North-West University

North-West University

Tswana: Yunibesiti ya Bokone-Bophirima Afrikaans: Noordwes-Universiteit Sotho: Yunivesithi ya Leboya Bophirima
Former names	Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education Potchefstroom University University of Bophuthatswana
Motto	Dit Begin Alles Hier (Afrikaans)
Motto in English	It All Starts Here
Type	Public university
Established	2004 (2004) (by merger of existing institutions)
Chancellor	Dr Anna Mokgokong [1]
Vice-Chancellor	Prof Bismark Tyobeka
Students	56,000
Location	Potchefstroom Mahikeng Vanderbijlpark , South Africa
Campus	Suburban
Colours	Purple, turquoise and grey
Nickname	NWU
Affiliations	AAU ACU HESA
Mascot	Eagi (main mascot) Mafika, Pukki, Vuvu (siblings) [2]
Website	www.nwu.ac.za

Potchefstroom campus

The North-West University (NWU) is a public research university located on three campuses in Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark in South Africa.

History

Main article: Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education

The university came into existence through the merger in 2004 of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, a large, historical university dating back to 1869, which also had a branch in Vanderbijlpark, and the University of North-West (formerly the University of Bophuthatswana). ^[3] With its merged status, the North-West University became one of the largest universities in South Africa with the third largest student population (full-time and distance education) in the country. ^[4]

As of 2023, NWU ranks among top universities locally, in Africa and globally. ^[5] In 2024, NWU became a member and service provider of AGRIS. ^[6] In 2025, construction began on the Desmond Tutu School of Medicine at the university’s Potchefstroom Campus. Once completed, it will become South Africa’s 11th medical school and is expected to enroll its first students in 2028. ^{[7] [8]}

Campuses

• Mahikeng Campus
• Potchefstroom Campus (main campus)
• Vanderbijlpark Campus ^[9]

Notable alumni

Among the notable alumni of the university following the merger are:

• Dirk Hermann, trade unionist and head of Solidarity
• Katlego Maboe, television presenter ^[10]
• Gerhard Mostert, rugby player ^[11]
• Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, Miss Universe 2017 ^[12]
• Mamokgethi Phakeng, former vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town ^[13]
• Arrie Rautenbach, group CEO of Absa Group Limited since March 2022 ^[14]
• Warren Whiteley, rugby player ^[15]

Rankings

See also: Rankings of universities in South Africa

North-West University world ranking

NWU Times Higher Education ranking 2019 to 2024
Year	World rank
2024	601–800
2023	601–800
2022	501–600
2021	501–600
2020	501–600
2019	501–600
[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29]

Faculties

The North-West University Gallery

The Great Hall at North West University, Mahikeng Campus

The university is home to eight faculties: ^{[30] [31]}

• Economic and Management Sciences
  • Accounting Sciences
  • Business and Governance (Business School)
  • Economic Sciences
  • Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management
  • Management Sciences
  • Tourism
• Education
  • Language Education
  • Psycho-Social Education
  • Professional Studies in Education
  • Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
  • Commerce and Social Studies in Education
• Engineering
  • Chemical and Minerals Engineering
  • Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
  • Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
• Health Sciences
  • Human Movement Sciences
  • Kinderkinetics
  • Pharmacy
  • Psychosocial Health
  • Physiology
  • Consumer Sciences
  • Nutrition
  • Occupational Hygiene
  • Nursing
• Humanities
  • Communication Studies
  • Government Studies
  • Languages
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Social Sciences
• Law
  • Mercantile Law
  • Public Law
  • Private Law
• Natural and Agricultural Sciences
  • Physical and Chemical Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Geo- and Spatial Sciences
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
  • Computer Science and Information Systems
  • Business Mathematics and Statistics
  • Indigenous Knowledge Systems
• Theology
  • Christian Ministry and Leadership
  • Ancient Language and Text Studies
  • Research Unit for Reformational Theology

Chancellors

• HM. Leruo Molotlegi, 2004–2019
• Dr. Anna Mokgokong, 2019–2025 (vice chancellor)

Student profile

Ethnic enrolment, 2021	Percentage	Total number
African	64,17%	28 005
White	30,85%	13,466
Coloured	3,67%	1602
Asian	1,18%	516
Other	0,12%	53
Total	100%	43,642

University of North West staff by race and gender (2021)

Race	Total number	Percentage	Female	Male
African	2,694	40.54%	1,375	1,319
Coloured	380	5.72%	221	159
Asian	114	1.72%	59	55
White	3,456	52.02%	2,033	1,423
Total	6,644	100%	3,684	2,960

References

1. "Chancellor" . Retrieved 22 February 2022.
2. "NWU Mascots" . Retrieved 4 April 2023.
3. "NWU @ a glance | NWU | North-West University". www.nwu.ac.za. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
4. "Student statistics of the North-West University" (PDF). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
5. "NWU excels again in QS World University Rankings – now 10th in Africa". ITWeb. 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
6. "North-West University from South Africa joins AGRIS!". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
7. "NWU starts construction of new Desmond Tutu medical school". SABC. 26 July 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
8. "North-West University medical school named NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine". Mail & Guardian. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
9. "Our Campuses | Studies | NWU | North-West University". studies.nwu.ac.za. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
10. "Katlego Maboe". 7 August 2013. Archived from the original on 16 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
11. Scheppel, K. (3 August 2011). "Mostert rugby institute's third Bok". NWU. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
12. Santana, M. (27 March 2017). "NWU alumna crowned as Miss SA 2017". Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
13. "Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng | University of Cap Town". University of Cape Town.
14. Tech Central South Africa (29 March 2022). "Arrie Rautenbach is new Absa CEO". NewsCentral Media. Johannesburg, South Africa. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
15. Pienaar, W. (25 June 2016). "(Afrikaans)Warren Whiteley: Van Pukke 0.20 C-span na Springbok Agtsteman (translated : from university under twenty C team to Springbok Eightman)". Potchefstroom Herald Newspaper. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
16. "World University Rankings 2024 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2024-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
17. "World University Rankings 2023 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
18. "World University Rankings 2022 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
19. "World University Rankings 2021 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
20. "World University Rankings 2020 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
21. "World University Rankings 2019 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2019-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
22. "World University Rankings 2018 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2018-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
23. "World University Rankings 2017 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
24. "World University Rankings 2016 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
25. "World University Rankings 2015 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2015-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
26. "World University Rankings 2014 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2014-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
27. "World University Rankings 2013 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
28. "World University Rankings 2012 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
29. "World University Rankings 2011 (South Africa)". Times Higher Education (THE). 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
30. eight faculties
31. "Faculties | NWU | North-West University". www.nwu.ac.za. Archived from the original on 2018-04-02. Retrieved 2018-04-01.

External links

• North-West University

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