University of the Witwatersrand
Former names | South African School of Mines (1896–1904), Transvaal Technical Institute (1904–1906), Transvaal University College (1906–1910), South African School of Mines and Technology (1910–1920), University College, Johannesburg (1920–1922) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Scientia et Labore (Latin) |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1922 |
| Affiliation | AAU, ACU, FOTIM, HESA, IAU |
| Chancellor | Judy Dlamini |
| Vice-Chancellor | Zeblon Vilakazi |
| Chairman of Council | Isaac Shongwe |
Academic staff | 1,112 (Full-time, Permanent) |
| Students | 40,259 |
| Undergraduates | 25,352 |
| Postgraduates | 14,025 |
| 2,153 | |
| Location | , , 26°11′27″S 28°1′49″E / 26.19083°S 28.03028°E |
| Campus | 2 urban and 3 suburban campuses |
| Colours | Blue Gold |
| Nickname | Wits |
| Mascot | Kudos Kudu |
| Website | www |
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The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (/vətˈvɑːtəsrɑːnt/), commonly known as Wits University or Wits, is a multi-campus public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg, South Africa. The university has its roots in the mining industry, as do Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand in general. Founded in 1896 as the South African School of Mines in Kimberley, it is the third oldest South African university in continuous operation.
The university has an enrollment of 37,295 students as of 2025, of which approximately 20 percent live on campus in the university's 17 residences. 63 percent of the university's total enrollment is for undergraduate study, with 35 percent being postgraduate and the remaining 2 percent being Occasional Students. The university has, as of 2024, an acceptance rate of approximately 4.5%, having received 140,000 applications but only having accepted 6,300 students.