Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
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.


Register

 

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

Research on locomotion of giraffes valuable for conservation of this species
2016-08-23

Description: Giraffe research 2016 Tags: Giraffe research 2016

Technology was used in filming the giraffes.
According to research, giraffes will slow
down when a drone is positioned
approximately 20 - 30 m away. When the
drone moves closer, they will revert
to galloping.
Photo: Charl Devenish


The meaning of the Arab term Giraffe Camelopardalis is ‘someone who walks fast’. It is precisely this locomotion of their longnecks that encouraged researchers, Dr Francois Deacon and Dr Chris Basu, to study the animals more closely.

Despite the fact that giraffes are such well-known animals, very little research has been done on the manner in which these graceful animals locomote from one place to the next. There are only two known ways of locomotion: the slower lateral walking and the faster galloping. Most animals use these ways of moving forward. It is unknown why giraffes avoid intermediate-speed trotting.

Research of great value to the industry

Research on the manner in which giraffes locomote from one place to the next will assist the industry in understanding aspects such as their anatomy and function, as well as the energy they utilise in locomoting from one place to another. Information on the latter could help researchers understand where giraffes fit into the ecosystem. This data is of great value for large-scale conservation efforts.

Universities working together to collect data

Dr Basu, a veterinarian at the Royal Veterinary College in the UK, has studied the animals at a zoo park in the United Kingdom. He visited the University of the Free State (UFS) in order to expand his fieldwork on the locomotion of giraffes. This study was done in cooperation with Dr Deacon from the Department of Animal, Wildlife, and Grassland Sciences at the UFS. Dr Deacon is a specialist in giraffe habitat-related research in South Africa and other African countries.

The fieldwork for the research, which was done in the Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate and the Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve, preceded research on the movement and the forces involved in the locomotion of giraffes. Due to the confined fenced area in the zoo park, it was practically impossible to study the animals at speed. “The study of actions ‘faster than walking’ is crucial for gathering data on, inter alia, the frequency, length, and time associated with each step.


Technology such as drones offers unique
opportunities to study animals like giraffes.



Technology used to ensure accuracyTechnology such as drones offers unique opportunities to study animals like giraffes. Apart from the fact that it is possible to get high-quality video material of giraffes – moving at speed – it is also a very controlled device that ensures the accuracy of data.

It is the first time ever that a study has been done on the locomotion of giraffes with this level of detail.
Research on the study will be published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

The project was approved by the UFS ethics committee.

 

 

 

Previous research articles:

9 March 2016:Giraffe research broadcast on National Geographic channel
18 Sept 2015 Researchers reach out across continents in giraffe research
29 May 2015: Researchers international leaders in satellite tracking in the wildlife environment


We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept