Rooted in Purpose, Defined by Impact

At Walter Sisulu University (WSU), graduation is more than just a milestone; it represents a breakthrough. For thousands of students from South Africa's most marginalised communities, it signifies a moment when the cycle of poverty is interrupted, and a family's trajectory is permanently changed.

WSU, located in the rural Eastern Cape, was established with a clear mandate to serve its community. Its mission focuses on empowerment rather than elitism. The university does not measure success by selectivity but by the number of students it can support, guide, and graduate. By this standard, WSU is a national leader.

Turning Access into Achievement

Between 2020 and 2024, WSU awarded degrees to over 37,000 students, the majority of whom came from low- or lower-middle-income households. More than 57% of these graduates attended public schools classified by the state as serving the most socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, specifically those in the first to third quintiles.

Additionally, over 6,200 of these graduates were first-generation students, entering university with no family history of higher education. These students don't just earn degrees; they pave the way for future generations.

A Support System That Works

WSU’s student success is the result of a well-structured support system. The university provides safe and subsidised residence accommodation for over half of its students, along with academic development initiatives such as the Residence Writing Centre. Additionally, comprehensive financial aid is available through NSFAS bursaries and non-commercial loans, specifically aimed at students from the lowest financial quintile.

The outcomes are impressive: 55.6% of students graduate within the minimum time frame, demonstrating that even amid economic challenges, students are not only persevering but also succeeding.

Women Leading the Graduate Surge

WSU's commitment to gender equity is not just symbolic; it is structural. Over the past five years, female students have comprised over 60% of the graduating class, and their success rates exceed those of their male counterparts. The dropout rate for women stands at a low 14.1%, while their throughput rate is 63.4%, nearly 20 percentage points higher than that of male students.

Even in the fields of Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET), which are still predominantly male nationally, WSU ensures that female representation is at 25%, matching their overall student population. While many institutions reflect the status quo, WSU actively challenges it.

A Global Commitment to Equity

WSU’s graduate program reaches far beyond national borders. The university enrols international students from the SADC region, throughout Africa, and from Asia, many of whom are refugees or asylum seekers. These students, often coming from low or lower-middle-income countries, receive the same academic, financial, and wellness support as domestic students. At WSU, inclusion is not selective; it is a standard practice.

Graduation as a National Imperative

WSU graduates don’t merely earn degrees; they join the workforce as teachers, engineers, nurses, civil servants, and social workers. Most of them come from high-demand fields such as Education, Management, and Health Sciences, where their skills are urgently needed nationwide.

These graduates are more than just products of the system; they exemplify how setting an admission target for the bottom financial quintile can lead to national transformation, especially when supported by inclusive policies and strategic student support.

Measuring What Matters

At Walter Sisulu University (WSU), impact is not just a concept; it is integrated into every policy reviewed between 2021 and 2025, into each intervention aimed at increasing graduation rates, and into every commitment to support students from low- and lower-middle-income households.

In a higher education landscape often focused on prestige and exclusivity, WSU provides a compelling alternative: a model centred on access, equity, and success.

At WSU, graduation is not the final chapter — it is the beginning of a transformative journey.