenbosch,

Paarl and towns along Garden Route several times. I can highly recommend all of those towns

which all have their own unique atmosphere. Particularly, I loved the different wine yards in

Paarl and Stellenbosch.

People and Culture

South Africans and South African culture is a mixture of different cultures. During the 20 years

of democracy, the South Africans have finally learned how to embrace their diversity. Different

foods, languages, events and music are proofs of the diversity. Particularly, South Africans love

their braai (word barbeque), wine, and sports such as rugby, cricket and soccer which all should

be experienced while in Cape Town. Even though, the country has walked its long way to

freedom, the gap between the rich and poor is still huge. The division of people can be seen

for example in racist behavior and at times it made me feel sad.

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5) Final Comments and Contact Information

I can highly recommend Cape Town for exchange and travel location. I fell in love with Cape

Town just simply because of its uniqueness and I am sure I will return to the Mother City and

South Africa someday. However, if you want to enhance your learning and select advanced

master’s level courses, University of Stellenbosch Business School is not for you. But, as any

exchange, the most you learn is outside the class room and with the local people. In addition

to the country and its culture, I learned most how to communicate with people from different

backgrounds and how to take leadership in group assignments. Problem solving skills were

also put on a test daily when living in a new environment.

In Helsinki July 7, 2014

Carita Riutta

+358 45 267 1985 carita.riutta (at) aalto.fi caritariutta (at) gmail.com