The University of Johannesburg (UJ), which bears the name of the global city of Johannesburg, is vibrant, multiracial, and dynamic. The university, which is proudly South African, is deeply rooted in Africa and is well-equipped to play a part in realizing the potential that higher education holds for the advancement of the Continent. With more than 50 000 students, more than 3000 of them international students from 80 different countries, UJ has evolved into a diverse, inclusive, transformative, and collegial school. Out of the 26 public universities that make up the South African (SA) higher education system, this places UJ is one of the largest contact universities.
About the University of Johannesburg
A public institution called the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is situated in Johannesburg, South Africa. As a result of the merging of the Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR), the Soweto and East Rand campuses of Vista University, and the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), the University of Johannesburg was established on January 1, 2005.
Before the merger, RAU had already incorporated the Daveyton and Soweto campuses of the erstwhile Vista University. The university is frequently referred to as RAU by alumni as a result of the merger with Rand Afrikaans University (RAU). Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, who took office on January 1st, is the vice chancellor and principal of UJ. Prof. Ihron Lester Rensburg served as vice chancellor and school’s head between 2005 and 2017.
Of the 26 public universities that make up the country’s higher education system, the newly established university is one of the largest comprehensive contact universities in South Africa. Almost 3000 international students from 80 different countries make up the nearly 50 000 students enrolled at UJ.
Several training schools were established during the Johannesburg gold rush to meet the demand for trained labor in the gold mines. Witwatersrand Technical Institute, one of such institutes, was established in 1903 and has ties to the Kimberley School of Mines. In 1979, it changed its name to Technikon Witwatersrand.
The language of instruction at this institution, which was modeled on the British system, was English. In addition to limiting access to white students only, its restrictions also limited admission to individuals with a strong command of the English language. The University of Johannesburg, which had already taken over the Technikon Witwatersrand’s operations at that point, sold the Technikon Witwatersrand’s property in 2006.
The newly elected National Party aimed to provide education in Afrikaans, the third most spoken mother tongue in South Africa, more than half a century before South Africa gained independence from the British.
As a result, Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) was established in 1966. RAU was founded as the primary academic institution for Afrikaners and was the second university to open in Johannesburg at the time of its founding. African students began to participate increasingly in historically white institutions of higher education after Apartheid was overthrown in 1994. RAU was no exception, having the most African students among all universities for the first time in 1995, ahead of the University of the Witwatersrand, Rhodes University, and the University of Cape Town.
The first black students were accepted by Vista University in South Africa’s authorized urban black townships in 1982. In Port Elizabeth, it was started. Its first academic year was in 1983, and by then it had seven satellite campuses spread out over South African townships, making university education accessible to most Africans.
Faculty and Departments At the University of Johannesburg
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS (CBE)
- Accountancy
- Applied Information Systems
- Business Management
- Commercial Accounting
- Economics & Econometrics
- Finance and Investment Management
- Hospitality
- Industrial Psychology and People Management
- Information and Knowledge Management
- Marketing Management
- Public Management and Governance
- Tourism
- Transport and Supply Chain Management
FACULTY OF ART, DESIGN, AND ARCHITECTURE
- Department of Jewellery Design and Manufacture
- Department of Fashion Design Fashion Production
- Department of Graphic (Communication) Design
- Department of Industrial Design
- Department of Multimedia Design
- Department of Architecture
- Department of Interior Design
- Department of Visual (Fine) Art
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
- Academic Administration
- Childhood Education
- Education and Curriculum Studies
- Education Leadership and Management
- Educational Psychology
- Science and Technology Education​
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
- Postgraduate School of Engineering Management
- Department of Civil Engineering Science
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Science
- Department of Chemical Engineering Technology
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science
- Department of Construction Management & Quantity Surveying
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology
- Department of Metallurgy
- Department of Urban and Regional Planning
- Department of Civil Engineering Technology
- Department of Quality and Operations Management
- Department of Mining Engineering and Mine Surveying
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
- Biomedical Sciences
- Chiropractic
- Emergency Medical Care
- Environmental Health
- Complementary Medicine
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences (MIRS)
- Nursing
- Optometry
- Podiatry
- Sport and Movement Studies
FACULTY OF HUMANITIES
- LanCSAL (Department of Languages, Cultural Studies, and Applied Linguistics)
- African Languages
- Communication and Media
- Strategic Communication
- Anthropology and Development Studies
- English
- Department of History
- Department of Philosophy
- Politics and International Relations​
- Psychology
- Religion Studies
- Social Work and Community Development
- Sociology
FACULTY OF LAW
- Procedural Law
- Mercantile Law
- Public Law
- Private Law
- Practical Business Law
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
- Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology and Food Technology
- Department of Botany & Plant Biotechnology
- Chemical Sciences
- Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies
- Geology
- Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
- Physics
- Statistics
- Zoology
FAQS about the University of Johannesburg
Q. How many Students Does the University of Johannesburg admit per year?
A. This is at the discretion of the university however, the school has about 51,313 students.
Q. Is the University of Johannesburg a Federal or State School?
A. It is a public university.
Q. What is the cut-off point for the University of Johannesburg?
A. The university requires students to maintain a minimum percentage of 55 to stand a good chance to get admission into the University of Johannesburg.
Q. What is the University of Johannesburg’s Official Website?
A. uj.ac.za
Q. Is the University of Johannesburg a good school?
A. Yes! It is one of the best universities in South Africa. The university is ranked 2nd amongst Africa’s universities, 2nd in South Africa, and ranked within the top 2.3% of universities in the world as published in the QS World University Rankings 2022/2023.
Q. Are there hostels at the University of Johannesburg?
A. Yes!
Q. When is the admission form coming out for the University of Johannesburg?
A. The University’s Online Applications are open for Undergraduates until 30 September 2023.
Q. Who founded the University of Johannesburg?
A. The University was established as the result of a merger between the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), the Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR), and the Soweto and East Rand campuses of Vista University.
Q. What are the requirements for the University of Johannesburg?
A. Entry Requirement:
Minimum APS Score: 27 in Mathematics and 28 in Mathematical Literacy.
The 6 highest subjects are used for calculating APS scores:
- English (compulsory): 5.
- Mathematics: 3.
- Mathematical Literacy: 4.
- Life Sciences (Compulsory): 4.
- Additional subject 2: 4.
- Additional subject 3: 3.