University Of South Africa

Description

The University of South Africa (UNISA) is the largest university in Africa, attracting a third of all higher education students in South Africa. It is an open distance education institution and correspondence university which gives students the freedom to choose what, when, where, and how they learn. Today it offers certificate, diploma, and degree courses all the way up to doctoral level.

Founded in 1873 as the University of the Cape of Good Hope, UNISA was mainly an examining agency for Oxford and Cambridge universities. In 2004, it merged with Technikon Southern Africa and incorporated the distance education of Vista University. The campuses include the Muckleneuk and Sunnyside campuses in Pretoria. There are 7 regional centres in South Africa.

UNISA has 8 colleges, a School of Business Leadership, as well as numerous bureaus, centres, institutes, museums, and units to support academia and research. Facilities include the African Centre for Arts, Culture and Heritage Studies, Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, Department of Music, UNISA Space Art Gallery, UNISA Press, and UNISA Music Foundation.

What makes UNISA different is that the courses are cheaper and accessible to students without a university entrance matric. It also allows flexibility.

Regional centres

• East London, Mthatha, and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape
• Ekurhuleni, Florida, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and the Vaal Triangle in Gauteng
• Durban, Newcastle, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, and the Wild Coast region in KwaZulu-Natal
• Givani, Makhado, and Polokwane in Limpopo
• Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Kroonstad, Mafikeng, Potchefstroom, and Rustenburg in the province
• Middelburg and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga
• Cape Town and George in the Western Cape

Faculties

• Accounting Sciences
• Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
• Education
• Economic and Management Sciences
• Graduate Studies
• Human Studies
• Law
• Science, Engineering, and Technology
• School of Business Leadership