From a humble start in 1904, the UFS became a well-known institution, boasting 164 NRF-accredited researchers and 2 521 staff members. Our students can participate in 22 different sport disciplines and study from 671 182 library books, including 14 000 e-books. Our ever-expanding facilities and knowledge base present many opportunities for scholars to impact locally and globally.

Ranked 180th in the QS Brics University Rankings this year, the University of the Free State (UFS) earned its strongest score in the indicator measuring the percentage of international students (ranked 59th). UFS is one of the oldest South African universities, having been founded in 1904 as Grey College. It’s mainly located in Bloemfontein, the state capital of the Free State and the judicial capital of South Africa, but also operates a satellite campus in Qwaqwa.

The University of the Free State is a research-led, student-centred and regionally-engaged university that contributes to development and social justice through the production of globally competitive graduates and knowledge.