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14 December 2023 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Supplied
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

Quadriplegic doctor obtains degree against all odds
2016-11-25

Description: Dr Swartbooi CUADS Tags: Dr Swartbooi CUADS

Dr Swartbooi faces each day with vigour and
resilience. Dr Swartbooi analyses images on
a screen in the Clinical Imaging Laboratory
at Universitas Academic Hospital.

Photo: Oteng Mpete

Life’s defining moments are when perseverance is rewarded. It is not easy to swim against the tide. However, for Dr Ambrotius Swartbooi from the University of the Free State’s Department of Clinical Imaging Sciences, it became his moment of glory. In 2006, Dr Swartbooi suffered a spinal injury from a near-fatal car accident which left him paralysed and a quadriplegic.

The strength to carry on

“You have one of two choices:
to lie down and give up,
or to pick yourself up”
—Dr Swartbooi

Dr Swartbooi spent close to six months, recovering from his injuries. “You have one of two choices: to lie down and give up or to pick yourself up,” said Dr Swartbooi. He would inspire other patients with similar injuries to reintegrate into society despite their new-found circumstances.

Fortunately, not all was doom and gloom; in 2007 Dr Swartbooi got married, and his wife has supported and inspired him to continue pursuing his dreams. Dr Swartbooi completed his undergraduate medical degree at the UFS, and in 2014 decided it was time to complete his studies and pursued an MMed specialising in Diagnostic Radiology.

To treat or not treat: that is the question

After all his trials and tribulations, Dr Swartbooi will be receiving his MMed Diagnostic Radiology degree at the UFS Summer Graduation ceremony in December 2016. His research focuses on intracranial aneurysm size interventions. He discovered that there were discrepancies between international standards for intervention and African standards for intervention.

The research inspects what should be treated and how it should be treated. He found there was a gap in African literature into the size of aneurysms.

Champion of survival: Where to from here?

“That’s a good question,” said Dr Swartbooi. “Slowly from here. I still need to work on getting my full accreditation from the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).” He plans to continue fuelling his passion for teaching. “There is no place better to teach than at an academic hospital.”

Dr Swartbooi commended the efforts of the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS), which assisted him in writing all his exams. “I want to be able to make a fulfilling and lasting impact on people but also to give the best medical service that I can,” concluded Dr Swartbooi.

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