University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg Campus

Pietermaritzburg

Located an hour's drive inland from the Indian Ocean and Durban, Pietermaritzburg is the capital of KwaZulu-Natal and its second largest city. It is set amidst the forested hills and rolling countryside of the Natal-Midlands. The city has a strong colonial heritage and is considered one of the best-preserved Victorian cities in the world. Few cities personify the vibrancy of a contemporary African city better than Pietermaritzburg. Each of the five campuses of the University of KwaZulu-Natal has its own personality reflecting the kaleidoscopic community that shapes it. Since the end of apartheid the university has steadily increased its proportion of non-White students, including Black South African, Indian and Colored students, who now make up more than seventy percent of the student population. The primarily residential Pietermaritzburg campus will enable you to integrate quickly both inside and outside of the classroom. The campus is located in the shady, tree-lined suburb of Scottsville, a 20-minute walk from the center of Pietermaritzburg.
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Program Info
 

      The Pietermaritzburg campus offers a wide range of innovative academic programs that have been successful in responding to local and provincial needs in Science and Agriculture, Humanities, Development and Social Sciences, Education, and Law and Management Studies. Unique to the Maritzburg campus are the disciplines of Agriculture, Theology and Visual Art as well as the Alan Paton Centre and Struggle Archives where Paton’s study has been recreated, and most of his books, journals, awards and memorabilia have been archived. One of the highlights of the UKZN offerings in Pietermaritzburg is the 4-credit service learning course, Policy Issues in Community Service.


    • Preferred application deadlines are: October 15th for Spring semester and April 15th for Fall semester. Call for availability after these dates.
    • At the time of application a student should normally have attained a minimum of a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.  Students should hold Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior or Senior class standing at the time of study.
    • Interstudy students can combine courses offered in different departments and faculties as scheduling allows.
    • Science department spaces are limited; early application is recommended.
    • Music department courses require an audition upon arrival to place students into performance courses.
    • Fine Arts courses require a portfolio.
    • Students are pre-approved for courses prior to arrival; final registration takes place on-site.
    • Students should note that cross-campus enrollment is not permitted; Interstudy students enroll at either the Howard College or Pietermaritzburg campus.
    • Standard full-time credit load: 14-16 U.S. semester-hour credits. The total number of courses will vary depending on the credit weighting of each course.
    • Click here for more information on course selection.
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Location

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Student Life
 
    • Location: Pietermaritzburg
    • Student Population: 7,300
    • City Population: 378,000
    • 3 Miles from Campus to City Center
    • 49 Miles from Durban Airport to Campus
    • 316 Miles from Pietermaritzburg to Johannesburg
    • Clubs and societies cater to interests such as bridge, films, photography, music, wildlife, etc.
    • Extensive sports and recreation facilities at each of five campuses.
    • Main libraries on the Howard College and Pietermaritzburg campuses are fully computerized; branch libraries serve the departments.
    • Students live in University residence halls with local students with single rooms, self-catered.

Subject Areas

    • agriculture
    • art history
    • biochemistry
    • botany
    • business
    • chemistry
    • classics
    • communication
    • computer science
    • ecology/environmental science
    • economics
    • education
    • english *
    • ethics *
    • fine art *
    • genetics
    • geography
    • history
    • mathematics
    • microbiology
    • nutrition *
    • philosophy
    • physics
    • political science
    • psychology
    • religion *
    • sociology
    • statistics
    • wildlife science
    • zoology


*Academic Highlights