The University of Natal

The University of Natal is located in Pietermaritzburg

The University of Natal is located in Pietermaritzburg. It was first established in 1910 in Pietermaritzburg with 57 students. This picturesque city in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is a two-hour drive from the Drakensberg and has a fascinating history and a rich architectural heritage. Its Fine Arts programme is highly regarded and its Faculty of Agriculture is at the forefront of agricultural research in southern Africa.

 The University of Natal is a pre-eminent research university in South Africa. Its research activities are supported by laboratories housing the most modern equipment, a library fully resourced with leading international research journals and a highly sophisticated information technology division that provides all the necessary research support, e.g. software and internet facilities. Research is conducted in a conducive and vibrant environment that promotes innovative and creative thinking. Centres of Excellence have been developed in several areas, ranging from social sciences and humanities, through to medical sciences, natural science and engineering. The University is at the cutting edge of international research in several areas, especially in HIV/AIDS, Forestry, Water Technology, Invertebrates and Economic Development. In addition, there has been a significant growth in the university's international research partnerships.

The comprehensive postgraduate programmes offered at the University attract an increasing number of Masters and Doctoral students from the African continent, as well as abroad. The University's vision and mission to be a leading research institution on the African continent is led by the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development).

The new University of KwaZulu-Natal unites two major educational institutions in KwaZulu-Natal - the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville. The University is spread over the province of KwaZulu-Natal's two main cities, Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

KwaZulu-Natal is one of the country's foremost tourism destinations, with good reason. Its magnificent coastline stretches from Durban's 'Golden Mile' of tourist beaches northwards to the remote estuaries and world heritage sites of Maputaland and southwards to the rugged coves of the Wild Coast. Its game reserves offer the chance to see the 'Big 5' in their natural habitat and the imposing Drakensberg mountain range offers wonderful hiking, climbing and trout fishing opportunities. Of great interest to historians are the battlefield sites of the Anglo-Boer War.