{{Short description|Public university in Limpopo Province, South Africa}} {{Redirect|University of the North|the institution with the same name in Colombia|Universidad del Norte}} {{Infobox university | name = University of Limpopo | image = University of Limpopo logo.svg | image_size = 200px | motto = The University of Limpopo for human and environmental wellness in a rural context; finding solutions for Africa! | established = 1 January 2005<br />(''by merger of existing institutions'') | type = Public university | chancellor = Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma | vice_chancellor = Jeffrey Mabelebele<ref>[https://www.limpopochronicle.co.za/2025/07/11/university-of-limpopo-announces-new-vice-chancellor/] </ref> | city = Mankweng, Limpopo | country = South Africa | website = {{url|www.ul.ac.za/}} }}

The '''University of Limpopo''' ({{langx|af|Universiteit van Limpopo}}) is a public university in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2005, by merger of the University of the North and the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA).<ref>{{Cite web |title=CHE {{!}} Council on Higher Education {{!}} Regulatory body for Higher Education in South Africa {{!}} Education {{!}} Innovation {{!}} University {{!}} South Africa |url=https://www.che.ac.za/#/moreitemdetails |publisher=www.che.ac.za |access-date=2020-05-25 |archive-date=2020-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524181407/https://www.che.ac.za/#/moreitemdetails |url-status=live }}</ref> These previous institutions formed the Turfloop and MEDUNSA campuses of the university, respectively. In 2015 the MEDUNSA campus split and became the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smu.ac.za/ |title=Home |publisher=Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University |access-date=10 August 2018 |archive-date=11 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311130241/https://www.smu.ac.za/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History== The '''University of the North''', nicknamed "Turfloop"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/1998-05-29-student-council-turns-turfloop-turmoil|title=Student council turns Turfloop turmoil|website=Mg.co.za|date=29 May 1998 |access-date=10 August 2018|archive-date=2018-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810173559/https://mg.co.za/article/1998-05-29-student-council-turns-turfloop-turmoil|url-status=live}}</ref> after its location, was established in 1959 under the apartheid regime's policy of separate ethnically-based institutions of higher learning policy. The university was sited at Turfloop farm about {{convert|40|km}} east of Pietersburg. The town that grew around the university was named Sovenga, for the three ethnic groups (Sotho, Venda, Tsonga) that Apartheid ideology intended to study there. In reality, most inhabitants refer to the town as Mankweng, after one of the chiefs of the area. Under later apartheid, the University of the North served as a "model" university where dignitaries were brought to show the "viability" of the separate facilities. As such, it received heavy government subsidies, but the real problem was that the students that the university supposedly served were so under-resourced in their standard education that the quality of instruction was placed under incredible demands.

The university was a centre of resistance to apartheid in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s with the SADF occupying the grounds often during those years. After the end of apartheid, the university struggled through various re-organisation and rationalisation schemes, yet always managed to survive. Enrollment fluctuated wildly in the years after liberation and while some faculty did not transition very easily, others were able to seize upon the new opportunities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=University of Limpopo (UL)|url=https://www.studentroom.co.za/university-of-limpopo-ul/|date=2016-07-12|website=StudentRoom.co.za|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-25|archive-date=2017-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721112409/http://www.studentroom.co.za/university-of-limpopo-ul/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The University of Limpopo is the result of a merger between the former Medical University of Southern Africa and the University of the North, which occurred on 1 January 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=UL%20Historical%20Background|title=University of Limpopo Historical Background|website=University of Limpopo|access-date=26 April 2020|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214080406/https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=UL%2520Historical%2520Background|url-status=live}}</ref>

The extension of University Education Act of 1959 made provision for the establishment of racially exclusive universities for black South Africans. Under the provisions of the Act, the University College of the North, was established about thirty kilometres from Polokwane on 1 August 1959. The College was placed under the academic trusteeship of the University of South Africa. This formative relationship was maintained until the South African Parliament promulgated the University of the North Act (Act No. 47 of 1969) thus bringing to an end the College status as of 1 January 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UL Historical Background|url=https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=UL%20Historical%20Background|last=University of Limpopo|date=25 May 2020|website=University of Limpopo|access-date=26 April 2020|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214080406/https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=UL%2520Historical%2520Background|url-status=live}}</ref>

The university is located in the foothills of the Hwiti (Wolkberg range) in Mankweng township, midway between Polokwane and Tzaneen. thumb|Onkgopotse Tiro Hall

==Faculties== ===Humanities=== <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=Faculty%20of%20Humanities|title=Faculty of Humanities|website=Ul.ac.za|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810174539/https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=Faculty%20of%20Humanities|url-status=live}}</ref> *School of Languages and Communication Studies.thumb|School of Languages at University of Limpopo *School of Social Sciences *School of Education

===Management and Law=== <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=Faculty%20of%20Management%20and%20Law%20Science|title=Faculty of Management & Law|website=Ul.ac.za|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810204922/https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=Faculty%20of%20Management%20and%20Law%20Science|url-status=live}}</ref> *School of Law *School of Accountancy (SoA) *School of Economics and Management (SoE & M) *Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership *

===Science and Agriculture=== <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=Faculty%20of%20Science%20and%20Agriculture|title=Faculty of Science and Agriculture|website=Ul.ac.za|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810205026/https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=Faculty%20of%20Science%20and%20Agriculture|url-status=live}}</ref> *School of Physical and Mineral Sciences *School of Molecular and Life Sciences *School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

*School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences

===Health Sciences=== <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=Faculty%20of%20Health%20Sciences|title=Faculty of Health Sciences|website=Ul.ac.za|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810175623/https://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=Faculty%20of%20Health%20Sciences|url-status=live}}</ref> *School of Medicine (SOM) *School of Health Science (SHCS)

==Ranking== {{See also|Rankings of universities in South Africa|Rankings of business schools in South Africa}}

==Notable alumni== *Frank Chikane *Solly Malatsi *Cyril Ramaphosa *Ongkopotse Tiro *Pansy Tlakula *Hans Daniel Namuhuja *Priscillah Mabelane *Lazarus Chakwera *Conny Nxumalo *Lulama Xingwana

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.ul.ac.za/ University of Limpopo website] {{University of Limpopo}} {{FOTIM}} {{South African universities}} {{South African Business Schools}} {{Varsity Sports (South Africa)}} {{Authority control}} {{coord|23.886|S|29.738|E|display=title}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Limpopo, University Of}} Category:University of Limpopo Category:Universities in Limpopo Category:Public universities in South Africa Category:2005 establishments in South Africa Category:Universities and colleges established in 2005 Category:Education in Limpopo Category:Universities and colleges in South Africa