North-West University Potchefstroom Campus

One word that captures the spirit of the North-West University (NWU) is “innovative”. This characteristic runs across all our activities and operations, from our academic offerings to the research we conduct, to our management model, campus structure, student body, community engagement and sports achievements.

The NWU is a unitary multi-campus institution with campuses - each with its unique characteristics - spread across two provinces. The Potchefstroom and Mafikeng Campuses are situated in North West and the Vaal Triangle Campus in Gauteng. The Institutional Office (head office) is in Potchefstroom within close proximity to the Potchefstroom Campus.

• The Mafikeng Campus is located in the capital of the North West Province and boasts an international ambience on Campus, with students from 22 different countries enrolled there. The Campus has a rural atmosphere, with solid buildings and a safe environment. Its library offers students 24-hour access.

• The Potchefstroom Campus is situated in the historical university town of Potchefstroom and currently uses Afrikaans as the basic medium of instruction at undergraduate level as a result of its demographic profile. However, owing to the obligation to enhance access and success for non-Afrikaans speaking students, educational interpreting services into English are offered in certain teaching programmes that are viewed as of strategic importance to deliver high-quality graduates to the emerging South African economy.

• Situated on the banks of the Vaal River in a proclaimed nature reserve, the Vaal Triangle Campus with its diverse population also boasts a unique environmental setting, with various species of game roaming the campus grounds. The Campus has two faculties, namely the Faculty of Humanities with four schools and the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Information Technology with three schools

Why study at such an innovative and well managed University?

NWU offers scope for personal growth through entrepreneurial development, community service, sport and cultural activities including drama, music and poetry. This exposure nurtures well-rounded graduates able to pursue successful careers, contribute to the community and live balanced, purposeful lives.

Furthermore, the NWU is earning its rightful place as a leading university as acknowledged by the following accolades:

• Joint first place in the 2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers Higher Education Excellence Award for Corporate Governance.
• Award in 2008 from the Pan-South African Language Board (PanSALB) for contributing the most towards multilingualism and nation building in the South African higher education sector during the past ten years.
• Awarded the most progressive, technologically innovative university in South Africa in 2004 by the Department of Science and Technology.

NWU vision and values

North-West University’s vision is to be a “pre-eminent university in Africa, driven by the pursuit of knowledge and innovation”.

NWU’s values are the compass that guides the institution towards achieving its vision. The University subscribes to the values of human dignity, equality, freedom, integrity, tolerance, respect, commitment to excellence, scholarly engagement, academic freedom, justice and transparency. In 2007, four ‘do-values’ were identified by management, namely integrity, commitment, accountability and respect. These ‘do-values’ are seen as practical enablers in realising the goals of NWU through the behaviour of all staff and students, building trust and fostering a team spirit across the University.

NWU mission

The NWU is set to become a balanced teaching-learning and research university, while implementing our expertise in an innovative way. Our mission is made up of the following elements:

• Develop, educate and empower through quality teaching and learning, well-rounded graduates who are able to think laterally and critically in their service to the country and its people.
• Develop and sustain high-quality, relevant and focused research, supplying innovative solutions to challenges faced by the scholarly community, the country, the continent and the world.
• Expand the implementation of expertise, both commercially and community directed, for the benefit of the province, the country, the SADC region, the continent and ultimately the world.
• Be a value-driven University, striving to make a difference in the pursuit of our mission.
• Aspire to be recognised internationally as a well-managed and innovative University, with a client focus embedded in quality. This, the University seeks to achieve by creating an enabling environment that will enhance and improve its core business and remain financially viable.
• Transform continually in terms of positioning, academic profile, unity, equity and redress. In doing this, contribute to the transformation of the South African Higher Education system to help meet the country’s social, economic, developmental and environmental needs.

Research and innovation

Research, innovation, and entrepreneurship are the lifeblood of NWU, as the following achievements show:

• Researchers from the Potchefstroom Campus of the NWU are part of the international High-Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) group who won the highly sought after European Union Descartes Prize for Research for 2006.
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) allocated the third DST Hydrogen Centre of Competency (CoC) to the NWU and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), with the NWU in the lead position for the first five years.
• A lecturer of the School of Mechanical Engineering received an award at the 30th anniversary of the World Energy Engineering Congress in Atlanta, Georgia for his work in the field of energy conservation. On top of that, the Association of Energy Engineers also announced that the Power Alert project was chosen as the winner of the 2007 Energy Project (International) of the Year Award.
• A researcher of the Unit for Space Physics recently received an A1 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF). Another lecturer of the School of Physics received the President’s Award for Research from the NRF.
• The NWU is the only university in South Africa that offers approved master’s qualifications in nuclear engineering on the Potchefstroom Campus. In addition, the Centre for Animal Health Studies on the Mafikeng Campus offers the only BSc Animal Health programme in South Africa that is recognised for registration by the South African Veterinary Council.
• The NWU was named the most progressive, technologically innovative university in South Africa in the National Innovation Competition of 2004.

