Graduation season has begun at the University of the Free State (UFS), where 8 350 students will receive their qualifications this April across ceremonies on the Qwaqwa and Bloemfontein campuses.

Ceremonies will take place on the Qwaqwa Campus on 10 and 11 April, and on the Bloemfontein Campus from 14 to 18 April.

The April ceremonies will also include the return of the traditional student procession following engagement with student leadership and consideration of arrangements for this year’s graduation cycle. Additional measures have been introduced to support the smooth running of ceremonies and to accommodate guests across venues.

For the graduates who will cross the stage, this moment carries the weight of everything that came before it. Early mornings. Late nights. Setbacks, progress, and the decision to keep going.

For some, that decision had to be made more than once. In the coming weeks, the university will share the stories behind these journeys – moments of resilience, recovery, and determination that define this graduating class.

“If I wake up, I must do something,” says MSc graduate Nokulunga Ludidi, whose studies continued while navigating chronic illness.

PhD graduate Tobias Ndlovu also faced a serious challenge. After suffering a stroke during the final phase of his studies, he continued to study hard while working towards medical recovery. “Frequent use of my affected hand in typing became an integral part of my physical therapy,” he says.

These are just glimpses into the journeys that will be shared throughout graduation. While each story is different, they meet at the same moment – crossing the stage. 

And they are not journeys taken alone.

Families, friends, and communities will fill the venues, some travelling long distances to be there. For many, this will be the first graduate in their family – a moment that reflects not only personal achievement, but a shift in what becomes possible for others.

“Each graduation ceremony represents years of perseverance, learning, and growth. Behind every qualification is a story of determination – often in the face of significant challenges,” says UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Hester C. Klopper.

Across the graduating cohort are students who have followed different paths to reach this point – including siblings completing their studies together, staff members graduating alongside their children, and students who have navigated disability or serious health conditions during their academic journeys.

Taken together, these journeys reflect the role of the university in creating access, enabling success, and preparing graduates to contribute meaningfully beyond campus.

As they leave the university, graduates do so within the context of UFS’s focus on responsible societal futures – carrying their knowledge and skills into the communities, workplaces, and challenges that now lie ahead.

“As you move forward, remember that the knowledge and skills you have gained here carry a responsibility – to contribute, to lead, and to make a positive difference,” Prof Klopper adds.

The university will also confer four honorary doctorates and present a Council Medal, recognising individuals whose contributions continue to shape society in meaningful ways.

Across both campuses, graduation will bring together thousands of people in a moment that reflects not only achievement but the journeys behind it and the futures that now begin.