PROCEDURES RELATING

TO THE RENEWAL OR
REFUSAL OF
REGISTRATION OF
STUDENTS

2021 - 2022
A STUDENT GUIDE TO RE-ADMISSIONS VIA THE WITS
RE-ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE (WRC-1&2)
STEPS TO FOLLOW IF YOU HAVE BEEN REFUSED PERMISSION TO
RE-REGISTER BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT MET MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
(MRNM/MRNL)

STEP 1
Get your exam results as soon as they are published – Students must check dates when
examination results will be available in their Faculty before leaving the University.
The failure of a student to meet the minimum requirement of study will be indicated
by the result code MRNM/MRNL (see page 6), and a student will not be permitted to
renew her/his registration for the same qualification unless a student is granted
permission to do so by the relevant WRC.
If result code = MRNM, then proceed to STEP 2
STEP 2
Access and complete the WRC appeal forms online. The on-line application form is
available on self-service (Navigation: Self Service >> Application for WRC).
The on-line application form for your appeal and all supporting documentation must
be submitted on time as specified by each Faculty (see page 4-5 for more details).
Your WRC-1 outcome will be emailed to your Wits email on the date specified by your
Faculty. Students who have reached N+2 and who have a course/s oustanding
representations, will not be considered by WRC-1 and will automatically be referred to
WRC-2 for a decision and outcome. Your result code will be MRNL.
If your appeal has been unsuccessful, proceed to STEP 3
STEP 3
Notice of the WRC-2 hearings will be emailed to you by your Faculty at least 24 hours before
the meeting.Your WRC-2 outcome will be emailed to your Wits email on the date specifed by
your Faculty.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU READ THROUGH THE

THE REMAINDER OF THE BOOKLET FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION
OF THE WRC PROCEDURES.
2021/2022 READMISSIONS COMMITEES
DATES FOR PUBLICATION OF NORMAL EXAMINATION RESULTS AND WITS RE-ADMISSIONS COMMITTEES MEETINGS
(WRC1&2)

Students please note that WRC meetings will be held on the dates as listed below. Please comply with the submission deadlines.
Your outcomes will be emailed to you by your Faculty Office. Dates and times for the VPC committee meetings will be
communicated separately to you by your Faculty Office.

HEALTH SCIENCES COMMERCE, LAW & ENGINEERING & THE BUILT HUMANITIES SCIENCE
FACULTY MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

LATEST DATE FOR 21 December 2021*

PUBLICATION OF (includes all supplementary 23 December 2021 24 December 2021 24 December 2021 (Arts) 23 December 2021
EXAM RESULTS results except first year) 13 January 2022 (Education)

WRC1 SUBMISSION
5 January 2022 07 January 2022 07 January 2022 07 January 2022 07 January 2022
DEADLINE (12:00)

DATES OF WRC1
11 and 12 January 2022 14 January 2022 13 and 14 January 2022 14 January 2022 13 January 2022
MEETINGS

DATES OF OUTCOME OF 13 January 2022 14 January 2022 17 January 2022 14 January 2022 14 January 2022
WRC1 MEETINGS

DATES OF WRC-2 17 and 18 January 2022 15 February 2022 20 and 21 January 2022 21 January 2022 21 January 2022
MEETINGS 18 February 2022

OUTCOMES OF WRC-2
20 January 2022 21 February 2022 24 January 2022 21 January 2022 22 January 2022
MEETINGS

Nicoleen Potgieter
University Deputy Registrar
2021/2022 READMISSIONS COMMITEES

DATES FOR PUBLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTARY/DEFERRED EXAMINATION RESULTS AND WITS RE-ADMISSIONS

COMMITTEES MEETINGS (WRC1&2)

Students please note that WRC meetings will be held on the dates as listed below. Please comply with the submission deadlines.
Your outcomes will be emailed to you by your Faculty Office. Dates and times for the VPC committee meetings will be
communicated separately to you by your Faculty Office.

