University of The Free State International Students
University of The Free State International Students, Our Office for International Affairs can provide information for prospective students on areas such as admission, visas, study permits and accommodation, as well as providing support for existing international students. Please see their website for more detail.
International Applications
All international students are advised to take note of the following:
- An annual administrative fee is charged on all international student accounts and is non-refundable.
- You must have a VALID study visa before you can enter South Africa. For further details, please visit the Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) centre website: http://vfsglobal.com/dha/southafrica/.
- Make sure your study visa is issued for study purposes at the UFS and not at any other institution in South Africa. All students must have a valid and appropriate/correct visa to be registered at the UFS.
- You must be a member of a medical aid registered in terms of the Medical Aid Schemes Act 1998 of South Africa as required by the South African Immigration Act. Please note your medical aid cover MUST be valid for the duration of your studies at UFS. No travel insurance or hospital plans will be accepted. For further details, please visit the Department of Home Affairs’ website: www.dha.gov.za. For information on medical aids please visit: http://www.medicalschemes.com/MedicalSchemes.aspx for more information on registered medical aids.
- You will be required to pay a pre-registration fee before you can register as a UFS student. Communication on the amount expected to be paid and the deadline will be sent to all new students by the Tuition Fees Department. For further details, please visit http://www.ufs.ac.za/kovsielife/unlisted-pages/tuition-fees/tuition-fees-30.
- Students with scholarships must make sure that their sponsors are aware of the UFS regulation pertaining to payments prior to registration and the payment of tuition fees.
- Applicants who are in possession of a degree from non-South African universities, must include the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) evaluation letter with their application form.
- Non-South African certificates/degrees must be assessed by SAQA prior to applying to the UFS. This process can take anything from two to three months. Please visit http://www.saqa.org.za/ for more information.
- The application process must be completed before arrival for registration at the university. Your details must be captured on the UFS database to facilitate the registration process. For this reason, adherence to closing dates is extremely important.
- Students transferring from other universities, must include a certificate of conduct, as well as a study record from their previous university with their applications. The closing date for students transferring from other universities is 30 September 2016.
- International postgraduate students must attach certified copies of degrees/certificates to their applications. Degrees/certificates that are not certified will delay the processing of applications.
- Ensure that your application form is completed correctly and signed before returning it to the UFS. You should expect to receive feedback from the university within three weeks of sending your application.
All enquiries regarding applications: T: +27 51 401 9538 | +27 51 401 3724
Preparation for Registration at UFS
If your application is successful, you will receive a letter of admission from the admissions office, as well as a letter from the Office for International Affairs for the study permit. Visit the South African Embassy in your home country with the above letters, as well as your passport, to apply for your permit. Please be advised that your study permit application can take up to six weeks to be finalised.
For further information on the above matters please contact the Office for International Affairs:
Jeanne Niemann:
T: +27 51 401 3219
E: internationalenquiries@ufs.ac.za