Sporting supremacy

The NWU is among the top universities in South Africa for the past five years in the major sporting codes, with three NWU athletes and a coach representing South Africa in the 2008 Olympics. The university’s FNB High Performance Institute for Sports (HPI) houses Africa’s best-equipped sports gymnasium and offers a full range of support services to enhance performance. Furthermore, the NWU boasts a Rugby Institute and a Hockey Academy on the Potchefstroom Campus, a Soccer Institute on the Mafikeng Campus, and a Cricket Academy and a Cycling Academy on the Vaal Triangle Campus. This university is the preferred training destination of more than 1 000 international athletes from 25 countries.

Language policy

NWU has a policy of functional multi-lingualism, based on the needs of different campus constituencies. English and Afrikaans are used as primary languages of tuition, but NWU acknowledges the realities of a multi-lingual society and university environment, and thus additionally uses Sesotho and Setswana as campus working languages.

Faculties and programmes

Please consult our website at www.nwu.ac.za for a detailed list of schools at the Mafikeng, Potchefstroom and Vaal Triangle campuses.

Residences

All three campuses offer accommodation in student residences that is comfortable, secure and well maintained. This contributes to a vibrant student life, geared to holistic growth and development. International students can contact the International Office for assistance in finding accommodation.

Entrance requirements

Admission requirements vary, depending on the programme. For more information on specific requirements, please visit our website at www.nwu.ac.za and look under ‘Prospective Students’.

International Office

The NWU has a dedicated International Office at Potchefstroom Campus that liaises with and is a single point of contact for all international students, staff and visitors. The office deals quickly and efficiently with enquiries about admission procedures, accommodation, grants and bursaries, and study permits at all of the campuses. It also provides orientation support to international students, from their initial enquiry to their arrival at NWU. This service includes providing transport from the airport and assistance with banking, medical and other personal support services. NWU has academic agreements with universities around the world, affording students and staff the opportunity to study and conduct research at partner institutions for short or longer periods.

Internationalisation

The University’s mission on internationalisation is focused on advancing research and attracting post-doctorate fellows and students at Masters and PhD levels. Exchange of staff with international academic partners takes place regularly. One of the university’s priorities is to continue establishing strategic linkages, in order to form a number of comprehensive cooperation agreements. An initiative to establish a small network of like-minded universities consisting of the NWU, London South Bank University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Montclair State University in the United States was launched in November 2007.

Living up to our innovative spirit, the continuously growing North-West University is a leading and sustainable, teaching-learning and research university that celebrates and encourages multi-culturalism, multi-lingualism and multi-nationalism.

We lead the way when it comes to innovation through diversity.

Contact us

 CONTACT

Institutional Head Office
North-West University
Institutional Building (C1)
Hoffman Street
POTCHEFSTROOM
2531
Republic of South Africa (RSA)

Postal Address:
Corporate Affairs and Relations

Private Bag X6001
POTCHEFSTROOM
2520
Republic of South Africa (RSA)
Tel:  +27 (18) 299-4931
Fax: +27 (18) 299-4938
E-mail: phumzile.mmope@nwu.ac.za
Website: www.nwu.ac.za

The NWU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Theuns Eloff plays a leading role in higher education, not only in South Africa, but also internationally. He is currently the Chairperson of Higher Education South Africa (HESA) and the Vice-Chairperson of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

The Mafikeng Campus offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in five faculties.

The NWU's Potchefstroom Campus is situated in the North-West Province of South Africa.

The first phases of an extensive building project at the Vaal Triangle Campus of the NWU was recently completed. This project included the construction of new academic buildings and student facilities.

Mafikeng Campus is the second largest of the NWU’s three campuses, with 8 487 students enrolled in 2006. 

With modern student facilities on campus the Potchefstroom Campus offers a dynamic student life, shaped by a student spirit that no other university can match.

Situated on the banks of the Vaal River in a proclaimed nature reserve, the Vaal Triangle Campus boasts a unique environmental setting.

Students on the Potchefstroom Campus

The library on the Mafikeng Campus

Students on the Vaal River,
Vaal Triangle Campus