FACULTY HEALTH SCIENCES COMMERCE, LAW & ENGINEERING & THE BUILT HUMANITIES SCIENCE
(FIRST YEAR STUDENTS MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT
ONLY)
LATEST DATE FOR
PUBLICATION OF
19 January 2022 02 February 2022 11 February 2022 08 February 2022 (Arts) 27 January 2022
DEFERRED/
15 February 2022 (Education)
SUPPLEMENTARY RESULTS

WRC1 SUBMISSION 21 January 2022 1 February 2022

04 February 2022 15 February 2022 17 February 2022
DEADLINE (12:00)

DATES OF WRC1 08 February 2022 4 February 2022

25 January 2022 18 and 21 February 2022 21 February 2022
MEETINGS

DATES OF OUTCOME OF 26 January 2022 7 February 2022

08 February 2022 22 February 2022 21 February 2022
WRC1 MEETINGS

DATES OF WRC-2 24 and 25 February 2022

28 January 2022 15 February 2022 23 February 2022 14 February 2022
MEETINGS
18 February 2022

OUTCOMES OF WRC-2 28 February 2022 23 February 2022 15 February 2022

31 January 2022 21 February 2022
MEETINGS

Nicoleen Potgieter
University Deputy
Registrar
PROCEDURES RELATING TO RENEWAL OR REFUSAL
OF REGISTRATION OF STUDENTS
1 Publication of examination results and official status of results
Each student is responsible for establishing her or his own results in time for making
any appeals or other arrangements. The official examination results are available on the
student self-service portal and can be accessed through the following URL:
www.wits.ac.za/students/exams/results.
Students are also informed of their overall result on their wits e-mail address, but students
should not rely on receiving the e-mail on time. It will not avail a student to claim that
any lateness in submitting representations is due to non-receipt or late receipt of e-mail
correspondence from the University. If the overall result code is minimum requirements not
met (MRNM or MRNL) then the student may access and complete the WRC appeal forms
online.

2 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Minimum requirements and codes indicating failure to meet
minimum requirements
The minimum requirements for each year of study are specified in each Faculty’s Rules and
Syllabuses Book. A student who fails to meet the minimum requirements of study will not
be permitted to renew her/his registration for the same degree, diploma, certificate
during the following academic year unless granted permission to do so by the relevant
Faculty’s Board of Examiners (BOE) or the WRC. The failure of a student to meet the minimum
requirements of study will be indicated by the following result code: MRNM, which means,
“Minimum requirements not met; student needs permission to renew registration for the
same qualification”, or MRNL, which means, “Minimum requirements not met, student
reached N+2”. Students coded MRNM applies to WRC-1, and if a student receives a MRNL
code, they must apply to the WRC-2.

2.2 Students not granted permission to renew registration by the

Board of Examiners
A student who has failed to meet the minimum requirements of study and who has not been
granted permission by the relevant Board of Examiners Committee to renew her/his
registration will be informed:
a) that s/he will not be permitted to renew her/his registration for the same degree,
diploma, certificate unless s/he has made successful representations to the relevant WRC;
b) that s/he may give reasons or information in writing why s/he should not be refused
permission to renew her/his registration;
c) of the date and the manner in which such reason or information must be supplied.
The onus is on the student to ensure compliance with all of the conditions or formats or
dates required by the WRC.
Page 6 of 22
3 WITS RE-ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE – (WRC-1)
3.1 Acceptance of representations
3.1.1 Representations submitted on time
A Faculty will accept for consideration all representations submitted by 12:00 on the
relevant due date and stipulated time as set out in 2.2(c). All representations must be
made through the official online platform via Student Self-Service, or in exceptional cases
in hardcopy1 at the Faculty. Only representations received via formal Wits channels as
noted above will be considered. Emailed submissions will only be received in exceptional
and previousely agreed circumstances. In certain Faculties the deadlines for submission of
WRC applications for students who write supplementary examinations and those who do
not are different and will be published by the University accordingly (refer to pages 4-5).
3.1.2 Late representations
A Dean will not consider any representation submitted for any reason after 12:00 on the day
stipulated by the Faculty.
3.2 Establishment and remit of WRC-1
The Wits Re-Admissions Committee 1 (WRC-1) of each Faculty will meet in January and
February on the date/s stipulated by the Faculty (refer to pages 4-5).
3.3 WRC-1 Composition
Each Faculty will have a WRC-1 Committee which will do the initial screening of applications.
This committee will normally include:
• the Assistant Dean (UG);
• a member of the academic staff of the Faculty appointed by the Dean;
• a member of staff concerned with academic development appointed by the Dean or
the Faculty Board;
• a member of the Faculty Student Council appointed by such Council and;
• the Faculty Registrar or a senior academic administrative member of staff.
If a Faculty has no Faculty Student Council, or the Faculty Council is not able to provide a
representative, a representative from a School Council should be asked to serve on the WRC
Committee. The name/s and contact details of the student/s concerned should be forwarded
by the Faculty Registrar to the SRC Education Officer by no later than 11 December 2021.
If the Faculty Registrar is not able to find a student representative, the SRC will nominate a
representative to sit on the WRC.
It is important to note:
• No student (Faculty, School or SRC representative) who serves in this way on the
WRC-1 Committee may participate in the WRC-2 hearings – neither as a WRC member
nor as a student representative (as defined in 4.4.2).

