The University of the Free State (UFS) is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in South Africa. It opened its doors in 1904 on the Bloemfontein Campus with a mere six students in the Humanities. Since then, the institution has grown to approximately 41 900 students spread across seven faculties over three campuses. The UFS offers a range of high-quality and internationally accepted degrees, diplomas, and certificate courses in the following faculties:
- Economic and Management Sciences
- Education
- Health Sciences
- The Humanities
- Law
- Natural and Agricultural Sciences
- Theology and Religion
The UFS boasts three campuses in the Free State – one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The university has been established in Bloemfontein, and was expanded with the addition of the Qwaqwa Campus (in the Eastern Free State) in 2003, and the South Campus – in Bloemfontein – in 2004.
The South Campus provides alternative access to higher education for promising students who have not obtained the required marks in their final school examinations. Our vibrant Qwaqwa Campus serves a rapidly-growing number of rural students from the immediate area and surrounding provinces.
The Bloemfontein Campus is situated in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State. Bloemfontein is a modern city with approximately 850 000 residents. It offers residents and visitors a full range of recreational, commercial, and educational facilities. The city has a relaxed atmosphere that reflects its agricultural beginnings, but also boasts a vibrant nightlife and an abundance of clubs, pubs, restaurants, and coffee bars, as well as nationally and internationally recognised sporting facilities.
The Free State enjoys pleasant weather for most of the year. Summer, from October to April, is sunny and hot, with temperatures in excess of 32 °C in December until February. Hot afternoons are often cooled by brief thunderstorms. The winter months of May to August are dry, crisp and cold, though daytime temperatures are pleasant at around 15 °C.
Bloemfontein is well-connected to other major cities and tourist attractions by means of road and air transport. South African standard time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. There are no zone or seasonal variations.
Bloemfontein Campus Facilities
Apart from being close to shopping centres and supermarkets, a number of convenient shops and services are also situated on the campus itself. Thakaneng Bridge, the student centre on the Bloemfontein Campus, is the hub of student life located in the centre of campus, with a number of fast-food outlets and delis.
Other convenient utilities and outlets found on Thakaneng Bridge include a number of banks, ATMs for drawing money, the Van Schaik book store for textbooks and stationery, Xerox copying services, and a 7-Eleven grocery store.