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Get Ready for 2025: Your Essential Guide to Registration at the UFS

17 January 2025 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo Kaleidoscope Studios

2025 UFS Registration — Kickstart your 2025 journey – register now and make this year unforgettable.

It is that time of year again – registration is officially open for the 2025 academic year at the University of the Free State (UFS). Whether you are a bright-eyed first-year ready to start your university journey, a returning student taking the next step on your academic path, or a postgraduate aiming to dive deeper into your research, now is the time to secure your spot for 2025.

Do not leave it to the last minute – completing your registration early ensures that you are set for the year ahead, without any unnecessary stress. Some programmes may have specific deadlines, so the earlier you act, the better.

Online Registration: Quick, Easy, and Efficient

The UFS strongly encourages all students to take advantage of the online registration platform. It is simple, convenient, and fast. Whether you are registering for the first time or returning for another year, the online process will help you get everything sorted without leaving your home. Just visit the official registration website and follow the step-by-step guide to complete your registration.

However, if you feel that you need more help or prefer to register in person, on-campus registration is still available at selected venues. Check out your faculty below for on-campus registration venues and dates.

• Faculty of Theology and Religion

• Faculty of The Humanities

• Faculty of Health Sciences

• Faculty of Education

• Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

• Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

• Faculty of Law

Key Dates You Don’t Want to Miss

Online registration: 7 January - 7 February 2025
First-year students: Curriculum advice and registration: 27 January - 7 February 2025 (face-to-face)
Senior students: Curriculum advice and registration: 20 January - 7 February 2025
Postgraduate students:
- New research master’s and doctoral students: Register any time during the year.
- Returning master’s and doctoral students: First semester registration before 31 March 2025.
- Honours and PGDip students: Confirm registration dates with your faculty.
Classes start: 10 February 2025
Module adjustments: Last day to add or change modules: 14 February 2025
Module cancellations for full credit: 31 March 2025 (Semester 1)

First Payments and Fees

To make sure your registration goes through without a hitch, remember to make your first payment on time. The first payment is essential to complete your registration; you can find payment options on the Student Finance page.

If you have any questions or run into issues, the Student Finance team is here to help! Reach them at tuitionfees@ufs.ac.za or call + 27 51 401 9111.

First-Year Residence Move-In

For first-year students living in residence, you will be officially moving in on 25 January 2025. This is your opportunity to settle into campus life, meet new friends, and get comfortable before classes kick off. If you have any questions about accommodation, visit the Housing and Residence Affairs page at www.ufs.ac.za/residences.

Need Assistance? We’ve Got You Covered

The UFS Call Centre is always here to help you throughout the registration process. If you have any questions or need guidance, you can reach them on +27 51 401 9111 or WhatsApp on +27 87 240 6370. You can also email studentadmin@ufs.ac.za for support.

As you begin your academic journey at the UFS, remember that this is not just about attending classes – it is about being part of a community committed to excellence, care, and quality. The UFS experience is designed to nurture your growth, help you thrive, and challenge you to achieve your highest potential. Here, we believe in supporting you every step of the way, ensuring that your time at the UFS transforms your future and empowers you to make a meaningful impact on the world.

News Archive

UFS implements paperless meeting system

2004-08-20

The Management Committee of the University of the Free State ’s (UFS) Executive Management recently entered the electronic environment of more effective and centralised meeting and decision-making administration by implementing ‘n computerised meeting system.

With this the UFS became the first higher education institution in the world to use the PARNASSUS-meeting management system. PARNASSUS , which refers to a mountain in the Greek mythology, is a licensed system from CIPAL in Belguim – a developer of software for a variety of applications.

“In stead of coming to a weekly management meeting with a file of documentation, each member now walks in with his/her laptop and the whole meeting procedure takes place electronically,” says Prof Sakkie Steyn, Registrar: General at the UFS.

At the same time the secretary registers the minutes point by point on the PARNASSUS programme. At the end of the meeting, after certain technical finishes are done, the minutes are distributed to members of the meeting and their secretaries/office managers. The draft minutes is also distributed to those who must implement decisions and prepare implementation steps. These staff members are given security clearance beforehand.

“The system is unique due to the fact that a translation engine has been built into the agenda and minute system. Agenda items can be submitted in Afrikaans and then automatically be translated in English by means of the interactive translation engine, or vice versa. The same principle applies to the minutes,” says Prof Steyn.

According to Prof Steyn the translation engine was develop with the expert assistance of the UFS’s Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment (ULFE). Word strings from previous minutes are now being added to the corpus of the translation engine.

“The system enables the secretary to continuously monitor which points are submitted for the agenda and if these points comply with the set standards namely clear recommendations, background and proposed implementation steps. The agenda is closed at a certain moment and no new points can then be added. The secretary does certain technical finished by means of a final classification of point and annexures. The draft agenda is then sent to the chairperson for approval, after which the agenda is electronically sent to members of the meeting and their secretaries/office managers for preparation,” says Prof Steyn.

“After the minutes have been approved at the next meeting, it is saved on the PARNASSUS decisions data base. The tracing of decisions made during previous meetings can be done by any person with the necessary security clearance. This is different from the past where stacks of documents had to be searched to find a decision,” says Prof Steyn.

According to Prof Steyn the secretariat and meeting administration services at the UFS has now entered a fully virtual and electronic environment. This will enhance effective decision making tremendously. “The PARNASSUS system saves us costs and time and the decentralisation of submissions to meetings lessens the work at centralised points,” says Prof Steyn.

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