1
WRC documents can be downloaded from the Wits Website
http://www.wits.ac.za/students/exams/results/
Page 7 of 22
• No student who has failed to meet the minimum requirements of study in the most
recent examination session may be a member of a WRC.
• The Dean or the Faculty Board may appoint a substitute for any member of a WRC
Committee.
• The WRC-1 Committee will be entitled to consult any person/s regarding any matter
pertaining to any case, and may require such person/s to be present during its
deliberations.
• The membership of the Committee will be made known to any student on request.

3.4 WRC-1 Meetings

Each WRC-1 Committee will meet when convened by the Chairperson and every effort
will be made to ensure that the student member of the WRC-1 Committee is present at
the Committee meetings. If the student member has not arrived at the meeting within 10
minutes of the start of the meeting, the Faculty Registrar will contact the SRC (Academic
Officer) who will endeavor to send an alternate. The absence of the student member or of
any other member of the Committee will not, however, invalidate the proceedings of the
Committee and the Committee will not be required to wait for the arrival of any member
before commencing as long as one third of the members of the Committee are present, i.e.
at least two members. A student whose case is to be considered is entitled to object to the
presence of the student member of the WRC in which event the student member will not
be entitled to be present. If a student member has an interest in a case s/he will recuse her/
himself.
3.5 Representations
When submitting her/his written representations, it will be incumbent on each student to
furnish the Committee (in writing) with ALL the reasons and information upon which s/he
relies, together with such documentary evidence as may be appropriate.
Where applicable, the student should supply information from independent and objective
sources, e.g.
• a duly completed University Health Form available from the Faculty Office or website
www.wits.ac.za/students/exams/results
• detailed information on her/his academic progress during the year, such as marks for
essays, projects and other work of the class and mid-year test and examination results.
Where an appeal is being lodged on the grounds of a medical or other health-related
condition it is not incumbent on a student to disclose her or his diagnosis. However, as
the WRC is entitled to substantiated information students are required to have their
practitioners complete the stipulated health form. The onus is on the student to get the
form completed. Students should note that the authenticity of the form will be checked.
Without this form no health-related condition will be taken into consideration by the WRC.
The WRC-1 Committee reserves the right to verify any information submitted to it. A
student should retain copies of her/his written representation to the WRC-1 Committee as
no copies will be provided to the student at a later time.

Page 8 of 22
3.6 WRC-1 Proceedings
3.6.1 Briefing
The Chairperson of each WRC-1 Committee will brief the members of the Committee on the
policy, procedures and any special circumstances before the round of meetings commences.
If students do not accept membership of the WRC, the SRC may request permission for one
of its members to brief the Committee on particular circumstances prevailing at the time
and may attend a briefing meeting for that purpose only.
3.6.2 Representations considered by WRC-1
The written representations of every student in the Faculty who fails the minimum
requirements of study and who submits representations in the prescribed format, by the
due date, will be considered by the WRC-1 Committee. Representations from students who
have reached N+22 and who has a course/s outstanding3, will automatically be referred to
WRC-2 Committee for an outcome and a decision. These cases will not be considered by the
WRC-1 Committee.
3.6.3 Documents considered and verification of information
The WRC-1 Committee will consider any document furnished by the student and the
academic record of the student at the University, giving such weight to the demands of
particular courses as it considers fit. The submission of false information by a student
will, unless the WRC-1 Committee determines otherwise, result in her/him being refused
permission to renew her/his registration or in her/his registration being cancelled.
3.6.4 WRC-1 Committee deliberations
The Committee may take into account the following:
• the record, if any, of the student’s attendance and participation in the work of the class;
• the record, if any, of the student’s participation in academic development programmes;
• the record, if any, of requests by the student for deferred examinations;
• the record, if any, of ill health, absences and leave of absence granted to the student
(as long as the ill-health record is in the prescribed format);
• the academic record of the student at other tertiary institutions;
• proof of funding;
• the demand for places in particular courses or degrees for the same degrees,
diplomas, certificates and the quality of applications received for those
places; and
• such other information as it considers relevant.
The Committee will have the power to investigate any information furnished by the
student or any other person and to call for additional information or material which it may
require. All proceedings of the Committee will be strictly confidential.
1

2
N is the minimum qualification completion time (regulation time) specified by the university for a
programme. A student must complete a programme within two years of regulation time (N+2).
3
For the course or number of courses outstanding refer to Faculty.
Page 9 of 22
3.7 Decisions of the WRC-1 Committee and changes to overall results
decisions
The Committee will make one of the following decisions:
1) grant permission to a student unconditionally to renew her/his registration for the
same degree, diploma, certificate.
2) to grant permission to her/him to renew her/his registration on such conditions as
it considers fit, for instance:
• that there be a limitation on the choice of courses; or
• that the student converts to another degree based on the guidance of the Faculty or
Academic Advisor; or
• a requirement that there be satisfactory participation in an academic development
programme; or
• that the student furnish proof that the circumstances to which s/he has attributed her/
his failure to meet minimum academic requirements will not adversely affect her/his
academic progress in the forthcoming academic year; or
• satisfactory progress has been made by the end of the first term.
3) to refuse permission for a student to renew her/his registration for the same degree,
diploma, certificate.
Should the Committee decide to refuse permission for a student to renew her/his registration
in the Faculty, the reasons for such refusal will be provided in a letter to the student, which
is subsequently forwarded to the WRC-2 Committee for the purpose of hearing an appeal
against the decision. A copy of this report will be made available to the student. The overall
result of a student who fails to meet the minimum requirements of study and who does not
make representations to the relevant WRC by due date will remain MRNM or become MBZ,
both codes meaning “Minimum requirements not met; needs permission to re-register for
same qualification”.

3.8 Procedure for advising a student of a WRC-1 decision and

right to appeal
3.8.1 Advising students of the WRC decision
Each student will be advised of the WRC-1 decision. In the case of a decision to refuse
permission for a student to renew her/his registration, the student will be advised of the
reason/s for the decision in writing. The letter will be emailed to each student’s Wits email
within three working days of the WRC-1 meeting. Please check your Wits student email
regularly for your outcome as it will not avail you to use late collection of the WRC-1 decision
letter as reason for not being present at the WRC-2 hearing.
3.8.2 Content of decision letter
This letter will inform the student:
• that s/he may present her/himself to the Wits Re-admissions Committee WRC-2
hearing where s/he will be given the opportunity to briefly argue her/his case for
consideration for re-admission; and
Page 10 of 22
• of the date and format of the WRC-2.
This letter should refer the student to the procedures document relating to renewal or
refusal of registration with particular attention to the procedures of the WRC-2.
3.8.3 Consequence of not attending the WRC-2 Hearing
If a student does not attend the WRC-2 hearing, no consideration will be given to her/his case,
no further information will be sent to her/him and the decision of the WRC-1 Committee
will stand. However, where a student has been prevented, through circumstances beyond
her/his own control, from attending her/his appeal by the stipulated date, the Chairperson
of the WRC-1 Committee may order the hearing of the appeal of the student before the
entire process closes. In such instances the student will furnish evidence of the cause for
the absence. Such evidence for a late WRC-2 hearing must be sent to the Faculty Registrar
who will then forward appeals to the University Deputy Registrar.

