Studying
online
What to
expect
The UJ Learning Management System (LMS)
Your future reimagined through 100% online study
In 2005 three famous institutions became one.
Technikon Witwatersrand, Vista University and Rand Afrikaans University merged to form the University of Johannesburg, or as we affectionately call it – UJ.
But this was more than a name-change. This was the beginning of an idea of what a future University should be. We didn’t just take on the name of the city that we’re in, we took the name of the economic hub of Africa. A vibrant and dynamic city that shares our pace and energy and, like us, is paving the way in a new South Africa.
This is how it all started and when we began to reimagine the future.
Today, UJ consists of more than 600 000 square meters of buildings, which includes teaching, research, administration, support, sport, recreational and living space across four campuses.
To stay true to the fast-paced, dynamic city that is our namesake, UJ campuses offer a happy balance of arts and culture and sporting activities over and above daily academic life.
Being an amazing University means we need to do what we do with purpose and when we say, “The Future. Reimagined” it needs to be more than just a catchy slogan. Our vision is to be an International University of choice, that’s anchored in Africa and dynamically shapes the future.
With this in mind, our mission is to inspire our community and to transform and serve humanity through innovation and the collaborative pursuit of knowledge.
We are committed to achieving closer contact with our community and embracing the advancement of freedom, democracy, equality and human dignity.
We support access to a wide spectrum of academic and technological learning, teaching and research and believe that leading, challenging, creating and exploring knowledge is the only way that the future can be reimagined.
To bring this thinking to life UJ currently offers, first-of-its-kind, fully-online accredited qualifications in Educational Management, Information and Communication Technology, Public Health, International Accounting, Human Resource Management and Financial Markets. And, as we move into the future, this list will continue to grow.
Of course, top of everyone’s mind today is “Web 4.0”. Advancements in robotics, virtual reality, cloud technology, big data, artificial intelligence, the Internet of things and other technologies, and from a teaching and learning perspective, how we adapt and welcome it into our world. Since introducing handheld devices into first-year classrooms in 2014, in a bid to connect the young minds with the world of e-knowledge that they are growing into, we have dedicated ourselves to creating our classrooms, our teaching tools and even our teacher education at the cutting edge of innovation so as to ensure an adaptable and flexible education system.
And, with the future being more relevant today than ever before and the global topic of conversation being “The 4th Industrial Revolution”, we are pleased to say that the highest concentration of staff with PhDs in AI, machine learning, data analytics and computational intelligence on our continent can be found at the University of Johannesburg.
Furthermore, our current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tshilidzi Marwala is an expert in AI and since his inauguration has been gearing the institution to meet the 4th Industrial Revolution head on and ensure that we turn out 4.0 ready graduates that are able to think, adapt and react in a future environment.
We are very proud to be regarded as having the deepest expertise in AI in Africa but this does come with some responsibility.
Through impactful research and innovation, it is up to us to transform lives and landscapes around us and hopefully catapult our graduates and our country into a responsive, innovative and solutions-driven future for all.
Along with our esteemed alumni from our legacy institutions and the new set of born free alumni, we are designing the future together because at UJ, we are talking about a new future, today.
Reasons to enrol in a UJ 100% online programme
Our online programmes are carefully designed to make earning an accredited university qualification possible for students from all walks of life. Students benefit from the rigour and faculty instruction of a traditional programme, made accessible online.
Studying online
We offer a growing range of 100% online degrees that can be found on this site under the Online programmes tab.
The advantage of online learning is that no travel or contact sessions are required. You will be able to complete each consecutive module for your degree completely online. This gives you the flexibility to study when it best suits your schedule, helping you to balance work, studies and other responsibilities. Once enrolled you can access the modules at any time via a laptop or other digital device, provided you have an Internet connection.
Our online programmes are designed to be a highly interactive learning environment. You will be able to share your perspective and participate in topical discussions with fellow students. The faculty staff members are supportive and available for questions, while also providing assignments and guiding instruction using specific technologies.
Now you can experience both the rigour and the rewards of a university degree from home.
Our online programmes are uniquely organised to offer you multiple opportunities during the year to begin your course. Instead of a typical academic schedule of two semesters or enrolment periods per year, the online programmes begin six times per year on a revolving schedule. Since you don’t have to wait for the next semester to start, you are able to move through your programme more quickly and efficiently. Although maximum duration of qualification rules apply, the shorter modules and additional start dates per year give you more flexibility to fit your studies into your schedule.
What to expect
The UJ Learning Management System (LMS) – Blackboard
The learning management system at UJ for accessing academic modules, communities and announcements is called Blackboard. To gain access, students and staff log in through the uLink portal.
Tools available in Blackboard modules include content areas capable of hosting class presentations, documents, web links, assignments, plagiarism tools, online tests, wikis, and reflection diaries − to name a few.
For self-help technical support, please visit the Blackboard Help Website at https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student. Should you need further assistance, you are welcome to contact the helpdesk at the Centre for Academic Technologies by phoning them on 011 559 3580 during office hours, or sending them an email to uhelp@uj.ac.za.
