Universities › UFS
University of the Free State (UFS): first-year costs
Bloemfontein (Mangaung) & Qwaqwa, Free State. 39,964 students (2024 headcount, HEDA / DHET HEMIS data). Official site: https://www.ufs.ac.za. Fee year: 2026. Figures checked 25 October 2026.
Work out a first-year total at UFS
Labels: official Published by the university or NSFAS · est. Our estimate (method in the note) · NSFAS ref NSFAS allowance used as a reference amount, not a measured cost · secondary Third-party page quoting the university · unverified We could not load the official page; figure seen only in a search index of it. All amounts are 2026 fees in rand unless stated. 2027 fees are not yet published. We have not added any assumed increase.
Tuition for first year, by faculty band
UFS Fees Yearbook 2026, year-1 programme prices (extended programmes are lower). UFS doesn't offer engineering degrees.
Source: University of the Free State: UFS Fees Yearbook 2026 · checked 25 October 2026
| Faculty band | Annual tuition, first year |
|---|---|
| Commerce / business | R43 460 – R73 440official Year 1: BCom HRM R43,460; BCom R60,380; BAcc R73,440. Source: University of the Free State: UFS Fees Yearbook 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Law | R49 130official LLB year 1. Source: University of the Free State: UFS Fees Yearbook 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Engineering / built environment | not published / not found |
| Humanities / arts | R50 790 – R72 230official Year 1 of 3-/4-year degrees: BA Drama R50,790 to BSW R72,230 (BA R59,980). Source: University of the Free State: UFS Fees Yearbook 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Education | R59 340official BEd year 1. Source: University of the Free State: UFS Fees Yearbook 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Health sciences | R55 080 – R79 950official Nursing R55,080 to MBChB R79,950. Source: University of the Free State: UFS Fees Yearbook 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Natural / computer sciences | R53 600 – R80 760official BSc QS R53,600 to Actuarial Science R80,760 (BSc IT R69,300). Source: University of the Free State: UFS Fees Yearbook 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
Payments before or at registration
These are usually credited to your fee account. They are cash you need early, not an extra cost on top of fees. NSFAS-funded students are often exempt (see the notes).
| Payment | Amount |
|---|---|
| First payment – off-campus | R9 900official First payment, off-campus SA students (includes R2,290 registration fee). Confirmed fully-funded students (e.g. NSFAS) are exempt. Source: University of the Free State: UFS First payments for full registration 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
| First payment – residence | R19 000official First payment, residence SA students. Source: University of the Free State: UFS First payments for full registration 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
Where you live: residence, private or commuting
Bloemfontein (metro for NSFAS caps)
| Option | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Residence (junior & newer residences) | R37 700 – R58 880official Junior residences R37,700 shared / R42,000 single; newer R54,170–R58,880. Meals not in the table. Source: University of the Free State: UFS Fees Yearbook 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Private accommodation | Varies. Enter your own rent in the calculator. For comparison, NSFAS caps accommodation in a metro area at R65 993 (catered) or R52 000 (self-catering) NSFAS ref Source: NSFAS via gov.za: NSFAS on payment of 2025 student allowances (12 Mar 2025) · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Living at home and commuting | Depends on how far you travel and how you get there. Enter your daily fare in the calculator. For comparison, the NSFAS transport allowance is R8 190 a year NSFAS ref Source: NSFAS via gov.za: NSFAS on payment of 2025 student allowances (12 Mar 2025) · checked 25 October 2026 |
Page for the Bloemfontein campus
South Campus (Bloemfontein) (metro for NSFAS caps)
| Option | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Residence | R51 170 – R58 880official Source: University of the Free State: UFS Fees Yearbook 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Private accommodation | Varies. Enter your own rent in the calculator. For comparison, NSFAS caps accommodation in a metro area at R65 993 (catered) or R52 000 (self-catering) NSFAS ref Source: NSFAS via gov.za: NSFAS on payment of 2025 student allowances (12 Mar 2025) · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Living at home and commuting | Depends on how far you travel and how you get there. Enter your daily fare in the calculator. For comparison, the NSFAS transport allowance is R8 190 a year NSFAS ref Source: NSFAS via gov.za: NSFAS on payment of 2025 student allowances (12 Mar 2025) · checked 25 October 2026 |
Page for the South Campus (Bloemfontein) campus
Qwaqwa (non-metro for NSFAS caps)
| Option | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Residence | R37 700 – R58 880official Old residences R37,700–R42,000; new R49,475–R58,880. Source: University of the Free State: UFS Fees Yearbook 2026 · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Private accommodation | Varies. Enter your own rent in the calculator. For comparison, NSFAS caps accommodation in a non-metro area at R56 633 (catered) or R42 640 (self-catering) NSFAS ref Source: NSFAS via gov.za: NSFAS on payment of 2025 student allowances (12 Mar 2025) · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Living at home and commuting | Depends on how far you travel and how you get there. Enter your daily fare in the calculator. For comparison, the NSFAS transport allowance is R8 190 a year NSFAS ref Source: NSFAS via gov.za: NSFAS on payment of 2025 student allowances (12 Mar 2025) · checked 25 October 2026 |
Other first-year costs
| Item | UFS figure | Reference if none published |
|---|---|---|
| Meals (self-catering or private) | not published / not found | R17 160 NSFAS living allowance NSFAS ref Source: NSFAS via gov.za: NSFAS on payment of 2025 student allowances (12 Mar 2025) · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Books and study materials | not published / not found | R5 678 NSFAS learning materials allowance NSFAS ref Source: NSFAS via gov.za: NSFAS on payment of 2025 student allowances (12 Mar 2025) · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Laptop and data | not published / not found | NSFAS lets students spend the learning materials allowance on a device. Source: NSFAS: NSFAS 2026 Bursary Guidelines – Annexure A · checked 25 October 2026 |
| Personal costs | not published / not found | R3 167 NSFAS personal care allowance (catered residence) NSFAS ref Source: NSFAS via gov.za: NSFAS on payment of 2025 student allowances (12 Mar 2025) · checked 25 October 2026 |
Key dates
| 30 September 2026 | UFS 2027 applications closed (most programmes) (closed) MBChB and several health programmes closed 31 May; Nursing, Social Work, Architecture 31 July 2026. Source: University of the Free State: UFS Online Applications (closing dates) · checked 25 October 2026 |
Add UFS and NSFAS dates to your calendar (.ics)
What we couldn't find
- Meal costs
- Engineering (not offered)
- 2027 registration dates
Sources used on this page: UFS Online Applications (closing dates), UFS Fees Yearbook 2026, UFS First payments for full registration 2026. Fees change every year, so confirm with UFS before you pay.