4 WITS RE-ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE – (WRC-2)

4.1 Establishment and remit of WRC-2
4.1.1 WRC-2 Committee
The Wits Re-admissions Committee 2 (WRC-2) will be broadly constituted and be responsible
for:
1) hearing appeals of students who were unsuccessful during WRC-1.
2) hearing the appeals of students who have reached or exceeded the N+24 with a course/s
outstanding.
The WRC-2 will consist of suitably qualified persons appointed annually by the Dean or
her/his nominee of the Faculty and drawn from the membership of the Senate, academic
staff, and senior administrative staff with knowledge of the academic enterprise, and the
students from School/Faculty Councils. The WRC-2 Committee will hear the appeal of any
student whom a WRC-1 has refused permission to renew her/his registration for the same
degree, diploma, certificate.
4.2 WRC-2 Membership
4.2.1 Chair
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) will be the custodian and Chairperson of the WRC,
and s/he may nominate other members to be Chairpersons of particular WRCs within
faculties of the University.
4.2.2 WRC-2 Composition
Each WRC-2 will comprise of six members:
1) a chairperson (the Dean5 or the Deans nominee, preferably Head of School, Assistant
Dean or Deputy Dean);
4
N is the minimum qualification completion time (regulation time) specified by the university for a
programme. A student must complete a programme within two years of regulation time (N+2).
5
The Dean will appoint a nominee to chair the WRC-2 which considers appeals from students who have
reached N+2. Page 11 of 22
2) an academic member of the home Faculty;
3) an academic representative of another Faculty;
4) a student member (SRC/School/Faculty Council);
5) a member of staff with counselling skills, e.g. CCDU Psychologist/intern, Psychology
department staff, etc.;
6) a member of the WRC-1 committee – as an observer.
A quorum at any meeting is any three WRC members. WRC-1 Assistant Deans are invited
to WRC-2 meetings, but are not members of the WRC-2 (see 4.2.4). In the absence of
a Chairperson for a WRC-2 meeting, the DVC (Academic) or her/his nominee must
be approached to appoint a new Chairperson, who may be selected from the WRC-2
members (preferably academics) present at the meeting. A student does not have the
right to request any member of a WRC-2 meeting to excuse her/himself unless a conflict
of interest exists.
WRC-2 decisions are routinely determined without voting. However, if voting rights are
exercised and an equal number of votes are cast for and against re-admission of a student,
the Chairperson has the deciding vote, even if s/he had participated in the voting process.
Members of the WRC-2 are chosen from time to time by the DVC-Academic. The
following provisos apply:
a) no person who is a member of the WRC-1 will be a member of the WRC-2;
b) no more than two members of the staff of the Faculty in which a student is registered
may make decisions in respect of the appeal of that student. For purposes of clarity, a
member of staff from the same Faculty, with counselling skills may be present during
the hearing but may not participate in the decision-making.
c) the Chairperson of the Committee may be a Dean or her/his nominee (preferably a
Head of School, Assistant Dean or Deputy Dean);
d) the Chairperson of the WRC-2 has the prerogative to appoint any member of staff as
Chairperson of a WRC-2 meeting that s/he deems appropriate;
e) no student who has failed to meet the minimum requirements of study in the most
recent examination session may be a member of the WRC-1 and 2.
4.2.3 WRC-2 Advisers
A member of staff concerned with academic development or a senior member of the
administrative staff may be appointed as an adviser to the WRC.
4.2.4 WRC-2 observers
The Assistant Dean (UG) of the WRC-1 may be present, as an observer at any meeting of
the WRC-2 within her/his own faculty, and may be called upon to clarify any matter or point
under consideration or to provide any factual information required by the Committee, but
will not participate in the deliberations of the Committee. Where the Committee decides
to permit a student to renew her/his registration subject to certain conditions which the
Committee wishes to impose, such observer may be asked to confirm that the conditions
laid down by the Committee are appropriate within the context of the relevant faculty and
curriculum.
Page 12 of 22
4.2.5 Member recusal
The Chairperson at any meeting of the WRC-2 will have the authority to require any person
to recuse her/himself from the meeting or any part of the meeting, and such recusal (and
the reason/s for such recusal) will be duly recorded.

4.3 Information submitted to the WRC-2 Committee

4.3.1 Submissions
All submissions must be accompanied by the signed declaration provided with the
WRC-1 decision which includes an acknowledgement of the rights and responsibilities
of the student including the right to be present and the right to be represented or
accompanied.
4.3.2 Brevity
The student’s submission should be as brief as possible.
4.3.3 Verification
The WRC-2 has the right to verify any information submitted to it.
4.4 Representations to the WRC-2
4.4.1 Presentation options
The student will, in addition to her/his written representation to the WRC-2, make a short
oral presentation to the WRC-2. In such a case the student may be accompanied by a
student as defined in 4.4.2 below.
4.4.2 Representation
The student may be accompanied by a fellow student. The fellow student must be currently
registered with the University, and not at risk of being refused permission to renew her/his
own registration.
4.4.3 Assistance
The SRC is prepared to assist the student in preparing her/his case. Students are encouraged
to make their own representation.
4.5 Communicating decisions of the WRC-2
Where a student is permitted to renew her/his registration subject to conditions, such
conditions will be included in a letter which will be emailed to your Wits email on the date
specified by the faculty.
4.6 Briefing of the WRC-2
Before the WRC-2 commences its first hearing, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor- (Academic) or a
nominee will brief the WRC-2 on policy, procedures and any relevant special circumstances
prevailing at the time. Student members of the WRC-2 may receive a special briefing session
on the above.

