UKZN
A GLANCE
Siyakwamukela eNyuvesi
yaKwaZulu-Natali
Welcome to UKZN
Vision
The University of KwaZulu-Natal Executive
Management is led by the Vice-Chancellor To be the Premier University of
and Principal, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld African Scholarship.
(pictured) and he is supported by the:
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of College: Humanities
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of College: Law and
Mission
Management Studies
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of College: Health A truly South African university that
Sciences
is academically excellent, innovative
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of College:
Agriculture, Engineering and Science in research, critically engaged
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research
with society and demographically
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning
Registrar representative; and is redressing
Executive Director: Human Resources the disadvantages, inequities and
Executive Director: Corporate Relations
imbalances of the past.
Executive Director: Student Services
Chief Finance Officer
Executive Director: Institutional Planning and
Governance
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UKZN Colleges
UKZN is recognised as one of South UKZN is organised on a College model.
Africa’s top research-focused universities.
The four Colleges are:
It is one of the largest universities in sub-
Saharan Africa, with five campuses in the The College of Agriculture, Engineering and
Science
two cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg:
The College of Health Sciences
Edgewood
The College of Humanities
Howard College
Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine The College of Law and Management Studies.
Pietermaritzburg
Westville.
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Research Fact File
In 2016, funding from the National UKZN enjoys more than a century of historical
Research Foundation (NRF) increased by academic advancements. It was formed in 2004
as a result of a merger between the University of
22% compared to 2015. The University Durban-Westville and the University of Natal. The
merged institution has a total student body of
received approximately R201 million
more than 45 000.
from the National Research Foundation
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has
in 2016 and nearly R294 million for
been placed 3rd among 16 universities in South
non-governmental research grants and Africa and 369th among 2 000 Higher Education
Institutes (HEI) across the world by the world body,
contracts. University Ranking by Academic Performance
(URAP).
The University of KwaZulu-Natal is rated as South
Research Flagships Africa’s best university to study Physical Sciences
and Engineering.
Social Cohesion – Addressing Inequality and
Promoting Nation Building In the latest DHET Report on the Evaluation of the
2015 Universities’ Research Output (published
African Health – Saving Lives March 2017), UKZN was the 2nd most productive
university in South Africa and 4th in terms of
Big Data and Informatics – Computing Solutions weighted research outputs.
African Cities of the Future – Most liveable cities
UKZN has 15 South African Research Chairs
Initiative (SARChI) chairs and 320 NRF-rated
scientists.
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UKZN’s KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Centre for Composite and Smart Materials and
Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH) and the Africa Structures
Centre for Population Health have been at the
forefront of AIDS and TB research. The two The Ujamaa Centre for Contextual Hermeneutics
research bodies have now united to the Africa
DST-NRF Centre in Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Health Research Institute.
(IKS)
UKZN is the only university in South Africa to offer
The African Centre for Food Security
a degree in Agricultural (Bioresources) Engineering
that is fully accredited by the Engineering Council The Centre for Plant Growth and Development
of South Africa.
The Centre for Radio Access and Rural
Technologies (CRART)
The Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research
(CAIR)
The Centre for Research in Environmental, Coastal
and Hydrological Engineering (CRECHE)
UKZN Research Centres
The Centre for Water Resources Research.
The African Vision Research Institute (AVRI)
The African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI)
The Centre for African Literary Studies
Astrophysics and Cosmology Research Unit
UKZN’s Major HIV and AIDS
Research Centres
The Centre for Critical Research on Race and
Identity The Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)
Centre for Quantum Technology Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division
(HEARD).
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Student Funding A total of R611 million was awarded to
students as LOANS administered by the
In 2016, 84.57 % of funding recipients were National Student Financial Aid Scheme of
African students, of whom 55.44% were South Africa (NSFAS), including final year
women, and 72.67 % undergraduates. student funding and UKZN loan funding.
An amount of R442 million was awarded in
BURSARIES (sourced from corporate, NSFAS
FUNDING administration, social responsibility and
RECIPIENTS IN 2016 deceased estate funds); and R161 million in
SCHOLARSHIPS (UKZN, National Research
Foundation and deceased estate funds).
LOANS R611 million
55.44% 72.67% BURSARIES R442 million
SCHOLARSHIPS R161 million
84.57%
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Academic and Support Staff (2016)
Academic and support staff breakdown Students
2015
Of the 46 520 students registered in 2016 at
UKZN, 13 064 were postgraduate students.
1 331
Academic: 1 331 Women made up 26 631 of the student
staff Support: 2 830 body.
2 830
TOTAL: 4 161
Students registered in 2016
19 889 Female: 26 631
Staff by Race (2016) students
26 631 Male: 19 889
Race 2015 TOTAL: 46 520
505
African: 2 289
Coloured: 137
202
2 289 Indian: 1 028
race
Other: 202
White: 505
1 028
137
TOTAL: 4 161
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Composition and Size of the Stu-
dent Body (2016)
2016 Graduations (Research)
Students by race (2016)
1 885
199
586
MASTERS BY
337
DOCTORAL
African: 33 292
RESEARCH DEGREES
DEGREES AWARDED
Coloured: 968
10 176 AWARDED
students Indian: 10 176
33 292 Other: 199
968 White: 1 885
TOTAL: 46 520 2017 Graduations (Research)
Alternative access programmes cater for
learners from socially and educationally 627
MASTERS BY
354
DOCTORAL
disadvantaged backgrounds; and those who
RESEARCH DEGREES
are academically under-prepared. DEGREES AWARDED
AWARDED
The Disability Unit has developed and
facilitated a range of services for special This was a 7% and 5% increase from 2016.
needs students, and 364 disabled students
were registered at the University in 2016.
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In 2016, UKZN had: International
The University is a multicultural
environment. In 2016, it was home to 2 209
347
POST-DOCTORAL
international students from 71 countries.
While most full-time students are from the
SCHOLARS/
FELLOWS SADC region and the rest of Africa, UKZN
also attracts full-time students from China,
One of the highest numbers of postdocs India, Europe, the USA and elsewhere.
in the country.
The University’s international partnerships
Student Headcount by College with institutions in 39 countries provide
opportunities for global academic
College exchanges, which enhance both scholarship
and the overall student experience.
College of Agriculture, Engineering and 9 779
Science
College of Health Sciences 6 567 UKZN’s major exchange partners are:
College of Humanities 19 101 1. University of Calgary – Canada
College of Law and Management Studies 11 073 2. Nipissing University – Canada
Total 46 520 3. University of Illinois (USA)
4. University of Denver (USA).
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Publications Unit
Corporate Relations Division
Tel: +27 (0)31 260 7958
Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4001,
South Africa
Disclaimer:
Information was collected at different times during the
compilation of this UKZN @ a Glance publication.
Printed in September 2017.
www.ukzn.ac.za
