The Qwaqwa Campus is a vibrant education hub at the base of the scenic sandstone mountains of Phuthaditjhaba in the Eastern Free State. While we play an important role in the provisioning of higher education in a rural environment, we also employ many locals and take the lead in the socio-economic development of the area.

Before being fully incorporated as a campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) on 1 January 2003, the campus was a satellite campus of the former University of the North (now University of Limpopo), some 700 km away. Back then, it was referred to as the University of Qwaqwa or Uniqwa, and offered programmes to 282 students (in 1982) in the disciplines of the Arts, Economics, Education, and Theology.

Stimulating growth, job creation, and entrepreneurship in the region is our main aim in the creation of a demand-driven academic ethos, while skills and community-development programmes are also offered on the campus. Our research agenda focus on identifying the best possible strategies for creating jobs in impoverished rural areas and understanding how best to stimulate economic growth in these contexts.

Our students and staff reflect the involvement and commitment of the UFS to provide access to higher education in rural South Africa, offering certificates, diplomas, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to students in various study fields.

We are proud to have an international complement of highly qualified and skilled academic and support staff that are serious about providing a high quality of education to around 6 800 students.