Wits Calendar, The Faculty of Health Sciences’ term dates differ from those of the University and they may commence with lectures as early as the first working day in January.
Consult the University’s website for more detailed information about dates of registration for different cohorts of students
Activity | Dates |
Registration | Friday 12 January – Thursday 01 February |
Orientation week | Monday 29 January – Friday 02 February |
First teaching block | Monday 05 February – Friday 23 March (34 days) |
Mid-term Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 24 March – Monday 02 April (10 days) |
Second teaching block | Tuesday 03 April – Thursday 17 May (31 days) |
Study BreakExaminations | Friday 18 May – Friday 25 May (10 days)Monday 28 May – Friday 22 June (20 days) |
Winter Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 23 June – Sunday 15 July (23 days) |
Third teaching block | Monday 16 July – Friday 31 August (34 days) |
Mid-term Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 01 September – Sunday 09 September (9 days) |
Fourth teaching block | Monday 10 September – Tuesday 23 October (31 days) |
Study BreakExaminations | Wednesday 24 October – Tuesday 30 October (7 days)Wednesday 31 October – Tuesday 27 November (20 days) |
Summer Vacation/Study/Research break | Wednesday 28 November |
Please note:
Public and religious holidays/holydays recognised by the University in 2018
Date | Name of holiday | University status |
Monday 1 January | New Year’s Day | University closed |
Wednesday 21 March | Human Rights Day | University closed |
Saturday 31 March | Pesach (day 1)** | |
Sunday 1 April | Pesach (day 2)** | |
Friday 30 March | Good Friday | University closed |
Monday 02 April | Family Day | University closed |
Friday 6 April | Pesach (day 7)** | |
Saturday 7 April | Pesach (day 8)** | |
Friday 27 April | Freedom Day | University closed |
Tuesday 1 May | Workers’ Day | University closed |
Thursday 17 May | First day of Ramadan* | |
Sunday 20 May | Shavuoth (day 1)** | |
Monday 21 May | Shavuoth (day 2)** | |
Friday 15 June | Eid-ul-Fitr* | |
Saturday 16 June | Youth Day | University closed |
Thursday 9 August | National Women’s Day | University closed |
Wednesday 22 August | Eid-ul-Adha* | |
Monday 10 September | Rosh Hashanah (day 1)** | |
Tuesday 11 September | Rosh Hashanah (day 2)** | |
Wednesday 19 September | Yom Kippur** | |
Monday 24 September | Heritage DaySukkot (day 1)** | University closed |
Tuesday 25 September | Sukkot (day2)** | |
Monday 1 October | Sh’mini Atzeret** | |
Tuesday 2 October | Simchat Torah** | |
Tuesday 06 November | Diwali (South India) | |
Wednesday 07 November | Diwali (North India) | |
Sunday 16 December | Day of Reconciliation | University closed |
Monday 17 December | Public Holiday | University closed |
Tuesday 25 December | Christmas Day | University closed |
Wednesday 26 December | Day of Goodwill | University closed |
* = Islamic Holy Day – commences the previous evening; exact date depends on sighting of new moon
** = Jewish Holy Day – commences the previous evening
Proposed Public School Term Dates in 2018
Term | All Provinces |
Term 1 | 17 January – 28 March |
Term 2 | 10 April – 22 June |
Term 3 | 17 July – 28 September |
Term 4 | 09 October – 12 December |
GET DETAILS ON UNIVERSITY APPLICATION IN SA