The University of the Free State (UFS) executive committee (exco) announced that academic activities across all three campuses would commence immediately today – Monday, 20 October. Activities were abruptly halted due to week-long chaotic student-led protests prompted by the committee’s decision to discontinue provisional registration for the 2026 academic year.
The resumption of programmes came just three days after the UFS exco and the student bodies at the three campuses – the main campus and south campus in Bloemfontein, as well as the Qwaqwa campus – reached an agreement that provisional registration would be phased out over a period of two years. The university’s exco, the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) and the Campus Student Representative Councils (CSRCs) signed a memorandum of agreement on Wednesday, 15 October.
Our students are encouraged to consult their lecturers or programme coordinators with any queries.
– Lacea Loader, senior director for communication and marketing
Parallel to the agreement, the university also announced that the academic calendar had been amended to ensure the successful completion of the 2025 academic year.
“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. 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 or internships in January 2026,” says Lacea Loader, senior director for communication and marketing at the UFS.
She said information to support the continuation and completion of lectures and assessments would be communicated by the respective lecturers.
The resumption of activities on the Qwaqwa campus will be staggered. The programme for staff and students to return is as follows:
• Monday, 20 October: university estates staff;
• Tuesday, 21 October: academic staff and professional and support services staff;
• Wednesday, 22 October: residence students; and
• Thursday, 23 October: resumption of all academic activities.
