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We are situated in Johannesburg, the economic and industrial heartland of the African continent. Our history is linked to mining, political and civic activism, and the development of Johannesburg.

An open public university, we cherish academic freedom and pursue the truth. We uphold no distinctions of class, wealth, race or creed. We are committed to academic and research excellence.

Wits is the home of four Nobel Prize Winners: Nelson Mandela (Peace), Sydney Brenner (Medicine), Nadine Gordimer (Literature) and Aaron Klug (Chemistry).

We are home to 56 research entities, 12 donor-sponsored research chairs, 30 South African Research Chairs, 6 Centres of Excellence, and 434 National Research Foundation-rated researchers.

96% of Wits’ research is published in international, peer-reviewed high-impact journals. Our researchers and innovators are collaborating to leverage the next level of discovery research.

We have over 50 active projects around Africa and the University is represented globally through various partnerships. Wits is also the co-founder of the African Research Universities Alliance.

Wits has produced over 200 000 alumni. Amongst them are many illustrious artists, lawyers, politicians, business leaders, accountants and scientists. 50 Alumni have been awarded prestigious National Orders by the Presidency since 1994.

Female students make up to 57% of our student body. Almost 50% of our students are the first in their family to attend a university. Postgraduate students now make up almost 40% of Wits students.

Wits established the first clinical trial in South Africa and on the continent for a ÍøÒ×ÌåÓý vaccine in 2020, one of many firsts in our 100 year history.

Wits trains the highest number of medical specialists and sub-specialists in South Africa. A new R22-million Wits Advanced Surgical Skills Lab will help to enhance the training of surgeons.

Wits is spread over 400 acres in Braamfontein and Parktown, has 11 libraries and 18 residence halls accommodating 20% of the student population.

Several staff, students and alumni were featured in the 2021 Mail and Guardian Top 200 list of trailblazing young South Africans.

Wits was the first SA university to have a nuclear accelerator, to study radar, to have a computer, to study building materials, to produce a systematic climatological atlas of southern Africa and to achieve a successful graft of plastic cornea.