University of the Witwatersrand Term Date 2025/2026
2025/2026 – University Term Dates
| Activity | Dates |
| Registration | Monday 09 January – Friday 03 February |
| Orientation | Sunday 29 January – Friday 03 February |
| First teaching block | Monday 06 February – Friday 24 March (34 days) |
| Mid-term Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 25 March – Sunday 02 April (9 days) |
| Second teaching block | Monday 03 April – Friday 19 May (31 days) |
| Examinations | Wednesday 24 May – Friday 23 June (22 days) |
| Winter Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 24 June – Sunday 23 July (30 days) |
| Third teaching block | Monday 24 July – Friday 08 September (34 days) |
| Mid-term Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 09 September – Sunday 17 September (9 days) |
| Fourth teaching block | Monday 18 September – Tuesday 31 October (31 days) |
| Examinations | Friday 03 November – Thursday 30 November (20 days) |
| Summer Vacation/Study/Research break | Fri 01 December |
Please note: The Faculty of Health Sciences’ term dates differ from those of the University and they may commence with lectures as early as the first working day in January.
Consult the University’s website for more detailed information about dates of registration for different cohorts of students.
Public and religious holidays/holydays recognised by the University in 2025/2026
<<<<<<<<
| Date | Name of holiday | University status |
| Sunday 1 January | New Year’s Day | University closed |
| Monday 2 January | Public Holiday | University closed |
| Tuesday 21 March | Human Rights Day | University closed |
| Tuesday 11 April | Pesach (day 1)** | |
| Wednesday 12 April | Pesach (day 2)** | |
| Friday 14 April | Good Friday | University closed |
| Monday 17 April | Family Day Pesach (day 7)** |
University closed |
| Tuesday 18 April | Pesach (day 8)** | |
| Thursday 27 April | Freedom Day | University closed |
| Monday 1 May | Workers’ Day | University closed |
| Saturday 27 May | First day of Ramadan* | |
| Wednesday 31 May | Shavuoth** | |
| Thursday 1 June | Shavuoth** | |
| Friday 16 June | Youth Day | University closed |
| Monday 26 June | Eid-ul-Fitr* | |
| Wednesday 9 August | National Women’s Day | University closed |
| Friday 01 September | Eid-ul-Adha* | |
| Thursday 21 September | Rosh Hashanah (day 1)** | |
| Friday 22 September | Rosh Hashanah (day 2)** | |
| Sunday 24 September | Heritage Day | University closed |
| Monday 25 September | Public Holiday | University closed |
| Saturday 30 September | Yom Kippur** | |
| Thursday 5 October | Succot (day 1)** | |
| Friday 6 October | Succot (day 2)** | |
| Thursday 12 October | Sh’mini Atzeret ** | |
| Friday 13 October | Simchat Torah** | |
| Wednesday 18 October | Diwali (South India) | |
| Thursday 19 October | Diwali (North India) | |
| Saturday 16 December | Day of Reconciliation | University closed |
| Monday 25 December | Christmas Day | University closed |
| Tuesday 26 December | Day of Goodwill | University closed |
* = Islamic Holy Day – commences the previous evening; exact date depends on sighting of new moon
** = Jewish Holy Day – commences the previous evening
School Term Dates in 2025/2026
| Term | All Provinces |
| Term 1 | 18 January – 31 March |
| Term 2 | 10 April – 23 June |
| Term 3 | 17 July – 29 September |
| Term 4 | 09 October – 06 December |
– See more at: https://www.wits.ac.za/students/academic-matters/term-dates/2025/2026/#sthash.JMkJ9s5J.dpuf
Did You Know : Top 15 Free Online Learning Platforms
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Coursera:
Coursera partners with universities and organizations worldwide to offer a wide range of courses. While many courses are free, a fee is often required for certification.
-
Free Online Education Degrees: edX:
Founded by MIT and Harvard, edX offers high-quality courses from top universities and institutions around the world. Certificates are available for a fee.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Khan Academy:
Khan Academy provides free educational content in various subjects, especially mathematics and science, using instructional videos and practice exercises.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Udacity:
Udacity focuses on tech-related courses and nanodegree programs, offering free content as well as more in-depth paid programs.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW):
MIT OCW provides a vast array of MIT's course content for free, covering a wide range of disciplines.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Harvard Extension School:
Harvard Extension School offers a selection of free online courses. While some courses are free, others may require payment for a certificate.
-
Free Online Education Degrees: Stanford Online:
Stanford Online offers a variety of free courses in different disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and business.
-
Best Free Online Courses : Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI):
OLI offers free online courses and resources designed to improve learning outcomes through research-based methodologies.
-
Best Free Online Courses : FutureLearn:
FutureLearn partners with universities and institutions to offer a diverse range of free online courses. Certificates are available for a fee.
-
Best Free Online Courses: Alison:
Alison offers a wide range of free online courses, including diploma and certificate programs, covering various subjects.
-
Best Free Online Courses: Open Yale Courses:
Yale University provides free access to a selection of introductory courses through Open Yale Courses.
-
Best Free Online Courses : UC Berkeley Online:
UC Berkeley offers free online courses on a variety of subjects, ranging from computer science to humanities.
-
Best Free Online Courses : Google Digital Garage:
Google Digital Garage provides free courses on digital skills, including online marketing, data analysis, and more.
-
Best Free Online Courses : Codecademy:
Codecademy offers free coding courses, interactive exercises, and coding projects to help individuals learn programming languages.
-
Best Free Online Courses : LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com):
LinkedIn Learning provides a variety of video courses on professional development, technology, and creative skills. It offers a free trial period.
Did you know : International Scholarships 2024
There are several international scholarships available for South Africans to study abroad. Here are a few examples:
- Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program: This program provides fully funded scholarships to study at selected universities in Africa, Europe, and North America. It is open to African students, including South Africans, who are committed to giving back to their communities.
- Commonwealth Scholarships: The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers scholarships for postgraduate study in the UK for citizens of Commonwealth countries, including South Africa. The scholarships cover tuition fees, travel costs, and a living allowance.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program: The Fulbright program offers scholarships for South Africans to study at U.S. universities for a Master’s or PhD degree. The scholarship covers tuition, travel, living expenses, and health insurance.
- Erasmus+ Programme: The Erasmus+ programme offers scholarships for South Africans to study in Europe for a Master’s or PhD degree. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel, and living expenses.
- Australia Awards Scholarships: The Australian government offers scholarships for South Africans to study at Australian universities. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel costs, and a living allowance.
These are just a few examples of the many international scholarships available to South Africans. It is important to research the eligibility requirements and application deadlines for each scholarship program.