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The University of the Free State (UFS) wishes to confirm that the following financial concessions have been made to enable students to register for the 2024 academic year:
- Students with confirmed NSFAS funding:
- Students with a confirmed National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding allocation for 2024 with a debt of R20 000 and less may register fully without making any payments.
- First-time entering students (FTENS) with a confirmed NSFAS funding allocation for 2024 may register fully without any payments.
- Students with a confirmed NSFAS funding allocation for 2024 with a debt of R30 000 and less may register provisionally and pay the required fees* for provisional registration.
- South African self-paying (NON-NSFAS) students:
- SA students with a debt of up to R500 may register fully without making any payments.
- SA students with a debt of up to R30 000 may register provisionally and pay the required fees* for provisional registration.
- FTENS not on UFS funded list:
- Students who are not on the funded list but report that they have been approved on their portal must contact our
Financial Aid Offices urgently so that the university can escalate to NSFAS.
The university will have continuous engagement with the National Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to resolve outstanding matters. The university’s Financial Working Group (FWG) will meet regularly to determine how it can best assist students taking into consideration the financial constraints of the university.
RSG Crossword Tournament helps to celebrate language
2016-07-27
Dr Annette de Wet (left), Assistant Director
of the Unit for Language Development in
the Centre for Teaching and Learning at
the UFS, Albe Grobbelaar from XWord,
Prof Angelique van Niekerk, Head of the
Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German
and French, and Prof Lucius Botes, Dean of the
Faculty of the Humanities, during the launch
of the RSG Crossword Tournament.
Photo: Jóhann Thormählen
Sometimes it is difficult for language departments to be topical and to show their relevance for the people out there. However, with the RSG Crossword Tournament, this became possible and Afrikaans could be celebrated in a positive manner. This is what Prof Angelique van Niekerk, Head of the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French at the University of the Free State (UFS), had to say about this initiative.
Interest during the Vrystaat Arts Festival exceeded all expectations. Altogether, 46 participants from across the country participated on 15 and 16 July 2016. Ilse van Hemert from Pretoria was crowned as the first South African crossword champion.
New dimension to language milieu
Prof Van Niekerk said people are familiar with crossword puzzles from the media, and it was the first time that a tournament like this was presented to the public in South Africa. “This tournament brings something like linguistics and linguistic sensitivity to the fore,” she said. “It is another dimension of the language milieu.” This is exactly why her department would like to see it grow in future.
Wordplay serves as inspiration
The idea for the tournament is based loosely on the film, Wordplay (2006), which is set in New York, and the annual New York Times Crossword Tournament. The South African Tournament was presented in conjunction with the crossword group, XWord, Prof Van Niekerk’s department, and the radio station RSG as brand sponsor.
Crossword puzzles and blockbusters crosswords completed
“This tournament brings something like
linguistics and linguistic sensitivity to
the fore.”
Albe Grobbelaar from XWord said the winners were determined on a points basis. “Competitors had to complete two crossword puzzles and one blockbuster crossword. The difference between the two is that a blockbuster’s clues are within the blocks or grid, but with the crossword, you have white and black blocks with the clues separate on the outside.”