REGISTRATION 2021 – Registrar

4 January 2021

COMMUNIQUÉ FROM THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR

REGISTRATION 2021

Dear Staff, Students and Applicants,

In view of the current Covid-19 public health emergency which has persisted since March 2020—and in line with government mandates—the University has put in place measures to ensure that the 2021 registration processes continue in a manner that mitigates the health and safety risks for our staff, students, and members of our local communities. As advised in the Vice Chancellor and Principal’s Communique of 30 December 2020 all 2021 registration processes must be completed online and from remote locations as there will be no registration services and/or registration assistance available on any of our campuses.

A number of imperatives were considered when planning the 2021 registration processes and procedures, and these required us to proceed differently in terms of planning for registration.

These considerations included, but were not limited to:

• The dynamics of the Coronavirus and the critical requirement to minimise public health risks by precluding all gatherings such as the inevitable queues that occur during on-campus registration;
• Taking heed of the ‘stay home and stay safe’ message and limiting the use of public transport during the critical post festive season period with the potential for heightened infection rates, which the country is already experiencing;
• The large number of UKZN students that need to be registered (approximately 48 000) makes it impractical to adhere to any of the physical distancing requirements;
• The overflow of the 2020 academic year into 2021 with the release of semester 2:2020 results being published on 5 February and the late release of the Matric (NSC) results on 23 February 2021;
• Allowing sufficient time during the student recess for the necessary deep cleaning and minor repair work in our residences;
• That all returning students are familiar with the UKZN online registration system, and that a decision has already been taken that online teaching and learning will continue for the duration of semester 1:2021, with the situation being re-assessed mid-year 2021;
• That all 2021 applicants would have benefitted from having to engage in their Matric school year via remote online means such as the CAO and NSFAS applications processes.

The online registration system has been set up to cater for all aspects of the registration process, including accepting offers, change of mind, applications for re-registration, counselling as required (academic, curriculum and/or personal), financial clearance, registration for residence and final academic registration.

There will be no registration service and/or assistance available on any of our campuses. Students and applicants are implored not to come onto campus, as unregistered persons will not be allowed onto any of our campuses, and no in-person assistance will be available.

All information, including the contact email addresses of relevant staff will be published via regular communiqués and/or the University or College websites.

Completed online academic (and residence if required) registration will trigger activation of the student card and the allocation of a 2021 UKZN Access Permit, allowing entry to residence when opened (please see dates below), and campus on the first day of the academic semester.

Registration has been structured to cater for three (3) distinct cohorts of students, in a staggered return approach.

Group 1: Returning Research Masters and Doctoral students.

Remote online registration will commence on 18 January 2021 and specific details are included in Communiqué 2 from the Office of the Registrar, dated 22 December 2020.

First entry Research Masters and Doctoral candidates can register throughout the year.

Group 2: All other returning students including all undergraduates, Honours (Hons), Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and Coursework Masters (CWM) students, and new (first entry) honours, postgraduate diploma and coursework masters students offered a study place.

Remote online registration will commence on Monday, 8 February 2021, after the release of Semester 2:2020 results on Friday, 5 February 2021.

Honours, Postgraduate Diploma and Coursework Masters students, please see the Communiqué from the Office of the Registrar dated 8 December 2020 for further details.

Group 3: First entry undergraduates.

After the release of the Matric results on Tuesday, 23 February 2021 as proposed by the Department of Basic Education, the University will immediately commence with making firm offers.

Remote online registration will commence on Monday, 8 March 2021 for first entry undergraduates.

Late applications and ‘walk-ins’ will not be accommodated, as the University has received in excess of 110 000 on-time applications for only 9 000 first entry intake places. ‘Change of mind’ by confirmed applicants will be dealt with online.

Registration time line 2021

The following summary has been taken from the 2021 Senate approved sessional dates:

Issued by
Dr K Cleland
Registrar