University in South Africa
Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa
University profile
The University of the Free State (UFS) is a public university in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State province. It opened in 1904 as the Grey University College with six students in the Humanities. The university describes itself as an innovative, research-led, student-centred and regionally engaged institution, and states its values as Excellence, Impact, Accountability, Care, Social Justice and Sustainability. Close to 40 000 students.
Teaching is organised in seven faculties: Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Health Sciences, The Humanities, Law, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and Theology and Religion. The UFS Business School and an Open Distance Learning offering run alongside them, and the university lists short learning programmes, a Centre for Graduate Support for postgraduate students, and arts departments in Drama and Theatre Arts, Fine Arts, Music, and Art History and Image Studies.
The UFS is multi-campus. The Bloemfontein Campus on Nelson Mandela Drive is the main campus. The South Campus, also in Bloemfontein, was incorporated into the UFS in 2004 and houses the access programmes, extended programmes and open distance learning. The Qwaqwa Campus is in Phuthaditjhaba in the Eastern Free State, at the foot of the Maloti-Drakensberg, and hosts the Afromontane Research Unit and the Centre for Global Change.
Student life centres on residences managed by Housing and Residence Affairs, which also accredits off-campus accommodation. Each residence has a residence head and a student committee, and the university allocates an annual amount to the residences that perform best in academics, sport, culture and diversity. KovsieSport offers more than 22 sport disciplines, KovsieFit is a gym for students and staff, and the Student Health and Wellness centre, Student Counselling and Development and the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support serve students. The library collection is described as almost 700 000 books plus e-books.
International students need a study visa endorsed for study at the UFS before entering South Africa, a Universities South Africa (USAf) Certificate of Exemption if they do not hold a South African National Senior Certificate, and proof of medical aid from a South African scheme registered with the Council for Medical Schemes. The Office for International Affairs handles international undergraduate and postgraduate enquiries. The UFS describes an internationalisation approach built on partnerships, exchange, and collaborative online learning.
Awarded automatically on final matric results and credited to the class-fee account after registration. The scale published on the UFS merit-award sheet: AP 35-37 R6 000, AP 38-40 R10 000, AP 41-43 R15 000, AP 44 and above R20 000. First-time entering students who first registered at another institution do not qualify in their first year. Senior undergraduate and postgraduate merit award sheets are also published. The UFS reserves the right to amend values and conditions. UFS Financial Aid page.
The outside-bursaries page lists UFS-linked awards: Star of Stars (R7 500 to R15 000 by achievement level, recipients act as ambassadors), Top Performance (guaranteed for AP 44 or higher; first year covers tuition, registration and accommodation within a cap, renewable at 75%), Top 25, a Final Year and Leadership bursary (60% average), the Imbewu Legacy Fund for students in financial hardship (limited funds, windows announced on social media), and Ida Manana Siyila for female students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Sport, cultural, art and leadership bursaries are also awarded. Most are applied for on the PeopleSoft bursary application when it opens.
The UFS maintains a list of external funders with their own deadlines, including Eskom, Nedbank, ETDP SETA, HCI Foundation, Motsepe Foundation and Moshal, WENOSA (up to R50 000 for qualifying final-year women) and Funza Lushaka. Check the funder for current criteria. Outside bursaries page.
The UFS financial aid page carries NSFAS guidance for students, including that NSFAS does not fund the University Access Programmes and applies to the Higher Certificates offered on the South Campus. NSFAS enquiries: [email protected] (Bloemfontein), [email protected] (South Campus).
The Centre for Graduate Support administers UFS Honours, Master's and PhD bursaries, tuition fee bursaries, and NRF bursaries: [email protected], [email protected], T +27 51 401 7161. Postgraduate bursaries page. The UFS states it cannot offer bursaries or loans to international students. Contact UFS Financial Aid: [email protected], +27 51 401 9111 (Option 3).