Page 13 of 22
4.7 Cases considered
The WRC-2 will consider the case of every student who has:
a) not already been granted permission by the relevant examinations committee to
renew her/his registration;
b) made unsuccessful representations to the relevant WRC-1 for permission to renew
her/his registration; and
c) has been directed to appeal to WRC-2 because of she/he having reached or exceeded
N+2.
4.8 Schedules and notices of hearing
4.8.1 Check dates
Every effort will be made to ensure that the provisional schedules of the WRC-2 hearings
are published at least two weeks before the commencement of the relevant hearings. This
schedule is subject to change dependent on the number of appeals to be heard in each
Faculty to ensure that delays between submission of appeals and hearings are minimised.
4.9 WRC-2 Hearings
4.9.1 Absence of student
The appeal of a student who does not present herself or himself at the scheduled time before
the WRC-2 hearing will not be heard. The WRC-2 will accept the decision of the WRC-1 as
final. A representative (as defined in 4.4.2 above) may not appear before the WRC-2 in the
absence of the student.
4.9.2 Absence of representative
The appeal of a student who has indicated that s/he wishes to be represented and whose
representative (as defined in 4.4.2) fails to present her/himself will be considered by the
WRC-2 on the basis of the written appeal and the oral presentation of the student, if the
student agrees to make the latter.
4.9.3 Oral representation
In addition to a written and signed appeal, an oral appeal may be made either by a student
or by her/his representative (as defined in 4.4.2), but not by both, and will be brief. Where a
student has chosen a representative, question of clarification may be directed to either the
student or the representative.
4.9.4 Postponed hearings
In exceptional circumstances the WRC-2 may postpone the hearing of a student.
4.9.5 Expert Advice
The WRC-2 members have the right to call for expert opinion, e.g. for psychological, medical
or other advice. The WRC-2 members may defer a decision on a case until such expert advice
has been taken into consideration.

Page 14 of 22
4.10 Deliberations
4.10.1 Correct Information
The WRC-2 will consider all the documents considered by the WRC-1, the reason/s given for
its decision, and any reason or information duly submitted by the student. The submission
of false information by a student will, unless determined otherwise by the committee in
consultation with the Chair of the WRC, result in her/him being refused permission to renew
her/his registration or in her/his registration being cancelled.
4.10.2 Verification of WRC-1 criteria by WRC-2
The WRC-2 will ascertain the criteria applied by the WRC-1.
4.10.3 WRC-2 considerations
The WRC-2 will also consider, if submitted to the Committee, circumstances relating to those
listed below under “Supplementary Guidelines”.
4.10.4 Maintaining consistency
The WRC-2 will consider each request in the context of comparable decisions of the WRC-1
of which the WRC-2 has knowledge. It will pay due regard to the attempts of that Committee
to achieve consistency. For this purpose, it may inspect the record of any case considered by
the WRC-1. The WRC-2 will, however, not be bound by anything said or done by the WRC-1
and will consider the individual merits of each case.
4.10.5 Confidentiality
The proceedings of the WRC-2 will be strictly confidential.
4.11 Procedure appeal
If any member of the WRC-2 is dissatisfied with the procedure of the WRC-2, such member
should report the matter in writing to the Senior DVC (Academic) who is the custodian of the
WRC process. If the Chairperson of the WRC considers there to be some substance in the
report, s/he will discuss the matter with the Chairperson of the WRC-2 who will consider the
appeal and will thereafter either:
a) order a review of the proceedings by an ad hoc committee appointed by her/himself
for the purpose; or
b) rule that the decision of the WRC-2 is final.
4.12 Power of the Senior DVC (Academic)
The Senior DVC (Academic) will not have the power to overturn any decision of the WRC-2.
However, if a case is referred to her/him on procedural grounds s/he may refer the case back
to the WRC-2.
4.13 Decisions of the WRC-2 and finality of decisions
4.13.1 The WRC-2 will make one of the following decisions
1) to permit renewal of registration in the degree or programme unconditionally;
2) to permit renewal of registration in the degree or programme on such conditions as the
Committee considers fit, provided that such conditions are specified, e.g. limitation of choice
Page 15 of 22
of courses, satisfactory participation in academic support programmes, or when reason for
failure indicated financial constraints, proof of financial support by a given date, conversion to
another degree on the guidance of the Faculty or Academic Advisor.
3) to refuse a student permission to renew her/his registration in the Faculty, and
4) if final year student who reached N+2 and readmission is refused by the faculty refer the
case to the VPC.
4.13.2 Finality of decisions
The Vice Chancellor, Vice Principal or any Deputy Vice Chancellor will not have the power to
overrule any decision made in terms of these rules or to alter its conditions and such decision
will be final and will not be subject to further appeal. However, if there is a procedural flaw
in the WRC-2 process, e.g. information was submitted to the Faculty but not made available
to the WRC-2, the student may appeal to the Senior DVC (Academic) who will either uphold
the decision of the WRC-2 or refer the matter back to the WRC-2. The Senior DVC (Academic)
cannot overturn the decision of the WRC-2. All correspondence in an appeal on the basis of
procedural flaw must be addressed to the Faculty Registrar who will then forward appeals to
the University Deputy Registrar.
4.14 VP and Deans Committee (VPC)
This Committee will only consider appeals of students exceeding N+2 on the recommendation
of the Faculty and based on the documentation provided to the WRC Committee. No further
new documentation will be considered by the VPC. There needs to be a substantive reason
before the Faculty will recommend the case to the VPC. Extenuating circumstances need
to be time specific to examination periods and assessment. Students will not be allowed to
make representation directly to VPC. The VPC will meet in January / February of each year.
4.14.1 The composition
This Committee will comprise of seven members:
1) A chairperson (Senior DVC Academic);
2) Dean of each Faculty (Five Deans);
3) SRC President
4.14.2 Finality of decisions
All decisions from this committee will be final and not subject to any further appeal.
4.14.3 Confidentiality
The proceedings of the VPC will be strictly confidential.
4.15 Re-admission
Having been refused permission to renew her/his registration for a degree, diploma,
certificate, a student will be entitled to apply for renewal of registration for the same degree,
diploma, certificate, after the lapse of at least one academic year by completing a new
application form.
An application may also be made for admission into a different degree, diploma, certificate,
or programme of instruction after the lapse of one academic year.
Page 16 of 22
A student wishing to change to another degree, diploma, certificate, or programme of
instruction in the year of exclusion may do so with the special permission of the Dean in
the Faculty to which they are applying for admission. The application will be considered
by the Faculty together with all other applications for admission and not again by either
the WRC-1 or the WRC-2. Students will have to be in good standing before they would be
allowed to register. The Faculty will take into account the student’s record of failures to meet
minimum requirements of study in that or any other Faculty and any subsequent relevant
information. The Senate may, in exceptional circumstances, consider the application of a
student who was previously excluded from the University, for having failed to satisfy the
minimum undergraduate degree requirements and exceeding the maximum time (N+2)⁶ for
the completion of the degree. In such a case the student will have to demonstrate that if s/
he is readmitted, s/he will be able to succeed and complete the degree.
Students who are not successful in their applications to be readmitted to the University
are not permitted to register as occasional students at the University during the period of
exclusion if they wish to pursue courses that can be credited towards the degree, diploma,
certificate or programme of instruction from which they were excluded.

