University of Witwatersrand

University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg

Former names	South African School of Mines (1896–1904), Transvaal Technical Institute (1904–1906), Transvaal University College (1906–1910), South African School of Mines and Technology (1910–1920), University College, Johannesburg (1920–1922)
Motto	Scientia et Labore (Latin)
Motto in English	Knowledge and work
Type	Public university
Established	1922
Chancellor	Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke
Vice-Chancellor	Professor Adam Habib
Chairman of Council	Dr. Randall Carolissen
Administrative staff	6,585
Students	33,711
Undergraduates	21,890
Postgraduates	11,821
Doctoral students	1,808
Location	Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa 26°11′27″S 28°1′49″E / 26.19083°S 28.03028°E / -26.19083; 28.03028Coordinates: 26°11′27″S 28°1′49″E / 26.19083°S 28.03028°E / -26.19083; 28.03028
Campus	2 urban and 3 suburban campuses
Colours	Blue and gold
Nickname	Wits
Mascot	Kudos Kudu
Affiliations	AAU, ACU, FOTIM, HESA, IAU
Website	www.wits.ac.za

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, is a multi-campus South African public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University. The university has its roots in the mining industry, as do Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand in general. Founded in 1896 as the South African School of Mines in Kimberley, it is the third oldest South African university in continuous operation, after the University of Cape Town (founded in 1829), and Stellenbosch University (founded in 1866).

In 1959, the Extension of University Education Act forced restricted registrations of black students for most of the apartheid era; despite this, several notable black leaders graduated from the university. It was desegregated once again prior to the abolition of apartheid in 1990. Several of apartheid's most provocative critics, of either European or African descent, were one-time students and graduates of the university.

The university has an enrolment of 33,711 students as of 2015, of which approximately 18 percent live on campus in the university's 22 residences. 65 percent of the university's total enrolment is for undergraduate study, with the remaining 35 percent being postgraduate.

The university was founded in Kimberley in 1896 as the South African School of Mines. Eight years later, in 1904, the school was moved to Johannesburg and renamed the Transvaal Technical Institute. The school's name changed yet again in 1906 to Transvaal University College. In 1908, a new campus of the Transvaal University College was established in Pretoria. The Johannesburg and Pretoria campuses separated on 17 May 1910, each becoming a separate institution. The Johannesburg campus was reincorporated as the South African School of Mines and Technology, while the Pretoria campus remained the Transvaal University College until 1930 when it became the University of Pretoria. In 1920, the school was renamed the University College, Johannesburg.