UFS Bursaries for Culture, Art and Leadership →
UFS Sundry and Donor-funded Bursaries →
UFS Postgraduate Diploma Tuition Fee Bursary →
Browse the scholarships listed for University of the Free State and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for University of the Free State →Applications for 2027 opened on 1 April 2026 through the online portal at apply.ufs.ac.za. Applying to the UFS is free. Applicants may choose two study options; if one is a selection programme it must be the first choice. After submitting, the applicant receives a reference number and then an acknowledgement letter with a student number. Conditional offers are made on the results submitted, and applications are re-evaluated when final Grade 12 results are released. Offers must be accepted online within the stated time frame or they are withdrawn. Help: [email protected], WhatsApp KovsieChat 087 240 6370, +27 51 401 3000; postgraduate diploma and honours queries [email protected], +27 51 401 9111 (Option 1); Master's and doctoral queries [email protected].
Degree study requires an NSC or NCV with an endorsement allowing Bachelor's study, or an equivalent qualification; a minimum of level 4 (50%) in English Home Language or First Additional Language; and the programme-specific subject levels. The UFS calculates an Admission Point (AP) score from the NSC achievement scale: level 7 (90-100%) = 8, level 7 (80-89%) = 7, level 6 (70-79%) = 6, level 5 (60-69%) = 5, level 4 (50-59%) = 4, level 3 (40-49%) = 3, level 2 (30-39%) = 2, and nothing below 30%. Points count for six academic subjects, and one point is added for Life Orientation at level 5 (60%) or higher. Each programme sets its own minimum AP and subject levels; for example the BCom in Business Analytics asks for AP 34, Mathematics level 5 and English level 4. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place: spaces are limited and applicants with the highest AP scores are selected first. The UFS also lists compulsory National Benchmark Tests for first-time undergraduates in earlier prospectuses; confirm the current NBT requirement for your programme in the 2027 prospectus.
Upload your ID (passport for international students), a parent or guardian ID if under 18, final Grade 11 or June Grade 12 results, or the final Grade 12 certificate if already completed. Transferring students and those with prior study must upload the academic record and a certificate of conduct. Documents must not exceed 5 MB. Health Sciences, and some Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Humanities programmes, need selection documents uploaded with the application.
31 May: MB ChB and Radiation Sciences. 31 July: Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Physiotherapy. 30 August: Biokinetics, Dietetics, Sport Coaching, Nursing, Social Work, Architecture. 30 September: all non-selection programmes, remaining selection programmes, and transfers from other institutions for non-selection programmes. International undergraduate applications are listed separately on the same sheet; check the 2027 dates on the UFS dates page.
A valid study visa endorsed for study at the UFS is required before entering South Africa. Applicants without a South African NSC need a Universities South Africa (USAf) Certificate of Exemption (conditional, foreign conditional or mature-age conditional exemption, applied for at mb.usaf.ac.za); current Grade 12 learners may apply once final results are released in January. Cambridge and other international applicants send predicted or mid-year results to [email protected]. Uploaded documents for international applicants must be certified. International students must hold medical aid from a South African scheme registered with the Council for Medical Schemes, valid for 12 months, or registration is denied.
All postgraduate programmes are selection-based. Applications open on 1 April; closing dates vary by programme and faculty, for example 30 September (local) and 31 August (international) for many Economic and Management Sciences, Humanities and Business School programmes, 31 October for several coursework Master's and honours programmes, and 15 September for Natural and Agricultural Sciences dissertation Master's (dates from the postgraduate closing-dates sheet; confirm the current year). Postgraduate and transferring applicants upload the academic record; international postgraduate applicants upload the SAQA certificate. See the 2027 Postgraduate Prospectus for programme entry requirements.
The UFS publishes estimated yearly programme prices that are subject to change, for example BCom (3 years) R59 420, BEd R52 660, LLB R45 500 and MB ChB R82 450 (no year is stated on the price sheet). Use the UFS quotation tool with module codes for an exact figure. The prescribed first payment is due at least five working days before registration.
Residences are grouped on each campus; junior residences are furnished single or double rooms with free communal laundry and ironing rooms, and each has a residence head. Postgraduate and accredited off-campus options are listed by Housing and Residence Affairs at ufs.ac.za/residences. KovsieSport reports more than 22 sport disciplines.
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