Welcome to the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), a vibrant academic home dedicated to advancing health, transforming lives, and shaping the future of healthcare in South Africa, across the African continent, and beyond.

As one of the nation’s leading health sciences faculties, we take pride in a rich legacy of excellence in teaching, learning, research, and community engagement. Our faculty unites resolute academics, clinicians, researchers, professional staff, students, alumni, and partners who share a single, powerful purpose: to improve health outcomes through innovation, compassion, and socially responsive scholarship.

A Faculty Shaped by Purpose and Impact
Our faculty stands at the forefront of addressing the most pressing health challenges of our time. Grounded in the realities of the communities we serve, our work remains globally relevant and scientifically rigorous. From undergraduate education to postgraduate training, specialist clinical services, and high-impact research, we strive to cultivate graduates and generate knowledge that is ethically grounded, socially accountable, and prepared for an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.

Our academic programmes are intentionally designed to nurture competent, reflective, and resilient health professionals who respond to societal needs with skill and empathy. Through a strong emphasis on interprofessional education, clinical excellence, and the seamless integration of theory with practice, we ensure our graduates emerge not only as skilled practitioners but also as visionary leaders and change-makers in health systems.

Advancing Vision 130: Excellence with Relevance

Our strategic direction is deeply aligned with UFS Vision 130, which champions academic excellence, social justice, inclusivity, innovation, and global engagement. The Faculty of Health Sciences wholeheartedly embraces this vision, actively contributing to the university’s aspiration to become a leading research-led, student-centred, and socially responsive institution.

In support of Vision 130, we are committed to:

• Academic and Research Excellence: Strengthening research capacity, expanding postgraduate enrolment, and advancing high-impact interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research that addresses local, national, and global health priorities.
• Student Success and Transformation: Fostering inclusive learning environments that support holistic student development, wellbeing, and success, while championing diversity, equity, and a profound sense of belonging.
• Social Responsiveness and Community Engagement: Partnering with communities, health systems, and government to co-create sustainable solutions that improve health outcomes and reduce inequality.
• Internationalisation and Global Partnerships: Expanding meaningful international collaborations that enrich teaching, research, staff development, and student mobility.
• Innovation and Sustainability: Embracing digital transformation, pioneering innovation in health education, and implementing sustainable practices that strengthen institutional resilience and relevance.

A Hub of Research, Innovation, and Collaboration

The Faculty of Health Sciences is home to a dynamic and growing portfolio of research initiatives, specialised centres, and strategic partnerships that drive knowledge generation and influence policy. Our researchers are passionately engaged in tackling critical issues from public health, non-communicable and infectious diseases, to health systems strengthening, mental health, and rural healthcare.

Through robust local and international collaborations, we continue to position the faculty as a trusted partner in advancing impactful, ethical, and contextually relevant health research. We deeply value partnerships with industry, government, civil society, and global institutions, working together to translate research into tangible practice and transformative policy.

Our People: The Heart of the Faculty

At the very heart of our success are our people. We are privileged to work alongside committed academics, clinicians, researchers, professional staff, and students who bring passion, expertise, and unwavering integrity to everything they do. Our alumni continue to make meaningful contributions to healthcare worldwide, and we cherish their ongoing role as ambassadors of the faculty and the university.

An Invitation to Engage

Whether you are a prospective student embarking on a health professions journey, a researcher seeking meaningful collaboration, a partner interested in joining forces with us, or an alumnus reconnecting with your academic roots, we warmly invite you to engage with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the UFS.

Together, guided by Vision 130, we will continue to advance health sciences education and research that is not only excellent and relevant, but truly transformative, for the benefit of society today and for generations to come.

We look forward to walking this meaningful journey with you.