North-West University Explained

North-West University
Native Name:	Tswana: Yunibesiti ya Bokone-Bophirima Afrikaans: Noordwes-Universiteit Sotho, Southern: Yunivesithi ya Leboya Bophirima
Motto:	Dit Begin Alles Hier (Afrikaans) Gotlhe Go Simolola Fano (Setswana) Tsohle Di Qala Mona (Sesotho)
Mottoeng:	It All Starts Here
Established:	2004 (By merger of existing institutions)
Chancellor:	Dr Anna Mokgokong^[1]
Vice Chancellor:	Prof Bismark Tyobeka^[2]
Students:	56,000
Former Names:	Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education Potchefstroom UniversityUniversity of Bophuthatswana
Nickname:	NWU
Mascot:	Eagi (Main Mascot) Mafika, Pukki, Vuvu (Siblings) ^[3]
Colours:	Purple, Turquoise and Grey

The North-West University (NWU) is a public research university located on three campuses in Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark in South Africa. The university came into existence through the merger in 2004 of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, a large, historical university dating back to 1869, which also had a branch in Vanderbijlpark, and the University of North-West (formerly the University of Bophuthatswana).^[4] With its merged status, the North-West University became one of the largest universities in South Africa with the third largest student population (full-time and distance education) in the country.^[5] NWU ranks among top universities locally, in Africa and globally.^[6]

Campuses

• Mahikeng Campus
• Potchefstroom Campus (Main campus)
• Vanderbijlpark Campus^[7]

Student Profile

Ethnic enrolment, 2021	Percentage	total number
African	64,17%	28 005
White	30,85%	13,466
Coloured	3,67%	1602
Asian	1,18%	516
Other	0,12%	53
Total	100%	43,642

University of North West Staff by Race and Gender (2021)

Race	Total Number	Percentage	Female	Male
African	2,694	40.54%	1,375	1,319
Coloured	380	5.72%	221	159
Asian	114	1.72%	59	55
White	3,456	52.02%	2,033	1,423
Total	6,644	100%	3,684	2,960

Alumni

• Dirk Hermann, trade unionist
• Gerhard Mostert, rugby player^[8]
• Warren Whiteley, rugby player^[9]
• Katlego Maboe, television presenter^[10]
• Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, Miss Universe 2017^[11]
• Arrie Rautenbach, Group CEO of Absa Group Limited since March 2022.^[12]
• Mamokgethi Phakeng, former vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town^[13]

Rankings

See also: Rankings of universities in South Africa.

NWU Times Higher Education Ranking 2019 to 2024
Year	World Rank
2024	601–800
2023	601–800
2022	501–600
2021	501–600
2020	501–600
2019	501–600
^[14] ^[15] ^[16] ^[17] ^[18] ^[19] ^[20] ^[21] ^[22] ^[23] ^[24] ^[25] ^[26] ^[27]

Faculties

The university is home to 8 faculties including:^[28]

• Economic and Management Sciences
  • Accounting Sciences
  • Business and Governance (Business School)
  • Economic Sciences
  • Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management
  • Management Sciences
  • Tourism
• Education
  • Language Education
  • Psycho-Social Education
  • Professional Studies in Education
  • Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
  • Commerce and Social Studies in Education
• Engineering
  • Chemical and Minerals Engineering
  • Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
  • Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
• Health Sciences
  • Human Movement Sciences
  • Kinderkinetics
  • Pharmacy
  • Psychosocial Health
  • Physiology
  • Consumer Sciences
  • Nutrition
  • Occupational Hygiene
  • Nursing
• Humanities
  • Communication Studies
  • Government Studies
  • Languages
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Social Sciences
• Law
  • Mercantile Law
  • Public Law
  • Private Law
• Natural and Agricultural Sciences
  • Physical and Chemical Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Geo- and Spatial Sciences
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
  • Computer Science and Information Systems
  • Business Mathematics and Statistics
  • Indigenous Knowledge Systems
• Theology
  • Christian Ministry and Leadership
  • Ancient Language and Text Studies
  • Research Unit for Reformational Theology

Chancellor

• Leruo Molotlegi, 2004-2019
• Anna Mokgokong, 2019-

External links

• North-West University

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chancellor. 22 February 2022.
2. Web site: Vice Chancellor. 30 January 2023.
3. Web site: NWU Mascots. 4 April 2023.
4. Web site: NWU @ a glance NWU North-West University . 2024-06-23 . www.nwu.ac.za.
5. Web site: Student statistics of the North-West University. 22 February 2022.
6. Web site: 2023-06-29 . NWU excels again in QS World University Rankings – now 10th in Africa . 2024-06-23 . ITWeb.
7. Web site: Our Campuses Studies NWU North-West University . 2022-05-20 . studies.nwu.ac.za.
8. Web site: Mostert rugby institute's third Bok . NWU . Scheppel, K. . 3 August 2011 . 4 August 2018 . 4 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180804202250/http://www.nwu.ac.za/p-news/pm_1205.html . live.
9. Web site: (Afrikaans)Warren Whiteley: Van Pukke 0.20 C-span na Springbok Agtsteman (translated : from university under twenty C team to Springbok Eightman). Pienaar . W.. 25 June 2016. Potchefstroom Herald Newspaper. 4 August 2018. 4 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180804233045/http://potchefstroomherald.co.za/tag/warren-whiteley/. live.
10. Web site: Katlego Maboe. 7 August 2013 . 4 August 2018. 16 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816023440/http://www.famousfaces.co.za/artists/katlego-maboe/. live.
11. Web site: NWU alumna crowned as Miss SA 2017. Santana, M.. 27 March 2017. 4 August 2018. 4 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180804202347/http://news.nwu.ac.za/nwu-alumna-crowned-miss-sa-2017. live.
12. Web site: NewsCentral Media . Arrie Rautenbach is new Absa CEO . 29 March 2022 . Tech Central South Africa . 16 October 2022 . Johannesburg, South Africa.
13. Web site: Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng University of Cap Town . University of Cape Town.
14. Web site: 2024-10-20 . World University Rankings 2024 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
15. Web site: 2023-10-20 . World University Rankings 2023 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
16. Web site: 2022-10-20 . World University Rankings 2022 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
17. Web site: 2021-10-20 . World University Rankings 2021 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
18. Web site: 2020-10-20 . World University Rankings 2020 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
19. Web site: 2019-10-20 . World University Rankings 2019 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
20. Web site: 2018-10-20 . World University Rankings 2018 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
21. Web site: 2017-10-20 . World University Rankings 2017 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
22. Web site: 2016-10-20 . World University Rankings 2016 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
23. Web site: 2015-10-20 . World University Rankings 2015 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
24. Web site: 2014-10-20 . World University Rankings 2014 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
25. Web site: 2013-10-20 . World University Rankings 2013 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
26. Web site: 2012-10-20 . World University Rankings 2012 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
27. Web site: 2011-10-20 . World University Rankings 2011 (South Africa) . 2024-02-27 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
28. Web site: Faculties NWU North-West University. www.nwu.ac.za. en. 2018-04-01. 2018-04-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20180402035705/http://www.nwu.ac.za/faculties#sidr-0. live.