Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

UFS Matriculant of the Year - 40 years of excellence

06 May 2021 | Story Linda Greyling

Matriculant of the year_web read more — Matric achievers from across the country can now enter for the 40th Matriculant of the Year competition, hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS), Netwerk24, and Volksblad. From the left is Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Pieter Hoogenboezem, 2019 winner, and Gert Coetzee, Editor of Volksblad.

Pieter Hoogenboezem describes his first year as a student at the University of the Free State (UFS) as a roller-coaster ride. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I was also looking forward to it.”

The medical student and 39th winner of the Matriculant of the Year competition for 2019 says last year was an uphill struggle due to COVID-19, but when he was eventually able to return to campus in August, it was nice to experience a bit of student life.

No one could have foreseen what would happen in the world in 2020. COVID-19 has changed everything and this popular annual competition, which has been presented ever since 1981, also had to be cancelled last year.

However, this could not get the better of a competition rooted so deeply in the school community, and matric learners from across the country can now enter for the 40th Matriculant of the Year competition hosted by the UFS, Netwerk24, and Volksblad.

Well-rounded matriculants – learners who not only excel academically, but who are also involved in culture, sport, and leadership at their schools – who intend to study full-time at the UFS in 2022 – can enter. Community service and community engagement are also taken into account during the judging process. Matriculants can enter themselves or they can be entered by their schools. However, the signature of the principal as well as the school’s stamp must appear on the form.

All entries are judged according to fixed criteria, and 25 semi-finalists are selected. A total of 14 finalists chosen from this 25 will take part in the Matriculant of the Year finals in Bloemfontein from 5 to 7 October. During the finals, interviews will be conducted with the finalists; they will participate in team sessions, after which the winner will be announced.

The winner and 13 finalists will receive prize money from the sponsors – Kovsie Alumni Trust, Mazars, Absa, and Pick n Pay Preller Walk, as well as bursaries from UFS Student Recruitment Services, the final gala event in Bloemfontein, and gifts to the value of R10 000.

The other 11 semi-finalists will receive prize money from Kovsie Alumni Trust and bursaries from UFS Student Recruitment Services.

Two special prizes of R5 000 each are sponsored by the Kovsie Alumni Trust and will be awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of leadership, academy, sport, or culture.

The bursaries and prize money will be paid as soon as the student has registered at the UFS. Entries must reach the UFS on or before 6 August 2021.

For entry forms or for more information, email Linda Greyling at greylinl@ufs.ac.za

News Archive

Nine Kovsie students awarded NAC bursaries

2015-02-19

The UFS is proud to announce that nine of our Drama and Theatre Arts undergraduate students have been awarded National Arts Council (NAC) bursaries for their studies in 2015.

From the left in the photograph, these students are:

• Mbuyiselo Nqodi (first year)
• Marike Jonker (second year)
• Monique de Klerk (second year)
• Aldine van der Merwe (third year)
• Kado Cloete (third year)
• Rondo Mpiti (third year)
• Magnus McPhail (third year)
• Olivia Wyngaard (third year)
• Marica Laing (second year)

This year the amount awarded for the NAC busaries is R70 000.

Since 2005, the NAC has given bursaries to the UFS for the last 10 years. The amount varies from year to year.

“The number of undergraduate students who benefit varies depending on the amount allocated each year,” said Prof Nico Luwes, Head of the Drama and Theatre Arts Department at the UFS.

“Some years, the NAC prescribes how many students will be awarded a bursary and provides a profile of gender and academic prerequisites. Other years, such as the present one, there is no prescription and the UFS was able to cater for the applications submitted, and the number of students who will benefit, within the amount awarded. Normally, it is divided between successful candidates.”

The criteria according to which NAC bursaries are awarded to students every year include academic merit and, of course, their financial situation.”

“The full information of applicants from the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts is checked by the selection committee – all permanent members of staff in the department. The names are then sent to the NAC for approval.
UFS Finances ensures further that the bursary money is paid into the student’s class fees account. During the year and at the end, I report to the NAC on the progress shown by bursary holders. This, in turn, contributes to the excellent co-operation with the NAC so that the following year’s application is then generally successful,” says Luwes.

Bursary monies cover mainly registration and class fees for some or all modules, depending on the amount awarded.

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept