The Office for International Affairs (OIA) serves as the first port of call for all international staff and students at the UFS, providing assistance and specialised administrative support. The principal purpose of the OIA is to enable internationalisation at the UFS. It renders strategic advice on internationalisation and supports the international activities of internal UFS stakeholders. It supports international partnerships, research internationalisation, internationalisation at home activities, and student exchanges. The services provided include, but are not limited to:

  • Facilitation of international partnerships and advice to internal stakeholders on partnership processes; 
  • Specialised services for international students, and ensuring their compliance with relevant legislation; 
  • Provision of practical and emotional support for international students;
  • Structuring co-curricular internationalisation at home activities, such as cultural diversity celebrations and activities supporting the social integration of international students; 
  • Institutional reporting on internationalisation and creating an institutional narrative of internationalisation;
  • Liaison with various external stakeholders i.e. government, embassies in South Africa, science councils, and funding agencies; 
  • Coordination of international projects. 

ORIENTATION 
All international students must report to the OIA soon after arrival on campus, before beginning the registration process. This will ensure that your UFS registration and orientation as a new student is a positive and efficient experience. All international students must also attend the orientation sessions as indicated in the Gateway programme and in the OIA communiqué. Advising students on their immediate academic and social environment is of paramount importance to us. The OIA has designed a comprehensive and informative orientation programme that will introduce new students to Bloemfontein and its surrounds, the campus, and most importantly, help them adjust to a different culture. Through our orientation, we hope to ensure that your social and local intergration to the UFS community and Bloemfontein will be a positive experience enriched by the cultural diversity. Further details on this are available in the Gateway Orientation programme.

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