Executive Development | SBS-ED
Discover how our Young Minds Programme supports young adults stepping into life after Matric. This 9-month, career-focused gap year programme combines practical skills, real-world exposure, and personal development to help young adults make confident study and career decisions. If you’re still exploring your options or feeling uncertain about what comes next, the answers below will help bring clarity. Dive in to learn more about the programme, its requirements, and what you can expect from the Young Minds journey.
Please contact our enquiries team on info@sbs-ed.com / +27 (0)21 918 4488.
Applications are currently open and will close on 16 February 2026. However, we reserve the right to close submissions earlier if capacity has been reached.
Over the course of 9 months, participants will be learning face-to-face in an interactive in-classroom environment. These classroom sessions will take place on the Stellenbosch University (SU) campus, allowing participants to experience the student life unique to Stellenbosch. The venue for the programme will be communicated at a later stage.
Attendance for all scheduled classes and activities is compulsory. The full programme schedule will be shared with participants before the start date.
A National Certificate with a minimum average of 55%.
Provisional acceptance onto the programme will be granted based on the achievement of a minimum pass mark of 55% for prelim/midyear Grade 12 results.
Participants are still required to submit their final Grade 12 results to the Programme Manager on receipt, in order to receive their Certificate from Stellenbosch University (SU) upon successful completion of the programme.
No specific Grade 12 subjects are required for admittance to the programme.
There is 1 face-to-face orientation week and 4 face-to-face learning periods during the programme.
Please see the preliminary programme schedule in the brochure for dates. These dates are subject to change. The full programme schedule will be shared prior to the start date of the programme (09 March 2026).
Yes, the orientation session for parents will take place on February 25, 2026, via Zoom.
This will provide parents/sponsors the opportunity to learn more about the programme, meet the team, and ask questions. More details will be communicated to the registered participants and parents/sponsors.
Orientation takes place on the Stellenbosch University (SU) campus in the week of registration.
During orientation week, you will be exposed to the foundational concepts and themes of the programme:
Personal Mastery, Entrepreneurial Thinking, and Business Management.
In addition to this, you will be provided with the opportunity to get to know your fellow classmates.
It takes SU’s recesses/holidays into account but does not strictly adhere to it.
You will be provided with a schedule of all formally scheduled face-to-face classes. This schedule considers public holidays, recess periods, and weekends. During the periods when you have no class, you will have to conduct self-study, as well as work on projects and assignments in your own time (self-management). You will also be able to attend other activities of your choice – on the condition that it does not interfere with the scheduled classes and activities of the programme.
Yes, it is permitted to re-write Grade 12 subjects during the year. However, the Young Minds Programme must take priority, and no exceptions will be made in terms of attendance.
Yes, as per above, assuming the Young Minds Programme takes priority.
As you will have to submit assignments electronically (no written assignments will be accepted), you will need to have continuous access to a laptop with a stable internet connection.
Participants are responsible for their own arrangements relating to a laptop and Wi-Fi/data access for self-study and completion/submission of assignments.
Data costs incurred while attending the programme are not included in the programme fees. It is your responsibility to ensure you have sufficient data to work on and submit projects and assignments, as well as conduct self-study.
Yes, you will have access to campus Wi-Fi when on campus, which is only accessible within Stellenbosch University (SU) buildings. If you are staying in a private residence, Wi-Fi access must be privately arranged.
Library access can be arranged.
Yes.
Yes.
By attending a minimum of 90% of activities and passing all subjects, assignments, and projects with a minimum pass mark of 50%.
SBS-ED is a private company within Stellenbosch University (SU) and our focus is short course offerings in the fields of leadership and management. Our programmes are certified by the University and quality-assured by Stellenbosch Business School (SBS).
The certificate that you will receive gets awarded to participants who successfully complete the programme. It is not, however, a formal qualification and does not facilitate admission to a degree course at SU.
SBS-ED is accredited with the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education (CHE) under the auspices of Stellenbosch University (SU).
The HEQC does not issue accreditation numbers to legally constituted training institutions such as SBS-ED.
No.
No.
No, but for private accommodation options, please contact Neelsie Property Offices (info@stellenbosch.rentals) or Academia (admin@academia.co.za).
In addition, the Commuter Student Communities (CSCs) is an organisation that caters to students who do not live in the SU residences. CSCs do not provide accommodation – it is the participant’s own responsibility to find suitable private accommodation.
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As a participant of this programme, you are entitled to make use of the SU sports facilities (under certain conditions) and partake in organised social activities on the SU campus through the Commuter Student Communities (CSCs).
