WITS Handbook 2025/2026 – Download University of the Witwatersrand Handbook PDF and Term Dates for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Prospective Students.
The management of the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) has released the institution’s Handbook in PDF for prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students for the 2025/2026 academic session.
WITS Handbook 2025/2026
WITS University Handbook contains the list of courses, admission guide, admission requirements and all admission application information to guide you through the University of the Witwatersrand admission process.
The University of the Witwatersrand Handbook 2025/2026 is what you need to ascertain any admission or application information of the institution. The Handbook contains all the information a prospective student needs to become a fully admitted student of the university.
The University of the Witwatersrand Handbook has been successfully uploaded online and can be downloaded, print or access online in PDF format via the school official website: https://www.wits.ac.za/humanities/faculty-services/humanities-graduate-centre/graduate-studies-handbook/
WITS University Term Dates 2025/2026
| Activity | Dates |
| Registration | |
| Orientation week | |
| First teaching block | Monday 01 February – Friday 19 March (35 Days) |
| Mid-term Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 20 March – Sunday 28 March (9 Days) |
| Second teaching block | Monday 29 March – Wednesday 12 May (30 Days) |
| Study break
Examinations |
Thursday 13 May – Sunday 23 May (11 Days)
Monday 24 May – Monday 21 June (20 Days) |
| Winter Vacation/Study/Research break | Tuesday 22 June – Sunday 11 July (20 Days) |
| Third teaching block | Monday 12 July – Friday 27 August (34 Days) |
| Mid-term Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 28 August – Sunday 5 September (9 Days) |
| Fourth teaching block | Monday 6 September – Tuesday 19 October (31 Days) |
| Study break
Examinations |
Wednesday 20 October – Wednesday 27 October (8 Days)
Thursday 28 October – Friday 26 November (22 Days) |
| Summer Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 27 November |
Please note:
- The Faculty of Health Sciences’ term dates differ from those of the University and they may commence with lectures as early as the first working day in January.
- Consult the University’s website for more detailed information about dates of registration for different cohorts of students.
Public and religious holidays/holydays recognised by the University in 2025/2026
| Date | Name of holiday/holyday | University status |
| Friday 1 January | New Year’s Day | University closed |
| Sunday 21 March | Human Rights Day | University closed |
| Monday 22 March | Public Holiday | University closed |
| Sunday 27 March | Passover (Pesach) day 1** | |
| Monday 28 March | Passover (Pesach) day 2** | University closed |
| Friday 2 April | Good Friday
Passover (Pesach) day 7** |
University closed |
| Saturday 3 April | Passover (Pesach) day 8** | |
| Monday 5 April | Family Day | University closed |
| Tuesday 14 April | 1st Ramadaan (Commencement of Fasting) * | |
| Tuesday 27 April | Freedom Day | University closed |
| Saturday 1 May | Workers’ Day | University closed |
| Thursday 14 May | Eid-ul-Fitr (Termination of Fasting) * | |
| Monday 17 May | Shavuoth day 1** | |
| Tuesday 18 May | Shavuoth day 2** | |
| Wednesday 16 June | Youth Day | University closed |
| Tuesday 21 July | Eid-ul-Adha (Day of Sacrifice) * | |
| Monday 9 August | National Women’s Day | University closed |
| Tuesday 6 September | Rosh Hashanah day 1** | University closed |
| Wednesday 7 September | Rosh Hashanah day 2** | |
| Thursday 15 September | Yom Kippur ** | |
| Tuesday 20 September | Sukkot (day 1) ** | University closed |
| Wednesday 21 September | Sukkot (day 2) ** | |
| Friday 24 September | Heritage Day | University closed |
| Tuesday 27 September | Sh’mini Atzeret** | |
| Wednesday 28 September | Simchat Torah** | |
| Wednesday 3 November | Narak Chaturdashi (Diwali-South) | |
| Thursday 4 November | Luxmi Pooja (Diwali-North) | |
| Thursday 16 December | Day of Reconciliation | University closed |
| Saturday 25 December | Christmas Day | University closed |
| Sunday 26 December | Day of Goodwill | University closed |
*Islamic Holy Day – commences the previous evening; exact date depends on sighting of new moon
**Jewish Holy Day – commences the previous evening
Please note:
No exam will be scheduled on a recognised University holiday/holyday.
Proposed Public School Term Dates in 2025/2026
| Term | All Provinces |
| Term 1 | 13 January – 26 March |
| Term 2 | 07 April – 11 June |
| Term 3 | 06 July – 17 September |
| Term 4 | 28 September – 01 December |
For more information and inquiries, you can contact the University of the Witwatersrand by visiting the institution’s official website.