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2024 Registration
Join the vibrant University of the Free State family and embark on an exciting academic journey! Regularly visit our comprehensive registration website for all the key info you need to thrive.

The University of the Free State (UFS) warmly welcomes its future, present, and returning students to an exciting academic year, where opportunities for growth, learning, and community abound. As a proud member of the vibrant UFS family, get ready to dive into a world of knowledge and experiences that will shape your future. The UFS strongly urges all incoming first-year and senior students to frequent the registration website for a complete and detailed overview of essential information.

Important dates to remember

All new first-year students, mark your calendars for essential dates:

  • Curriculum advice and registration: 5-9 February 2024
  • Classes commence: 12 February 2024
  • Last date to add/change modules: 16 February 2024
  • Deadline to cancel modules with full credit: 31 March 2024

Senior students, your academic year begins with guidance from your faculties – starting from 22 January 2024, leading to these crucial dates:

  • Registration: 29 January-12 February 2024
  • Classes commence: 12 February 2024
  • Last date to add/change modules: 16 February 2024
  • Last date to cancel modules with full credit: 31 March 2024

Postgraduate students, your journey towards enrolment and progression includes:

  • Registration for new research master’s and doctoral students takes place throughout the year.
  • For returning master’s and doctoral students:
  • First semester: 29 January-12 February 2024
  • Second semester: 8-19 July 2024

Resources at your fingertips

Navigate your registration journey smoothly with these resources:

  1. Registration Guide: 8 steps to take: https://ufsweb.co/3sZOOet
  2. Online Registration Guide – User Manual: https://ufsweb.co/489Qf8O
  3. Registration Guide – First-Year Students: https://ufsweb.co/4aeLQDF
  4. Registration Guide – Senior Students: https://ufsweb.co/46RMWSC
  5. Registration Guide – Postgraduate Students: https://ufsweb.co/3TnjeSm
  6. Registration Activity Guide – User Manual: https://ufsweb.co/47Tvv5O
  7. Service Request Management – User Manual: https://ufsweb.co/3t5cIFp

How to seek assistance

Should you require guidance or have enquiries regarding the registration process, multiple avenues are at your disposal:

Institutional Contact Centre: Call +27 51 401 9111 or WhatsApp +27 87 240 6370

Email Support: Reach out to studentadmin@ufs.ac.za

Faculty support tailored for you

Each faculty offers specialised support designed to cater to your needs:

  1. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: https://www.ufs.ac.za/econ
  2. Faculty of Education: https://www.ufs.ac.za/edu
  3. Faculty of Health Sciences: https://www.ufs.ac.za/health
  4. Faculty of The Humanities: https://www.ufs.ac.za/humanities
  5. Faculty of Law: https://www.ufs.ac.za/law
  6. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences: https://www.ufs.ac.za/natagri
  7. Faculty of Theology and Religion: https://www.ufs.ac.za/theology

Prepare to embark on an incredible academic expedition at the University of the Free State! As part of the UFS family, immerse yourself in a diverse, vibrant, and enriching community. Welcome aboard and get ready to thrive!

News Archive

Groundwater management vital for groundwater sustainability
2016-11-09

Description: Dr Yolanda Kotzé Tags: Dr Yolanda Kotzé

Dr Yolanda Kotzé, Affiliated Researcher in the
UFS Institute for Groundwater Studies, is passionate
about the management of groundwater.
Photo: Rulanzen Martin

An interest in groundwater resource management ignited the spark for a PhD research thesis by Dr Yolanda Kotzé, Affiliated Researcher in the Institute for Groundwater Studies (IGS) at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Her PhD research thesis titled, A Framework for Groundwater Use Authorisations as Part of Groundwater Governance in Water Scarce Areas within South Africa, was the result of her interest in groundwater resource management. Dr Kotzé identified the agricultural sector as one of the major water users, and a decision was made to conduct research within this sector.  

Research funded by Institute for Groundwater Studies
Groundwater is water found underground in cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rocks. It is stored in, and moves slowly through geological formations of soil, sand, and rocks (aquifers). The National Department of Water and Sanitation was indirectly the client for this research. The research project was funded by the IGS. Given the current drought, effective groundwater resource management can be achieved within all sectors through sustainable abstraction and use without over-abstraction.

“Groundwater can be effectively managed
in the agricultural sector by sustainable use,
monitoring the quantity of groundwater use,
and measuring groundwater levels,”
said Dr Kotzé.

Research addresses improvement of groundwater management
Her promotor, mentor, teacher, and friend, the late Prof Gerrit van Tonder, introduced her to the field of Geohydrology, and especially to groundwater resource management. “With my research, I made a significant contribution to the improvement of groundwater governance and groundwater resource management, as well as to the handling of groundwater use authorisations for irrigation purposes in South Africa,” said Dr Kotzé. With this significant contribution, she attempts to address the phenomenon of poor groundwater allocation and groundwater resource management by means of a framework. The development of this framework has shown the value of action research in an attempt to find a solution to a problem. “Groundwater can be effectively managed in the agricultural sector by sustainable use, monitoring the quantity of groundwater use, and measuring groundwater levels,” said Dr Kotzé.

The methodology of the research consisted primarily of action research, which has a five-phase cyclical process. The research was Dr Kotzé’s application for a PhD in Geohydrology at the UFS in 2012. The research was completed in 2015.

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