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Continuation of academic activities at the University of the Free State (UFS)

17 October 2025 | Story Lacea Loader

Academic activities at the University of the Free State (UFS) will continue on Monday 20 October 2025.

The Executive Committee of the university appreciates the understanding and cooperation of all staff and students during this time.

The academic calendar has been amended to ensure the successful completion of the 2025 academic year.

1. Academic calendar

The end of the fourth quarter will be postponed, and the start of the main end-of-year examinations will be moved from 3 November to 10 November 2025.

This decision applies to all students, except final-year students in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Final-year students in the Faculty of Health Sciences will commence their year-end examinations on 3 November 2025 to enable them to graduate in December 2025 and begin their community service/internships in January 2026.

Information to support the continuation and completion of lectures and assessments will be communicated by the respective lecturers.

Our students are encouraged to consult their lecturers or programme coordinators with any queries.

2. Qwaqwa Campus

The Qwaqwa Campus will reopen on Monday 20 October 2025, with staff and students returning as follows:

Monday 20 October 2025: University Estates staff
Tuesday 21 October 2025: Academic staff and professional and support services staff
Wednesday 22 October 2025: Residence students
Thursday 23 October 2025: Resumption of all academic activities

The university extends its appreciation to staff and students for their patience, commitment, and resilience.

Issued by:

Lacea Loader

Senior Director: Communication and Marketing

University of the Free State

loaderl@ufs.ac.za

News Archive

Extension of the academic calendar

2016-03-21

At the Senate meeting which was held on 29 February 2016, a resolution was taken to extend the academic calendar by one week to make up for the lost academic week as a result of the recent student protest action. In particular, it was decided that the commencement of the mid-year exams be postponed by one week. The Faculty of Health Sciences was the only faculty that was allowed to stick to the initial dates.

At its meeting of 2 March 2016, Rectorate discussed this matter and resolved to endorse the resolution of Senate, namely that the mid-year exams will be postponed by one week and that only the Faculty of Health Sciences can stick to the original dates as stipulated in the calendar.

Undergraduate lectures

(Excluding Faculty of Health Sciences)

First semester

Lectures start: 1 February 2016
Lectures end: 20 May 2016

8-credit modules

1 February 2016 - 1 April 2016
11 April 2016 - 20 May 2016

Holiday: 22 - 24 March 2016

Easter Weekend: 25 - 28 March 2016

Main mid-year examinations

Start: 23 May 2016
End: 11 June 2016

Additional mid-year examinations

Start: 13 June 2016
End: 4 July 2016
End of first semester: 8 July 2016

Holiday: 11 July 2016 - 15 July 2016

Second semester

Undergraduate lectures

(Excluding Faculty of Health Sciences)

Lectures start: 18 July 2016
Lectures end: 21 October 2016

8 Credit modules

18 July 2016 - 2 September 2016
5 September 2016 - 21 October 2016

Holiday: 3 - 7 October 2016

Main end-of-year examinations

Starts: 24 October 2016
Ends: 12 November 2016

Additional end-of-year examinations

Starts: 14 November 2016
Ends: 3 December 2016

End of Second Semester

9 December 2016

UFS holiday: 8 August 2016.

UFS recess from: 20 December 2016 - 3 January 2017.

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