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14 August 2020 | Story Anban Naidoo | Photo Charl Devenish
Students returning for the second semester should take note of the following important dates. Also note that the online self-service facility for module changes and additions will be available until 11 September 2020. If you are unable to register online and need assistance with changes to your registration, please contact your relevant faculty for academic advice/approval.

Important second-semester dates:

• 31 July 2020: Predicate day
• 3 August 2020: Main mid-year examination commences
• 22 August 2020: Main mid-year examination ends
• 22 August 2020: Final date to submit final marks for module with continuous assessment
• 24 August 2020: Mid-year additional examination commences
• 27 August 2020: Mid-year additional examination ends
• 28 to 31 August 2020: UFS long weekend (no academic activity)
• 1 September 2020: Second semester commences
• 1 September 2020: Second-semester registration commences (Faculty of Health Sciences)
• 2 September 2020: Final date to transfer marks for the first semester (excluding Faculty of Health Sciences)
• 3 September 2020: Second-semester registration commences (all faculties, excluding Health Sciences)
• 3 September 2020: Mid-year additional examination ends
• 10 September 2020: Final date to transfer marks for the first semester (only Faculty of Health Sciences)
• 11 September 2020: Second-semester registration ends
• 11 September 2020: Last date to cancel year modules and second-semester modules with financial credit
• 24 to 27 September: 2020: UFS long weekend
• 30 September 2020: Last date for master’s and doctoral students to register for the second semester
• 30 October to 2 November 2020: UFS long weekend
• 27 November 2020: Second-semester classes ends
• 30 November 2020 to 18 December 2020: Main Examinations
• January 2021 to 16 January 2021: Additional Examinations


News Archive

Implications of new Language Policy for first-year students in 2017
2016-10-17

Dear Prospective Students and Parents/Guardians

As we have communicated to you since January 2016, the University of the Free State’s (UFS) parallel-medium (Afrikaans-English) Language Policy was under review during 2015. In March 2016, the Senate and then Council adopted with overwhelming majority a new Language Policy that strives to achieve multilingualism. The new policy entails English as primary medium of instruction, but with the introduction of a tutorial system in Afrikaans and progressively in Sesotho to support students’ learning in their first and second year of study.

The policy will be piloted in 2017 with first-year students in three faculties: Law, Health Sciences, and the Humanities. In these faculties, the majority of students indicated their preference to be taught in English. The Afrikaans-English policy will be maintained in the rest of the faculties in 2017 and phased out according to an implementation plan as from 2018. Current registered students will be able to complete their studies in the language they selected upon registration.

As you probably know through the media, the UFS decision to change its Language Policy is before the courts. It is hoped that the final outcome will be known before the end of the year, but this is not certain. The university management gives the assurance that it will act in terms of that final outcome.

In the meantime, the UFS will proceed with the implementation of the new Language Policy in 2017 as approved by Council.

Should the court’s verdict be in favour of the Senate and Council resolution, the March 2016 decision will come into effect. If not, the Afrikaans-English policy will stand. The UFS is committed and ready to provide for both eventualities.

Related articles:
Judgement in the Supreme Court of Appeal about UFS Language Policy: 17 November 2016
UFS to proceed with appealing to Supreme Court of Appeal regarding new Language Policy: 29 September 2016
UFS to lodge application to appeal judgment about new Language Policy: 22 July 2016
High Court ruling about new UFS Language Policy: 21 July 2016
UFS Council approves a new Language Policy: 11 March 2016

 
Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393

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