University of JohannesburgUJ

The University of Johannesburg is a public university formed in 2005 through the merger of the Rand Afrikaans University, the Technikon Witwatersrand, and the Soweto campus of Vista University. Its Council is constituted under the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997, the same law that governs South Africa's other public universities, and its own academic regulations describe its qualifications as accredited by the Council on Higher Education, funded through the Department of Higher Education and Training, and registered with the South African Qualifications Authority.

Teaching is mainly contact-based, spread across four campuses in Johannesburg, Gauteng: Auckland Park Kingsway, Auckland Park Bunting Road, Doornfontein, and Soweto. In its own words, the university describes itself as one of the largest contact universities in South Africa. Alongside contact study, a range of short learning programmes is offered fully online through Digital UJ, delivered in partnership with Higher Ed Partners SA.

Academically, the university is organised into eight faculties, covering art, design and architecture, education, engineering and the built environment, health sciences, humanities, law and science, together with the College of Business and Economics, home to the Johannesburg Business School. More than 50 000 students are enrolled, including over 3 000 international students from more than 80 countries, supported by more than 5 000 academic and professional staff.

Qualification levels range from higher certificates and diplomas through bachelor's degrees, honours degrees, postgraduate diplomas and certificates, to master's and doctoral degrees, with executive education offered through the Johannesburg Business School. Undergraduate entry requires a National Senior Certificate, including the IEB and SACAI variants, or an equivalent qualification; the American GED is not accepted for undergraduate entry, and National Benchmark Tests are not required. Admission is stated to be based on academic merit, assessed against an Admission Point Score.

Students fund their studies through NSFAS, university and external bursaries, student loans, or direct online payment, with an annual fee booklet published each year setting out the cost of individual qualifications.