The University of Johannesburg (UJ) congratulates all matriculants who have completed their 2023 examinations. Passing matric is a milestone that not only unlocks new opportunities for matriculants but also serves as a stepping stone to a bright future, not only for our matriculants but also for our country at large. UJ looks forward to welcoming all those who will be admitted into various study programmes this year based on their final Grade 12 results.
A growing applicant pool
“Almost 283,000 applicants have submitted applications for the 2024 intake. These numbers demonstrate the growing recognition of the excellence of UJ’s academic programmes and the University’s commitment to quality teaching and research” says UJ’s Registrar, Professor Bettine van Vuuren.
She urges students who will be admitted not to take their opportunities for granted, given the limited number of spaces available across the various study programmes. “With higher education privilege comes the reality of limited resources, making securing placement in preferred programmes highly competitive. The intake of undergraduate first-year students for 2024 is capped at 10,500, which aligns with the enrollment plan approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Therefore, successful applicants should not delay in securing the spaces granted.”
Virtualised application, admission, and registration
The University wishes to remind applicants and their parents/guardians that, as with the previous years, the entire application, admission, and registration process for the 2024 Academic Year is online. Once the final Grade 12 results have been reviewed, official confirmation communication will be sent via SMS and email to all applicants. If no email is received by late afternoon on 19 January 2024, applicants should check their admission status on the UJ website (www.uj.ac.za) or use the UJ WhatsApp Chatbot (+27 87 2406 854) for information.
UJ had since 2019 improved its registration process by using a virtual experience with an integration of a Chatbot. Aligned with Artificial Intelligence, UJ’s Chatbot (MoUJi) offers instant responses to enquiries related to registration, study programmes (courses), accommodation, fees, etc. “As the registration period approaches, addressing queries efficiently demands significant time and resources” says Prof Bettine, adding that the Chatbot is designed in such a way that it meets the expectations of digitally savvy applicants.
“As a first for a South African public university, UJ has also integrated an official WhatsApp Business Account into our Chatbot functionality to enhance student engagement and support. Through this service, students and applicants can extract information around our academic programmes, support services including financial information, and application statuses; this service is available 24/7. Applicants and students are urged to add UJ as a contact (+27 87 240 6854), and then to engage via WhatsApp.”
While the University has an efficient Chatbot, it recognises the importance of human interaction. Thus, UJ has extended its Call Centre operating hours for those who prefer telephone enquiries. WhatsApp users can also, at any point, ask to be transferred to a live agent.
Late enquiries
While no physical walk-ins (for late applications) will be accepted, the University recognises the importance of offering opportunities to applicants who may have missed the application deadline. Consequently, a late enquiry system will be operational for new undergraduate students through the UJ website from Friday evening, 19 January 2024, until Thursday, 25 January.
Welcoming a diverse student body
Prof van Vuuren concludes, “Upon the enrollment of the 2024 first-year undergraduate cohort, UJ will host a student body exceeding 50,000, solidifying its position as one of the largest residential universities in South Africa. The institution is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive learning atmosphere, representing the South African demographic profile, empowering students to attain academic excellence.”
