When does registration take place for returning students? Registration takes place during January of each year.
What happens if I cannot register on the above registration dates? Please write a letter of motivation to the Faculty Registrar explaining why you cannot register on the registration dates. Please also attach supporting documents including your address on the letter. Also fill out the application for Late Registration and submit to the Faculty office.
Can someone else register on my behalf? Registration is a contract between the student and the University. Therefore no one else is allowed to register on behalf of a student.
Can I register a course in another Faculty for non-degree purposes? Yes. You can make an application to do so by filling in a special concession form (obtainable from the Faculty Reception) for the Deans approval.
If I want to change Faculties, what do I have to do? You need to complete an application form which is available from Student Enrolment Centre. The application form must be submitted before the 31 August of the year preceeding intended study.
Examination Results
Are the examination results going to be available on the internet? Yes. The results are available on the internet at www.wits.ac.za/Students/Exams/Results.
How do I access my results on the internet? Go to the Wits website: www.wits.ac.za. On the top menu, click on 'Current students'. Click on Exam and then on 'Exam Results'. Enter your student number and select your Area of Study. In the next drop down box, select 'Ordinary' and then click on 'Send Query'. Your exam results will then be displayed.
Can I get my exam results over the phone or have them faxed to me? No. Your exam results cannot be faxed or told to you verbally. Your exam results will have been emailed to your Wits Student email address at the end of each year. To access this email go to http://my.wits.ac.za and click on Email and Calendar. Use your student number as the user name, and your ID number or passport number as the password. Alternatively, you can call this number 083 123 3333 for your results.
Results, Clearance Certificates and Documentation
I have a letter saying results withheld. What does that mean? This means that there is a hold on your account (either fees outstanding or an outstanding disciplinary issue against your name). You need to either pay your fees or visit the Legal Office on the 5th Floor, Senate House, to clear the hold. They will issue you with a clearance certificate, which you then take to the Faculty Office. The staff will then order your results, which will be available for collection after 2 days of you issuing the certificate to the Faculty.
I have a 'W' on my clearance certificate. What does it mean? This means that you are a student on financial aid and that the Fees Office has given the go ahead to have your results released.
I need my academic transcript/code of conduct/statement of results. What is this and how do I obtain it? An academic transcript is an official document stating your full academic history at the University. A code of conduct is a statement on the transcript explaining your behavior, (how you have conducted yourself while studying at the University). You can either visit your Faculty Office at South West Engineering Building, Ground Floor, Room 1 and fill out a request form or fax it to 011 717 4037 or email your request to Genevieve.Douman@wits.ac.za or Palesa.Mokoena@wits.ac.za for BA students or to Maropeng.Maake@wits.ac.za or Agnes.Mogale@wits.ac.za for BEd students.
How does one get their proof of registration? Check your I-Wits e-mail account. After registration, a letter is e-mailed to your e-mail account in the form of an attachment. Please print this document and bring it to the Faculty office to be stamped.
Orientation
When does Orientation occur? Orientation will take place on during February of each year.
Do I have to attend Orientation? Yes. You have to attend Orientation as this will help you to understand University life and help you to find your way around the University.
Finance-Related Enquiries
I do not have enough cash to pay the upfront payment. Can I register and pay the balance later? Unfortunately no registration is allowed without a clearance certificate from the Fees Office and therefore the upfront payment is required.
How much is the upfront payment? This amount changes annually. Please refer to the Fees office or Faculty Office for advice.
I have a bursary. How do I register? Anyone who has a bursary should obtain a letter from their bursars and take that letter to the Fees Office to obtain a clearance certificate
Financial Aid Enquiries
Why can I not obtain financial aid from the National Students? Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in addition to my sponsor money? NSFAS money can only be used as a top up for the shortfall of your funds.
Who qualifies for NSFAS? You have to be a South African citizen who is financially needy and who has the potential to succeed.
Does NSFAS pay for everything? No. The calculations are based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in addition to other criteria.
What happens if you receive a bursary after NSFAS has been paid? If there is a credit balance on your account it will be sent to NSFAS to reduce the loan granted for that particular year.
Why does financial aid not cover part-time and occasional studies? It is a NSFAS rule that only full-time students are covered by financial aid.
Why is the Expected Family Contribution calculated on the Gross Income rather than the Net income? This is in accordance with the NSFAS rule that the calculation should be based on the Gross Income.
How much do I have to pay, even after I receive NSFAS funding? It depends on how much you qualify for from NSFAS. In addition, your notes and some other charges are not covered by Financial Aid and will have to be covered by you.
How do you determine who qualifies for financial aid? There is a National Means Test supplied by NSFAS that is used to determine who qualifies for financial aid.
Why can I not query my NSFAS loan balance with the University? Why do I have to contact NSFAS? The repayments for the NSFAS loans are dealt with by NSFAS.
Why does financial aid not cover the funds for notes and fees for clubs and societies? There is an Expected Family Contribution by all students hence you have to pay for the notes, clubs and societies. This can be done through working for the Service Bursary if you are on Financial Aid.
Does the University have any bursaries? How do you apply for them? The University does not offer bursaries. This means that you have to apply for External Bursaries. Please visit the Financial Aid website for a list of some of the External Bursaries on offer.
