From a humble start in 1904, the UFS became a well-known institution, boasting 148 NRF-accredited professors and 2 866 staff members. Our students can participate in 22 different sport disciplines and study from 671 182 library books, including 14 000 ebooks. Our ever-expanding facilities and knowledge base present many opportunities for scholars to impact locally and globally.
A university-recognized across the world for excellence in academic achievement and human reconciliation. Our vision, mission, and values help us to ‘keep our eye on the ball.’ This is where we start when we make decisions, plan our future, and evaluate what we have done.
The university will pursue this vision through its mission:
- Setting the highest standards for undergraduate and postgraduate education.
- Recruiting the best and most diverse students and professors into the university.
- Advancing excellence in the scholarship of research, teaching, and public service.
- Demonstrating in everyday practice, the value of human togetherness and solidarity across social and historical divides.
- Advancing social justice by creating multiple opportunities for disadvantaged students to access the university.
- Promoting innovation, distinctiveness, and leadership in both academic and human pursuits.
- Establishing transparent opportunities in lifelong learning for academic and support staff.
The following five core values represent deeply-held commitments that inform every policy and steer every action. These values underpin both the Academic Project and the Human Project of this university.
- Superior Scholarship
- Human Embrace
- Institutional Distinctiveness
- Emergent Leadership
- Public Service
Welcome to the University of the Free State (UFS) – an excellent place for visitors, students, and staff. Please browse through our website to see what we offer, or visit any of our three campuses for a proper taste of studying with us. Join the more than 37 800 students who already understand that “only a Kovsie knows the feeling.”
Since 1904, the UFS has grown steadily as a recognized university, with scholars who influence global growth. Today, we have several international partnerships that contribute to a rich body of knowledge and skills. After all, research and learning are what you expect of an excellent university.
My vision is to grow a university that embraces diversity, inclusivity, and academic excellence. Everybody must feel welcome and safe when they enter our learning and living space. It must be a place where both social and academic dreams are realized – an experience that lays a balanced foundation for whatever the future demands.
The UFS will continue to search for worthwhile local, national, and international research collaborations. Exposure to various researchers worldwide will help us stay current and respond to the quest for multidisciplinary programs. Since people are the heartbeat of everything that happens at the UFS, social justice and human rights projects will remain a priority.
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