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University of the Free State
(UFS)
About
The University of the Free State is a multi-campus public university in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State and the judicial capital of South Africa. It was first established as an institution of higher learning in 1904 as a tertiary section of Grey College. It was declared an independent Afrikaans-language university in 1950 and the name was changed to the University of the Orange Free St...
The University of the Free State is a multi-campus public university in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State and the judicial capital of South Africa. It was first established as an institution of higher learning in 1904 as a tertiary section of Grey College. It was declared an independent Afrikaans-language university in 1950 and the name was changed to the University of the Orange Free State. The university has two satellite campuses. Initially a whites-only precinct, the university was fully de-segregated in 1996. The first black university vice-chancellor was appointed in 2010.
Ranking Overview
Ranked Top 901 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems
Ranked in 18 subject rankings
QS World University Rankings
Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Academic Ranking of World Universities
U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings
Key Facts
- Students
- 31,599
- Student-Staff Ratio
- 30.9 : 1
- Int'l Students
- 2%
- Female : Male
- 64 : 36
- Staff
- 2,900
Historical Trend
Longitudinal View
QS
THE
ARWU
US News
Top Subjects
Best-performing areasSubject Rankings
Detailed breakdownTHE
9 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Law & Legal Studies | 301–400 | 24.7 | 2026 |
| Education & Training | 401–500 | 32.7 | 2026 |
| Arts & Humanities | 401–500 | 27.4 | 2026 |
| Psychology | 501–600 | 28.2 | 2026 |
| Clinical & Health | 801–1000 | 22.9 | 2026 |
| Life Sciences | 801–1000 | 23.4 | 2026 |
| Physical Sciences | 801–1000 | 27.5 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences | 801–1000 | 21.6 | 2026 |
| Business & Economics | 801–1000 | 21.2 | 2026 |
ARWU
3 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth & Marine Sciences | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Mathematics | 401-500 | - | 2024 |
| Education & Training | 401-500 | - | 2019 |
QS
2 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & Forestry | 401-450 | - | 2024 |
| Mathematics | 501-600 | - | 2025 |
US News
6 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant and Animal Science | =473 | 41.1 | 2026 |
| Agricultural Sciences | 488 | 41.1 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences and Public Health | =700 | 41.1 | 2026 |
| Materials Science | =888 | 41.1 | 2026 |
| Environment/Ecology | =915 | 41.1 | 2026 |
| Chemistry | =1,006 | 41.1 | 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ranking of University of the Free State?
University of the Free State's performance in the latest university rankings: QS Rank 1001-1200, THE Rank 1001–1200, ARWU Rank 901-1000, US News Rank =974.
When was University of the Free State founded?
University of the Free State was founded in 1904.
What are the top subjects at University of the Free State?
Top subjects at University of the Free State include: Law & Legal Studies, Earth & Marine Sciences, Education & Training, Arts & Humanities, Mathematics.
Where is University of the Free State located?
University of the Free State is located in Bloemfontein, South Africa.