The University of South Africa (Unisa) is the only higher education institution to carry the name of the country, and is the people’s university in every sense of the word. Throughout its history, spanning more than 140 years, Unisa has shaped futures through education.  Evolving from distance education pioneer in the 1940s to today’s pacesetter  as an open distance learning (ODL) institution, Unisa has always been driven to unlock access to higher education for as many people as possible.  Its journey has been one of continuous growth and transformation. Unisa is a comprehensive university offering both vocational and academic programmes in a wide spectrum of disciplines from the level of short courses, certificates and diplomas to degrees including honours, master’s and doctoral qualifications. With over 350 000 students it is the largest university in South Africa and on the African continent, and one of the world’s mega-universities. Attracting students from 130 countries and with offices across South Africa, Unisa has an extensive geographical footprint and global reach. Unisa has a vibrant research culture and through its research the university aims to build research capacity and address challenges pertinent to the country and on the African continent. In yet another expression of its vision to shape futures in the service of humanity, Unisa is embarking on various community engagement and outreach initiatives aimed at solving problems and meeting pressing needs of communities.

Mission Statement:

The University of South Africa is a comprehensive open distance learning institution that produces excellent scholarship and research, provides quality tuition, and fosters active community engagement. We are guided by the principles of lifelong learning, student-centredness, innovation and creativity. Our efforts contribute to the knowledge and information society, advance development, nurture a critical citizenry, and ensure global sustainability.