4.16 Report to Senate

The WRC will report its decisions to the Senate at the next ordinary meeting of the Senate.
SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDELINES
5.1 General considerations
The general considerations governing the renewal of registration of students who failed to
meet the minimum requirements of study are:
a) academic performance;
b) reasons for failure to meet minimum academic requirements;
c) the likelihood of success if readmitted; and
d) students who are in their final year of study and completing their qualifications.
5.2 Particular considerations
In particular, the following considerations may be relevant to the decision whether to
readmit a student:
a) academic considerations⁷
b) accommodation problems
c) financial position
d) emotional and/or psychological problems
e) ill-health
f) family difficulties
g) social stresses, and

6
N is the minimum qualification completion time (regulation time) specified by the university for a
programme. A student must complete a programme within two years of regulation time (N+2).
Page 17 of 22
h) reports from academic development tutors and/or the Counselling and Careers
Development Unit.
i) explicit proof of funding if N+2 has been reached.
5.3 Onus on student
Information pertaining to many of the considerations will ordinarily be within the knowledge
of the student seeking re-admission and may frequently be beyond the capacity of the WRC
to ascertain. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the student to submit information relevant
to such considerations for evaluation by the WRC-1 or WRC-2 and to provide suitable
substantiation in respect of each factor which the student believes had an adverse effect on
her/his academic performance. Neither committee will be obliged to take into account any
factor in respect of which a student has not provided substantiation.
5.4 Special consideration with respect to ill-health
In the case of ill-health, the substantiation provided must be in the form required (University
Health form). This form does not require disclosure on the part of the student of her/his
diagnosis but does require the comment of a medical practitioner on the impact of the
condition on the ability of the student to perform academically both in the year in which
minimum requirements were not met and the following year in which re-admission is being
requested.

7 Full academic record (including any record at other tertiary institutions); the number of times a student has
failed to meet minimum requirements of study; attendance at lectures/tutorials in the relevant course/s; in the
relevant course/s any or all of the following: participation in the work of the class; pass rate; staff/student ratio;
methods of teaching and examination; accessibility of lecturing staff; demand for places; quality of applications for
places; evidence of a steady improvement during the year; availability of, and participation in, academic support
programmes; requests for deferred examinations; and any other academic factor affecting performance.

