FUEL YOUR FUTURE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE

Just as the rhythm of 2020 settled in, life as we know it was paused. The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a national lockdown in South Africa since the end of March 2020. The abnormal became the new normal. This has left many Grade 12 learners with high levels of stress and anxiety as school programmes were disrupted, casting a shadow of uncertainty over preparations for post-school life. It is as if the work of the past eleven years suddenly means nothing, because the final school year has been disrupted beyond imagination. Who could have thought that 2020 would be the year of a national lockdown?

So where does the University of the Free State (UFS) feature in all of this? We know that high school learners are faced with many questions regarding their future; questions such as which subjects to choose, which career path to follow, and whether to apply for a post-school qualification. The University of the Free State (UFS) offers a variety of services to help learners kick-start their ‘I-want-to-be’. The UFS is an important source of knowledge and expertise geared towards assisting and supporting high school learners to choose subjects in Grade 9 and career options in Grades 11 and 12 that will best suit their individual values, passions, dreams, and talents.

Future Kovsie2Bs can access any of the UFS platforms for information about the undergraduate programmes offered, admission requirements, application and closing dates, residence placements, fees, bursaries, and other services such as academic advice and the Center for Universal Access and Disability Support.

One such platform is the Department of Student Recruitment Services. Among the services offered by the department, are the marketing team visiting schools across South Africa as well as selected international schools to recruit the best talent for undergraduate studies. In addition, the department also attends numerous career exhibitions to create awareness of the different programmes and services offered by the UFS. The department not only assists Grade 11 and 12 learners in choosing a

programme and to apply for studies, but also guides and advises Grade 9 learners on choosing the right subjects.

The purpose of Grade 9 subject-choice guidance sessions is to enable learners to make the right subject choices in order to make their career dreams come true. The importance of the UFS open days, shadow-week opportunities, research on career choices, and psychometric assessments cannot be underestimated. The UFS provides helpful tools to Grade 9 learners, such as how to make good choices in life, how to keep your academics on track, and how to calculate your Admission Point (AP). The UFS also emphasises and appreciates the role that teachers and parents play during this crucial stage in the lives of learners.

Faculties of Academic Excellence The UFS has three campuses, i.e. the Bloemfontein Campus, the South Campus in Bloemfontein, and the Qwaqwa Campus in the picturesque Eastern Free State. On the Bloemfontein Campus and the Qwaqwa Campus, the UFS has respectively seven and four faculties of academic excellence to choose from. The South Campus in Bloemfontein offers alternative access to tertiary studies through the University Preparation Programme to assist those students who were not admitted to a tertiary institution. Our online and distance-learning platforms are also managed from the South Campus. Prospective students can choose from undergraduate certificates, diplomas, and degrees. The faculties include Economic and Management Sciences, where the brightest young minds learn to understand the economics of change. The faculty offers three fields of training, i.e. Private Sector, Public Sector, and Accountancy. The Faculty of Health Sciences only offers selection programmes in the Schools of Clinical Medicine, Pathology, Biomedical Sciences, Allied Health Professions, and Nursing. The faculty is very excited about the latest addition – a bachelor’s degree in Sport Coaching – a first for South Africa. Thirdly, the Faculty of the Humanities, where students learn to connect through languages, arts and social sciences, human sciences, and cultural sciences. Today’s ever-changing world requires various skills that the faculty can equip you with, including language proficiency, communication skills, creativity, interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, and especially critical thinking. The fourth faculty is that of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, which offers a wide selection of programmes in Natural Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Building Sciences. To keep pace with the raging speed of technological advancement in the world, the faculty introduced a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology majoring in Data Science. Then there is the Faculty of Law, which is regarded as one of the best in the country. Its location in the judicial capital of South Africa exposes law students to theoretical teaching and the practice of law in both the lower and higher divisions of the courts. The UFS is also a popular choice for the training of future teachers in Foundation Phase, Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase, and Further Education and Training Phase teaching through the Faculty of Education. The Faculty of Theology and Religion, the only institution in Central South Africa that offers fully-fledged, all-inclusive theological education, completes the list of faculties.

The university offers an interdisciplinary fusion of qualifications such as sports and business, humanities and science, and economics combined with digital science. As the UFS is committed to producing all-round graduates, a variety of extramural activities are offered that will not only entertain students but also refresh their minds.

Student success and well-being are of the utmost importance to the UFS. The university encourages its current and prospective students to make use of advice and services provided by qualified academic advisers, which help learners make the right decision in selecting the curriculum that best fits their chosen path towards earning their degree in any of the seven faculties. The advice that learners receive is seen as academic support and a success lifeline while

studying at the UFS. These advisers will stay by the side of students throughout their university career until they walk across the graduation stage. Ms Nomonde Mbadi, Director of Student Recruitment Services, says “If you want to shape the world and provide solutions to global challenges, start your journey at the UFS and combine subject knowledge with your unique set of soft skills. This combination will help you prepare for the future world of work where technology and the human interface will be very prominent.” She invites learners – especially Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 learners – to visit the website, book a campus tour, and apply to Kovsies so that they too can experience the vibrant social and academic life on all three UFS campuses. She highlights that high school learners should be aware of the different achievement levels of compulsory subjects, National Benchmark Tests, and application closing dates for selection and non-selection programmes.

How to apply for undergraduate studies at the UFS

To become a student at the University of the Free State, you need to • check out the 2021 UFS Prospectus at www.ufs. ac.za/prospective; • take note of when applications for especially selection programmes close. Applications for non-selection programmes close on 30 September 2020; • apply online for two study options. Visit htps://apply.ufs.ac.za. Keep your mobile phone and an active email address ready, as you require both to access and complete the online application form. Application to study at the UFS is free. There is no application fee.

The online application is quick and easy – no hassle, no fuss! It has an easy and modern design and is mobile- and tablet-friendly. You can apply using any device. You can expect a quicker response time if you apply online. If you need assistance with your application, call +27 51 401 9666. Our friendly call centre staff is ready to According to Ms Mbadi, the UFS also offers various programmes for bright sparks to reach for their dreams. She explained that the UFS is hosting the Star of Stars Competition, aimed at Quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools and including all five districts in the Free State. This competition is for all the bright sparks excelling in academics and leadership, and who are involved in community projects. Another competition is the atriculant of the Year Competition. This prestigious national competition will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Top achievers in academy, leadership, culture, and sports from Quintile 1-5 schools can enter the competition. The aim of both competitions is to reward top-achieving students in the Free State and South Africa, but most importantly, to support them in overcoming difficult circumstances, thereby opening up greater opportunities in their student life and future careers. Entries for both competitions are already open and entry forms can be downloaded at https://www.ufs.ac.za/ prospective/prospective-students/top-achievers/ competitions-for-bright-sparks.

The 2021 UFS Prospectus provides valuable and detailed information on every aspect that a first-year student must be aware of in order to be fully prepared for life after school. Adapting to the demands and challenges of university life can be very daunting and intimidating. Therefore, Ms Mbadi encourages all prospective students and parents to equip themselves with as much information as possible from as early as Grade 9. “At the UFS, we look forward to welcoming you to Kovsies and we cannot wait for you to experience the ‘Kovsie feeling’.”

Prospective students and parents can follow the UFS at Kovsie2B on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay informed or contact +27 51 401 300, send an email to info@ufs.ac.za or visit https://www.ufs.ac.za/prospective for valuable information.

The University of the Free State. Inspiring excellence. Transforming lives.