Which started out as Grey College with only six learners in 1904, is today known as the University of the Free State. About 38 000 students are currently enrolled at seven faculties and it is also home to the Shimla rugby team.
In 1906 Grey College was renamed to Grey University College (GUC) with a total of 29 students. Shortly thereafter, the school and the college parted ways.
The cornerstone of the main building was laid on 19 December 1907 by Sir Hamilton Gould-Adams, and was officially opened on 16 October 1909.
In 1909 the first men’s residence, House Abraham Fisher (Vishuis), was completed. In 1910, the Parliament of the Orange River Colony passed legislation declaring the GUC an official educational institution in the fields of the Arts and Sciences. The name was then changed to University College of the Orange Free State and became known among students as Kovsies. By 1919 the first women’s residence by the name of President Steyn, was completed.
In 1945 the faculties started to expand and the faculties of Law, Education and Social Sciences were established. In 1950 the name changed once again and it became known as the University of the Orange Free State.
In the years to follow, more faculties were introduced at the university, including Agriculture, Health Sciences and Theology.
The main building was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 7 October 1983.
In 2001 the varsity was finally named as the University of the Free State and welcome two additional campuses in 2003 and 2004 with the Qwaqwa campus and South Campus respectively.
Today the university, with Prof. Francis Petersen in charge, is a research-led, student-centred and regionally-engaged university that contributes to development and social justice through the production of globally competitive graduates and knowledge.
The UFS has become a well-known institution, boasting 148 NRF-accredited professors and
2 866 staff members. Students can participate in 22 different sport disciplines. They can study from 671 182 library books, including 14 000 ebooks and meet up on the Thakaneng Bridge to grab a bite to eat or to equip themselves with the necessary books for the semester ahead. The grounds of the varsity are also the famous hosts of the annual Vrystaat Kunstefees.
The campus strives to live by its motto IN VERITATE SAPIENTIAE LUX (In Truth is the Light of Wisdom).
Jeretha Oosthuizen
