University of the Free State
Higher EducationSouth Africa5001-10000 Employees
The University of the Free State is a public higher education institution based in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. Founded in 1904, it is one of the oldest universities in the country and has grown from a six-student humanities start to a university serving more than 34,127 students across seven faculties on three campuses. Its work encompasses teaching, research, and community engagement across its faculties. In 2026, the university launched a learning management system to support digital learning and reduce student anxiety, and it announced partnerships with RUFORUM and the Mastercard Foundation under the TAGDev 2.0 South Africa program to offer scholarships for a Master of Sustainable Agriculture commencing in 2027. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hester Klopper, was recognized with an Academic Excellence Award at the Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit in 2026.