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WitsUniversity of the Witwatersrand
Traditional universityEst. 1922Johannesburg
About Wits
The University of the Witwatersrand grew out of Johannesburg's mining origins — its name literally means "ridge of white waters", after the gold-bearing rock the city was built on — into one of Africa's most research-intensive universities, with a reputation for producing leaders across academia, business and public life.
Its urban Braamfontein campus places students right in the middle of South Africa's economic hub, and Wits is especially well known for engineering, health sciences, and palaeosciences — the university curates some of the world's most significant early-hominin fossil discoveries, including specimens from the Cradle of Humankind.
Being based in inner-city Johannesburg gives Wits students a different rhythm to more suburban campuses: closer to the CBD, the Braamfontein arts and culture scene, and a dense concentration of the country's major companies, many of which recruit directly from the university.
Why students choose Wits
Fields of study
What you'll need to apply
Every South African public university sets its own admission point score and subject requirements per programme, so the details below are general guidance rather than Wits-specific rules — always confirm exact requirements on the official site before applying.
- A National Senior Certificate (NSC) that meets the minimum admission point score for your chosen programme.
- Specific subject and mark requirements, which vary by faculty — competitive programmes like medicine or engineering typically set higher thresholds.
- An online application through the university's own portal, usually opening the year before you intend to start.
- Supporting documents such as certified copies of your ID and academic records, and proof of application fee payment where applicable.
Ready to look closer?
Visit the official Wits website for admissions, fees and application dates.