North-West University (NWU)

North-West University (NWU) is one of South Africa’s largest public universities, operating across three campuses in Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark. NWU welcomes students from more than 50 countries and offers undergraduate, postgraduate and distance programmes across economic sciences, education, engineering, health sciences, law, natural sciences, humanities and theology.

Registered name

North-West University (NWU)

Type

Public university

Website

nwu.ac.za

Three very different campuses

NWU was formed in 2004 by merging the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and the University of North-West in Mahikeng, together with the Sebokeng campus of Vista University. The merger brought together institutions with very different histories under apartheid, and today the three campuses each have their own character. Potchefstroom is the largest, Mahikeng sits in the provincial capital, and Vanderbijlpark serves the industrial Vaal Triangle south of Johannesburg.

Greater Together

NWU’s Development and Fundraising team runs a campaign called Greater Together. NWU says a degree can be a lifeline out of hardship and a promise kept to families who sacrificed everything, and that every student with the will to learn deserves a chance regardless of their bank balance. The fund helps clear outstanding student debt and eases the burden on middle-income households so deserving students can stay enrolled.

The campaign also supports major projects: the planned NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine, to train doctors for under-resourced communities; a School of Mines and Mining Engineering, building skills for one of South Africa’s key industries; and the development of Setswana as an academic language.

Research that earns income

NWU Enterprises manages the university’s commercially focused research, consulting, commercial services and spin-off companies, aiming to turn academic expertise into services and businesses that benefit society. NWU’s research seminars range widely, from artificial intelligence risk to the history of water forums on the Vaal River Barrage.

Selection programmes close in June at NWU

Applications for 2027 opened on 1 April 2026. Selection programmes such as nursing, music and graphic design closed on 30 June 2026, and other undergraduate programmes and residence applications close on 31 August 2026. NWU calculates an APS from the six best subjects, excluding Life Orientation.

Choosing between three NWU campuses

Decide which campus suits you before applying, since programmes and residence life differ between Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark. Ask NWU’s financial aid office whether the Greater Together fund can help with outstanding debt if you are a returning student.

Understand how universities score applicants in our APS score guide.