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Important information regarding 2018 UFS tuition fees for first-time entrants
The recent announcement from President Jacob Zuma regarding fee-free higher education for new, first-year South African undergraduate students from poor and working class families in 2018 refers. While the University of the Free State (UFS) welcomes the initiative by the government to support the above category of students, South African universities remain fee-paying institutions for all other students. This bursary scheme will be phased in over a period of five years, starting in 2018.
The following information is important for students and parents to note:
- It is important to note that new, first-year South African undergraduate students refer to students who will register at a tertiary institution for the first time in 2018. This includes students coming from TVET colleges, who were supported through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), and who meet the NSFAS criteria
- New first-year undergraduate South African students from poor and working class households where the combined family income does not exceed R350 000 per annum, will be supported through government grants, administered by NSFAS, for their full cost of study
- The definition of ‘full cost of study’ includes tuition fees, prescribed study material, books, meals where applicable, private and university accommodation, and transport
- Students who were offered funding from another funder, but which funding does not cover the full cost of study, may be eligible for top-up funding through NSFAS if they applied and meet the academic and financial eligibility requirements. Double funding will not be allowed
- Recipients of South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants will automatically qualify for NSFAS funding. All other students, no matter which school they attended, should have applied for this funding on the NSFAS website
- If you have applied to NSFAS, please await confirmation of the outcome of your application. You can track your application status on the NSFAS website (www.nsfas.org.za)
- Applicants who are NSFAS recipients will not have to pay a registration prepayment for 2018
- The UFS Financial Aid Office will communicate with NSFAS recipients via SMS as soon as they can register
- NSFAS is closed for applications for 2018. Late applications will not be considered
- Students who did not apply to NSFAS for 2018 studies in 2017, and who are admitted to the UFS, may apply directly to the Financial Aid Office – their information will be forwarded to NSFAS for further consideration
- Applicants coming from homes where the combined household income is more than R350 000 but less than R600 000, are eligible to apply for gap funding to cover the 8% increase on tuition and residence fees; students will need to apply for this gap funding. More information as well as the application form will soon be made available on the UFS website (https://www.ufs.ac.za/kovsielife/unlisted-pages/bursaries/financial-aid)
- A first payment of R6 870 for non-residence students and R12 980 for students staying in UFS residences is payable before registration
- NSFAS recipients will automatically qualify for gap funding and do not have to apply for it
- Applicants from homes where the combined household income exceeds R600 000, will be expected to pay a first payment of R6 870 before registration for non-residence students and R12 980 for students staying in UFS residences
- Students must take note that all students who are not funded through, for example NSFAS, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), etc., will need to find their own funding for 2018
International Applicants
- International students are required to make the following payments five (5) working days prior to registration:
- International Students (SADC)
Residential R29 080
Non-residential R19 360
- International Students (NSADC)
Residential R43 160
Non-residential R28 160
- International students must pay all fees for the second semester in advance before registration can take place
- South African and international SADC students pay the same fee per module. International non-SADC (NSADC) students pay the actual module price + 50%
- An additional administrative levy for all international students is included in the amounts quoted above. The International Admin Levy is not refundable
- All fees are Rand (ZAR) denominated
- Please contact the Office for International Affairs for more details at:
T: +27 51 401 3219/2501/3403/9436
F: +27 51 401 9185
E: internationalenquiries@ufs.ac.za
Postgraduate Applicants
- Postgraduate students may consult the Postgraduate School for any queries regarding first payments prior to registration. Please see the UFS website for contact details on:
https://www.ufs.ac.za/postgraduate
The Fees Yearbook 2018 is available online on the UFS website.
For queries, please contact the relevant offices during working hours:
- Tuition Fees
Undergraduate students (Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses):
+27 51 401 3003
+27 51 401 2806
Postgraduate students (Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses):
T: +27 51 401 9537
F: +27 51 401 3579
E: tuitionfees@ufs.ac.za
- Housing and Residence Affairs
+27 51 401 3455
+27 51 401 3562
- Financial Aid
Undergraduate students:
Bloemfontein Campus: +27 51 401 3741
Qwaqwa Campus: +27 58 718 5061
I trust you will find this in order and wish you all the best with your studies during 2018.
Regards,
Chris Liebenberg
Senior Director: Finance
2010 World Cup: An opportunity for nation-building
2010-05-11
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Pictured from the left, front are: Prof. Labuschagne and Prof. Cornelissen. Back: Prof. Kersting, Prof. Teuns Verschoor (Acting Senior Vice-Rector: UFS) and Dr Ralf Hermann (DAAD).
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe |
“The 2010 FIFA World Cup creates a window of opportunity for nation-building in South Africa that could even surpass the opportunity created by the 1995 Rugby World Cup.”
This was according to Prof. Pieter Labuschagne from the University of South Africa, who was one of the three speakers during the lecture series on soccer that were recently presented by the Faculty of the Humanities at the University of the Free State (UFS), in conjunction with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), under the theme: Soccer and Nation Building.
Prof. Labuschagne delivered a paper on the topic, The 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa: Nation Building or White Apathy?, highlighting the critical issue of how sport in South Africa was still largely supported along racial lines.
“We are still enforcing the separateness of rugby as a sport for whites and soccer as a sport for blacks,” he said.
He said a high degree of animosity against soccer existed among whites because they felt rugby and cricket were being singled out by parliament as far as transformation was concerned. He said that could be the reason why a large number of South African whites still supported soccer teams from foreign countries instead of local Premier Soccer League teams.
“Bridging social context between different racial groups is still a major problem, even though patriotism is comparatively high in South Africa,” added Prof. Norbert Kersting from the University of Stellenbosch, who also presented a paper on World Cup 2010 and nation building from Germany to South Africa, drawing critical comparisons on issues of national pride and identity between the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2010 World Cup.
“Strong leadership is needed to utilize the opportunity provided by the 2010 World Cup to build national unity as former President Nelson Mandela did with the Rugby World Cup in 1995,” said Prof. Labuschagne.
Although acknowledging the power of sport as a unifying force, Prof. Scarlett Cornelissen, also from the University of Stellenbosch, said that, since 1995, the captivating power of sport had been used to achieve political aims and that the 2010 World Cup was no different.
Amongst the reasons she advanced for her argument were that the 2010 World Cup was meant to show the world that South Africa was a capable country; that the World Cup was meant to solidify South Africa’s “African Agenda” – the African Renaissance - and also to extend the idea of the Rainbow Nation; consolidate democracy; contribute to socio-economic development and legitimize the state.
“We should not place too much emphasis on the 2010 World Cup as a nation-building instrument,” she concluded.
She presented a paper on the topic Transforming the Nation? The political legacies of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The aim of the lecture series was to inspire public debate on the social and cultural dimensions of soccer.
DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) is one of the world’s largest and most respected intermediary organisations in the field of international academic cooperation.
Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za
11 May 2010