The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, or Wits as it is affectionately known, is a major residential university situated in Johannesburg. In the years and decades following its humble origins, the University would go on to become a leading institution of higher learning and research, producing alumni of global eminence in many fields, including Nobel Laureates.
Wits offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and degrees which are internationally recognised.
In the Wits Faculty of Health Sciences much of the research effort is directed towards serious health issues which are affecting our communities - issues such as HIV/AIDS, uTuberculosis and Malaria. In addition, research into other diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, which are increasing in prevalence in South Africa, also holds prominence.
Based on an ethos of student-centeredness, the Unit is staffed by a small but dedicated team of professionals inclusive of psychologists, social workers, careers educators, life coaches and administrators who offer a variety of supportive and empowering services to the student community.
The Faculty Office is the contact point for all undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Faculty of Health Sciences for admissions, enrolments and graduations.
The Faculty Office is situated on the Second Floor of the PV Tobias Health Sciences Building, corner York Road and Princess of Wales Terrace, Parktown, Johannesburg.
At Wits, our residences are LIVING and LEARNING centres. We offer a wide variety of residence accommodation, ranging from single-gender residences, catering residence, to mixed-gender residences.
Campus Housing and Residence Life, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the University's residence programme, including accommodation and meals, and the provision of recreational facilities and programmes for the improved academic performance and the holistic development of students within a residential environment.
The health care services are cost-effective, convenient, accessible and comprehensive. We subscribe to international norms, ethics and standards of health delivery. Ethical principles and human rights underpin our practice values. The care provided is patient/client centred to ensure optimum satisfaction with our service.
At Wits we know that there’s more to university life than just study. Find a platform to express your talents and find new friendships in a community rich in heritage and social interaction.
Our services and programmes are designed to encourage the entire Wits community to see health, fitness and being physically active as a way of life.
We provide students, staff and alumni the opportunity to participate in a range of sports codes at the level they choose, while contributing to enhancing Wits' sporting prowess and vibrant sporting culture.
Clubs and Societies
There are a variety of clubs and societies to choose from:
Wits’ academic programmes continue to enjoy national and international accreditation. The curriculum is cutting-edge and is continuously enhanced to ensure that our students and staff keep up to date with the newest knowledge from around the globe.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By U.S. News & World Report
Climbed 25 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 264 | 265 | 240 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By TopUniversities
Dropped 11 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 267 | 291 | 302 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 301 | 301 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2026 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 301 | 201 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Based on 100 reviews
Wits University offers a world class education with strong programs in law, and more. The campus is vibrant, with a diverse student body and plenty of opportunities to get involved. From research projects to social events, there's always something happening at Wits. Overall, it's a fantastic place to grow academically and personally
My university experience has been positive and enriching. I appreciated the quality of teaching and how some courses combined theory with practical work. Group projects helped me improve teamwork and communication skills. However, more practical sessions and better organization of schedules would make the experience even better. Overall, it prepared me well for future professional challenges.
Studying an art degree is very complicated especially at such a research-heavy institution. Suppose you are looking for an art degree that's all rainbows and playing in the sand. In that case, this is not for you, this degree definitely broke something inside of me, but I have been rebuilt, my studies have also ignited a multitude of questions and curiosities, there are many cool people there and you learn a lot.
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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