Here is a breakdown of the 2018 / 2019 term dates or important dates for Wits University:
2018
| 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 Break
Examinations |
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 Break Examinations |
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:
- 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
2019
| Activity | Dates |
| Registration | |
| Orientation week | |
| First teaching block | Monday 04 February – Wednesday 20 March (33 days) |
| Mid-term Vacation/Study/Research break | Thursday 21 March – Sunday 31 March (11 days) |
| Second teaching block | Monday 01 April – Friday 17 May (32 days) |
| Study Break Examinations |
Friday 17 May – Sunday 26 May (10 days)
Monday 27 May – Monday 24 June (20 days) |
| Winter Vacation/Study/Research break | Tuesday 25 June – Sunday 14 July (20 days) |
| Third teaching block | Monday 15 July – Friday 30 August (34 days) |
| Mid-term Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 31 August – Sunday 08 September (9 days) |
| Fourth teaching block | Monday 09 September – Tuesday 22 October (31 days) |
| Study Break
Examinations |
Wednesday 23 October – Sunday 27 October (5 days)
Monday 28 October – Friday 22 November (20 days) |
| Summer Vacation/Study/Research break | Saturday 23 November |
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 Day
Succot (day 1)** |
University closed |
| Tuesday 25 September | Succot (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 |