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The University of South Africa (UNISA) is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 200,000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.

Founded in 1873 as the University of the Cape of Good Hope, the University of South Africa (or UNISA as it is commonly known, spoken as you-nee-suh) spent most of its early history as an examining agency for Oxford and Cambridge universities and as an incubator from which most other universities in South Africa are descended. In 1946 it was given a new role as a distance education university and today it offers certificate, diploma and degree courses up to doctoral level.
Largely because it was a distance education university, it remained interracial during the years of apartheid in South Africa. In January 2004 UNISA merged with Technikon SA and incorporated the distance education component of Vista University (VUDEC). The combined institution is still known as the University of South Africa (UNISA ). It is now organised by college and by school; see below.


Accreditation

Unisa received a Royal Charter in 1877. It operates under the University of South Africa Act (No. 19 of 1959), and is accredited by the South African Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Its qualifications (including those of the SBL) are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
Internationally, Unisa is listed in the Commonwealth Universities Handbook of 1999 and also in the International Handbook of Universities of 1998.
On 12 January 2002 UNISA was granted full institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The accreditation lapsed in March, 2007, and UNISA did not pursue renewal.


Entrance requirements

Students need a school-leaving qualification that would entitle them to enter a university or college in their own country.[2] However, Unisa also offers access courses [3] to those who have completed their schooling but without university matriculation (i.e. to students who have a national certificate (matric) without university entrance). If successful, students can study further for a degree.
[edit] Advantages

Market research has shown that Unisa is rated as one of the top universities in South Africa (2001) [1] - Unisa qualifications are sought after in the marketplace.

• Courses are offered at one-quarter to one-third the price of residential universities;
• Courses are accessible as students who do not have a university entrance matric can register for UNISA's access programme;
• Courses are flexible, because students can plan their studies to fit into their lifestyles;
• The qualifications are credible, because of the international recognition afforded its qualifications.

Notable alumni (students and faculty)

The Alumni Relations Office deals with all matters that are related to alumni. All Unisa Graduates or Convocants are therefore the alumni of the University. Unisa has established the Alumni Association which is a platform for alumni to actively participate in the activities of the University in order to contribute to its long-term success and sustainability. For more information, visit Unisa Alumni

• Jean-Bertrand Aristide (Haitian politician)
• Walter Battiss (South African abstract painter and known as the creator of the quirky "Fook Island" concept)
• David Bosch (Cleric and Professor of Missiology)
• Sandra Botha (South African politician)
• Ergun Caner (Professor and Former President and Dean: Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary)
• Sophia Daras
• Dorita Field (Politician in Northern Ireland)
• Chenjerai Hove (Zimbabwean poet, novelist and essayist)
• Danny Jordaan (South Africa's 2010 Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Officer)
• Ahmed Kathrada (South African politician and anti-apartheid activist)
• Queen LaMbikiza of Swaziland
• Sindiwe Magona (South African writer)
• Nelson Mandela (Former President of the Republic of South Africa)
• Tshilidzi Marwala (Adhominem Professor of Electrical Engineering,Carl and Emily Fuchs Chair of Systems and Control Engineering as well as the DST/NRF South Africa Research Chair of Systems Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand)
• Kaiser Matanzima (Former leader of the then-bantustan of Transkei in South Africa)
• Kenneth Mopeli (former Chief Minister of the South African bantustan of QwaQwa)
• Robert Mugabe (Current President of Zimbabwe)
• Bulelani Ngcuka (first national Director of Public Prosecutions in South Africa, and is the husband of former Deputy President of South Africa Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.)
• Georgia Papageorge (South African installation artist)
• Kevin Pietersen (Current England Cricket Player)
• Cyril Ramaphosa
• Mamphela Ramphele
• John E. Sanders (American evangelical Christian theologian)
• Tokyo Sexwale (South African businessman and former politician, anti-apartheid activist, and political prisoner)
• Desmond Tutu (South African cleric and political activist)
• Jaco van der Westhuyzen (Former Springbok Rugby Player)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_South_Africa