Wits heritage

Known widely today for our output of excellent graduates, Witsies all around the world are representing our time-honored brand. With humble beginnings as a Mining School, Wits University now spreads over 400 acres in Africa’s economic hub; Johannesburg. We cherish the diversity and dynamism of our city, and the role it has played in the economic and political development of South Africa. We are also proud of our contribution in shaping the economy and the landscape of the city, ensuring that it remains a centre of knowledge and innovation for future generations, as it has been for past generations. Throughout the past century we have remained consistent in our advocacy for empowerment of people and ideas. Our academic freedom ties us closely with our advocacy for human rights, from opposing racial segregation to fighting for gender equality, we keep our heritage strongly rooted in liberalism and freedom.

Wits Liberalism

While the essence of our institution is firmly rooted in our expansive and groundbreaking contribution to global and local advancement, Wits University has long been known and respected as the heart of liberalism in Africa’s economic powerhouse; Johannesburg. We stay true to the affirmation made by Edgar Brookes in 1933 that, “The most effective institutional witness for liberalism in South Africa is that of the University of the Witwatersrand.” From our hard resistance to the apartheid regime, to our institutional policies of gender equality, and our leading role in the fourth industrial revolution – Wits University has fought consistently for human rights, environmental protection and social justice. Along with our distinguished alumni, this institution has and continues to embrace change and nuances required to maintain a thriving South African society.

Wits excellence

From engineering to physics, science, medicine, archeology, and business – Wits has pioneered in many fields. Our collaboration with the European Organization of Nuclear Research (CERN) to discover the secrets of the universe is testament to our global competitiveness. In recent decades, we have worked on projects to tackle South Africa’s energy crisis, discovered the first hominin fossils (Homo Naledi, little foot, Karabo and more), established world class digital hubs for the advancement of technology, designed devices that connect the human brain to the internet in real-time, spearheaded all of South Africa’s radar activity in the 1930s through the Wits Bernard Price Geophysical Research Institute – and much more. As it was 100 years ago, our research projects will continue to carry with it the drive to influence and change the world in positive ways.

Wits Growth

Our research extends not just to solving African issues, but global ones too. Our academic rankings by certified institutions put us in the top of Africa's universities - with international examiners judging our degrees. Our student numbers have increased to 38 000, and our research is published in internationally competitive journals. We continue to get involved in issues affecting the world, and contribute immensely to the advancement of technology to benefit African societies.