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11 May 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced universities to embrace technology and find alternative ways to campus-based classes. Like most other institutions in the country, the University of the Free State (UFS) is following an online/blended learning and teaching approach during the 2021 academic year. This means that most students will spend their time online, therefore owning or having regular access to a laptop has become a necessity.

To ensure students have access to digital devices, the UFS is offering registered students the opportunity to purchase a laptop at affordable rates. Students can apply to purchase a device in order to access online platforms, obtain learning material, and engage with lecturers. The laptops will be provided interest-free through various payment options and will become the property of the student.

Who can apply for a laptop?

The offer is open to all registered students. The UFS has made provision for 3 000 laptops, and devices will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

What is the make, model, and cost of available devices? 

Option 1:

Make: Hewlett Packard
Model: HP 250 G7 
Style: Laptop

Price:  R5 040,34 (VAT inclusive)


Option 2:
Make: Asus
Model: X540NA-C45B0T

Price:  R5 247,97 (VAT inclusive)

The laptops are enabled with Microsoft 365 software and a step-by-step manual to help you with the personal configuration once you receive the device. 


What are the payment options?
The student must agree to the payment terms as defined by the UFS. 
The payment options are as follows: 

A. Final-year students (students who will be completing their qualifications in 2021): 

► Option 1:  Two payments – one in May 2021 and a second payment in October 2021
► Option 2:  Six payments – from May 2021 to October 2021
► Option 3: Once-off cash payment

B. New and other returning students with bursaries

► Option 1: Two payments – one in May 2021 and a second payment in October 2021 
► Option 2:  Equal payments until November 2021
► Option 3: Once-off cash payment


C. New and other returning students without bursaries (with the exclusion of final-year students)

► Option 1: Three payments – one in May 2021, a second payment in October 2021, and a final payment in March 2022 
► Option 2:  Twelve equal payments – from May 2021 to April 2022
► Option 3: Once-off cash payment
How will I receive the laptop?
 
Students will have the option of collecting a laptop from the Bloemfontein or Qwaqwa Campuses, or to collect it from a courier. We will communicate the logistics of this individually to students. 

Students who opt for courier services will be charged an additional cost of R162,71. 


When can I order a laptop?

Applications are currently open. 

To apply for a laptop, click HERE and make sure that the digital form is fully completed before submitting it via the SUBMIT button.  

Enquiries: 

Enquiries about technical support regarding the issuing of the laptops, delivery, and courier services can be directed to:  Studentdesk@ufs.ac.za | +27 51 401 2000.
 

News Archive

Students’ commitment the focus of architectural exhibition at Free State Arts Festival
2016-07-07

Description: Architectural exhibition  Tags: Architectural exhibition

The traveling exhibition of first-year architecture
students of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University consists of 400 exhibition pieces.

Photo: Supplied

A unique travelling exhibition of over 400 pieces will be hosted by the UFS Department of Architecture from 11-23 July 2016. The exhibition, a project of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) School of Architecture is the first exhibition of its kind on this scale.

First exhibition of its kind

The architect Boban Varghese, the head of the Department of Architecture at NMMU, said that a series of projects furthering academic engagements are being implemented under his leadership. This travelling exhibition of first-year architecture students is one of these.

The NMMU School of Architecture is engaged in addressing architectural education that is appropriate and relevant as it responds to the contextual challenges shaped by local and global issues.

Students’ work received recognition

Besides being recognition of student work, which is normally confined within the walls of the Schools of Architecture, the aim of the travelling exhibition is not only to introduce the work to students of other Architecture Schools and the architecture profession itself, but also to share the discipline of architecture with a wider public. In this sense, the exhibition is an educational and cultural event.

This important aspect is manifested in the generous support of the UFS Department of Architecture in sponsoring the second exhibition during the Free State Arts Festival, as a collaborative project between two Schools of Architecture. A third exhibition of the work is foreseen in Johannesburg during the annual Architecture Students Congress at Wits later this year.

432 pieces part of research programme

The exhibition PALLADIO AND THE MODERN
is the first exhibition of its kind of first-year
architecture students’ work in South Africa.

The exhibition entitled PALLADIO AND THE MODERN shows the first two projects of the first-year students when they have just arrived from school with little experience in architectural drawings and in building architectural models. Their dedicated commitment to the task of producing 288 drawings and 144 models - a total 432 exhibition pieces - forms part of a three-year research programme (2013-2015) in architectural composition conducted by the Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Ernst Struwig, Dr Magda Minguzzi and Jean-Pierre Basson. All the work exhibited is done by hand.

In the exhibition, the 36 villas of the Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio (1508-1580), initiate a dialogue with the 36 houses of 20th and 21st international and national architects in their reciprocal theme of exploring the language of architecture.

Visiting hours: Monday to Friday 09:00-16:00
Exhibition closes on 23 July 2016

Sponsors:
Department of Architecture UFS; NMMU; Stauch Vorster Architects; The Matrix Urban Designers and Architects Cc; Adendorff Architects and Interiors Cc; NOH Architects; Thembela Architects (Pty) Ltd; Erik Voight Architects; DMV Architecture, MMK Architects; IMBONO F. J. A. Architects CC; dhk Architects; LYT Architecture; B4 Architects.

 

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