Page 18 of 22
WRC Exclusion Codes
The following table outlines the various exclusion codes that are used across the University
by the various Faculties.

M1A Renewal of registration permitted by Wits Readmission Committee-1

M1C Renewal of registration permitted by Wits Readmission Committee-1 with conditions
M1E Wits Readmission Committee-1 recommends to WRC-2 that renewal of registration not
permitted
M2A Renewal of registration permitted by Wits Readmission Committee-2
M2C Renewal of registration permitted by Wits Readmission Committee-2 with conditions
M2E Permission to renew registration refused by Wits Readmission Committee-2
MRNL Minimum requirements not met-Student may appeal to WRC-2 (N+2)
MRNM Minimum requirements not met
MRNX Minimum requirements not met student may not appeal
MRX Permission to renew registration refused by Wits Readmissions Committee-2
MVP WRC-2 refers to VPC for further consideration
MPC Renewal of registration permitted by VPC with conditions
MPX Permission to renew registration refused by VPC
WRC CODE OF CONDUCT
Acknowledgement of Roles and Responsibilities

I …………………………………………. (Insert staff/student names and surname)

.…………………………………………. (Insert staff/student number)

Do hereby declare that I understand and acknowledge that I have a duty to the University
to comply with the University’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures (hereinafter
the rules)
More specifically:

1. That I will act in good faith and in the best interest of the University.
2. That I will act ethically at all times.
3. That there are no conflict between my private interests and that of the
University.
4. That I will act with the necessary care, skill and competency that are reasonably
expected from a person performing similar duties.
5. That I am bound to act ethically under all circumstances and in accordance with
the Rules insofar as it relates to the protection of confidential information. I
accordingly agree to keep confidential at all times the information that I may
come across in performing my duties as a member of the WRC 1 or WRC 2
meetings.
6. That I will use utmost discretion and show respect for privacy in all my
interactions with both student or staff information that I may come across in
performing my duties as a WRC 1 or WRC 2 member.
7. That I will abide by all the WRC rules as explained to me by the Chair of the
WRC1 or WRC 2 Committee and set out in the ‘Procedures Relating to Renewal
or Refusal of Registration of Students’.
8. That I will use utmost discretion, respect and privacy in all my dealings and
interactions with both staff and students.
I will act ethically at all times.

This document has been explained to me by the Chair of the WRC 1/2 …………………..
(Insert Staff Number)

Signed at Johannesburg on this ………. day of ……………………………... 20…......................

(Signature of Chairperson) ………………………………………………

(Signature of Staff/Student) ………………………………………………

Important Notice
To
Students!!
The WITS Readmissions Committee
(WRC) meetings
will take place in
January and February
2022.
Check notice-boards at
Faculty offices as well as
www.wits.ac.za/students/exams/results
for exact dates for submitting
WRC applications.
University Deputy Registrar |Nicoleen Potgieter
Are you Failing
to meet minimum requirements?
If you fail to meet the minimum
requirements of study in 2021, you are
entitled to appeal
(by application) to
the
Wits Readmissions Committee (WRC).
For information about the WRC procedures, check:
i) www.wits.ac.za/students/exams/results
ii) Faculty Offices; and
iii) The SRC Offices.
For emotional support contact CCDU on 011 717 9140
THIS IS YOUR UNIVERSITY CAREER, MAKE SURE YOUR ARE ADEQUATELY INFORMED!

Nicoleen Potgieter
University Deputy Registrar
Failed to Meet Minimum
Requirements for Re-Registration?
The minimum requirements for each year of study are
specified in each Faculty’s Rules and Syllabuses booklet.
Any student who fails to meet minimum requirements of study
will not be permitted to renew her/his registration for the
same degree, diploma, certificate, during the following
academic year unless granted permission to do so by the
relevant Board of Examiners or the
Wits Readmissions Committee (WRC).
Failure of a student to meet minimum requirements of study will
be indicated by the following result code:
•MRNM - “minimum requirements not met; needs permission to /
re-register for the same qualification”.
•MRNL - “Minimum requirements not met - Student may appeal to
WRC2 (N+2)”
To re-register in 2022, a student has to comply
with the Rules for Student Discipline.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING
THAT YOU MEET THE ABOVE
REQUIREMENTS!
University Deputy Registrar | Nicoleen Potgieter