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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.


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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.

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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

Academic delivers inaugural lecture on South African foreign policy
2007-08-06

 

In her inaugural lecture Prof. Heidi Hudson from the Department of Political Sciences, focused on the impact that Pan-Africanist sentiments have had on South Africa’s foreign policy. She also put the resulting contradictions and ambiguities into context. At her inaugural lecture were, from the left: Proff. Frederick Fourie (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS), Heidi Hudson, Engela Pretorius (Vice-Dean: Faculty of The Humanities) and Daan Wessels (Research Associate in the Department of Political Science).
Photo: Stephen Collett

Academic delivers inaugural lecture on South African foreign policy

“We are committed to full participation as an equal partner … opposed to any efforts which might seek to project South Africa as some kind of superpower on our continent. … the people of Africa share a common destiny and must therefore … address their challenges … as a united force...” (Mbeki 1998:198-199).

Prof. Heidi Hudson from the Department of Political Science referred to this statement made by president Mbeki (made at the opening of the OAU Conference of Ministers of Information in 1995) when she delivered her inaugural lecture on the topic: South African foreign policy: The politics of Pan-Africanism and pragmatism.

One of the questions she asked is: “Can the South African state deliver democracy and welfare at home while simultaneously creating a stable, rules-based African community?”

She answers: “South Africa needs to reflect more critically and honestly on the dualism inherent in its ideological assumptions regarding relations with Africa. South Africa will always be expected by some to play a leadership role in Africa. At the moment, South Africa’s desire to be liked is hampering its role as leader of the continent.”

In her lecture she highlighted the ideological underpinnings and manifestations of South Africa’s foreign policy. Throughout she alluded to the risks associated with single-mindedly following an ideologically driven foreign policy. She emphasised that domestic or national interests are the victims in this process.

Prof. Hudson offers three broad options for South Africa to consider:

  • The Predator – the selfish bully promoting South African economic interest.
  • Mr Nice Guy – the non-hegemonic partner of the African boys club, multilaterally pursuing a pivotal but not dominant role.
  • The Hegemon - South Africa driving regional integration according to its values and favouring some African countries over others, and with checks and balances by civil society.

She chooses option three of hegemony. “Politically correct research views hegemony as bad and partnership as good. This is a romanticised notion – the two are not mutually exclusive,” she said.

However, she states that there have to be prerequisites to control the exercise of power. “The promotion of a counter-hegemon, such as Nigeria, is necessary. Nigeria has been more effective in some respects than South Africa in establishing its leadership, particularly in West Africa. Also needed is that government should be checked by civil society to avoid it sinking into authoritarianism. The case of business and labour coming to an agreement over the HIV/Aids issue is a positive example which illustrates that government cannot ignore civil society. But much more needs to be done in this regard. South Africa must also be very careful in how it uses its aid and should focus potential aid and development projects more explicitly in terms of promoting political stability,” she said.

Prof. Hudson said: “It is also questionable whether Mbeki’s Afro-centrism has in fact promoted the interests of ordinary citizens across Africa. Instead, elite interests in some countries have benefited. But ultimately, the single most important cost is the damage done to the moral code and ethical principles on which the South African Constitution and democracy is founded.

“In the end we all lose out. More pragmatism and less ideology in our relations within Africa may just be what are needed,” she said.

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