Biggest UJ Campus: Auckland Park Kingsway (APK)
When it comes to identifying the biggest campus of the University of Johannesburg (UJ), the Auckland Park Kingsway Campus (APK) stands out as the undisputed leader in size, student population, and infrastructure. Located in Johannesburg, South Africa, UJ’s APK campus is the heart of this institution, which serves over 50,000 students across four campuses.
UJ’s Campus Network: Setting the Scene
The University of Johannesburg, formed in 2005 through a merger of Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR), and parts of Vista University, operates four distinct campuses: Auckland Park Kingsway (APK), Auckland Park Bunting Road (APB), Doornfontein (DFC), and Soweto (SWC). Together, these campuses span over 600,000 square meters of built space, hosting a diverse community from 50+ countries (UJ Report, 2024). Among them, APK emerges as the largest by multiple metrics—physical footprint, student numbers, and facilities—making it UJ’s flagship hub.
Quick UJ Overview
- Total Students: 50,000+ (2024 UJ Report)
- Campuses: 4
- QS World Ranking 2025: 312 globally
- THE Sub-Saharan Rank 2024: 1st
Why APK is the Biggest UJ Campus
The Auckland Park Kingsway Campus reigns supreme due to its expansive size, academic offerings, and student capacity. Originally the main campus of RAU, APK has evolved into UJ’s administrative and academic core, dwarfing its sister campuses in scope and scale.
Physical Size and Infrastructure
- Lecture Halls: 66, providing 7,787 seats—the highest among UJ campuses (UJ Campus Master Plan, 2025).
- Area: Spans over 200 hectares of usable land, with 300,000+ square meters of built space, including teaching, research, and recreational areas (UJ Facilities, 2024).
- Libraries: Houses the Kingsway Library, with 1 million+ volumes, serving as UJ’s largest resource center.
- Microlaboratories: 5 labs with 774 workstations, plus two 24-hour labs with 269 workstations (UJ IT Report, 2024).
- Residences: Accommodates 4,500+ students in 15 residences, including day houses (UJ Housing, 2024).
Compare this to:
- APB: 55 lecture halls, 4,412 seats, smaller footprint.
- DFC: 84 lecture rooms, 5,142 seats, but a more compact layout.
- SWC: 17 lecture halls, 1,842 seats, focused on niche programs.
APK’s sprawling design and capacity cement its status as UJ’s biggest physical campus.
Student Population
APK hosts the largest share of UJ’s 50,000+ students, estimated at 25,000-30,000 annually (based on UJ’s 10,900 first-year intake and campus distribution trends, 2025). This includes undergraduates, postgraduates, and international students across eight faculties and the College of Business and Economics.
- Faculties at APK: Art, Design and Architecture; Humanities; Law; Science; Business and Economics—covering 150+ programs.
- Applications: Of the 400,000+ applicants for 2025, APK programs like BCom Accounting and BSc Mathematical Sciences drew over 100,000 choices (UJ News, January 2025).
- International Students: APK hosts 60% of UJ’s 10,000+ international cohort since 2020 (UJ Enrollment Data).
By contrast, DFC focuses on Engineering (8,000+ students), APB on Health Sciences (5,000+), and SWC on Education and Leadership (3,000+), per internal estimates.
Academic and Research Hub
APK’s size extends to its academic clout:
- Publications: Contributes 60% of UJ’s 31,128 papers, with 400,000+ citations linked to APK-based research (EduRank 2025).
- Research Centers: Hosts 20+ units, including the Centre for Astrophysics and Institute for Economic Research.
- Staff: Employs 700+ of UJ’s 1,276 academic staff (UJ HR, 2024), yielding a student-to-staff ratio of 35:1 at APK.
This concentration of resources outstrips DFC’s engineering focus (5,892 papers) and SWC’s emerging research profile.
Facilities and Campus Life: APK’s Edge
APK offers an unmatched student experience:
Sports: The Kingsway Stadium seats 2,000, hosting rugby, soccer, and athletics, with 10+ sports facilities.
Cultural Venues: The Sanlam Auditorium (600 seats) and UJ Arts Centre (435-seat theatre) stage 50+ events annually.
Shopping and Dining: A student center with 10+ eateries and retail outlets serves 15,000+ daily visitors (UJ Facilities, 2024).
Transport: 20+ shuttles connect APK to other campuses, with 5,000+ parking spaces.
A 2024 survey rated APK’s student satisfaction at 92%, topping APB’s 88% and DFC’s 85%.
Comparative Snapshot: UJ Campuses
| Campus | Lecture Halls/Seats | Estimated Students | Area (Built Space) | Key Faculties | Residences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APK | 66 / 7,787 | 25,000-30,000 | 300,000+ sqm | 5 + Business College | 4,500+ |
| APB | 55 / 4,412 | 5,000-7,000 | 100,000+ sqm | Health Sciences | 1,000+ |
| DFC | 84 / 5,142 | 8,000-10,000 | 150,000+ sqm | Engineering | 2,000+ |
| SWC | 17 / 1,842 | 3,000-5,000 | 50,000+ sqm | Education, Leadership | 500+ |
- APK’s Lead: More seats, students, and space than DFC’s lecture-heavy layout or SWC’s smaller scale.
Historical Context: APK’s Roots
Originally RAU’s flagship, APK opened in 1968 and grew into UJ’s cornerstone post-merger. Its 200-hectare site, once farmland, now blends modern architecture with green spaces, hosting UJ’s 20th-anniversary celebrations in 2025 with 10,000+ attendees expected (UJ News).
Why APK is the Biggest
- Physical Scale: 200+ hectares, 300,000+ sqm of buildings.
- Student Numbers: Up to 30,000, over half of UJ’s total.
- Facilities: 66 lecture halls, 4,500+ residence beds, and 1 million+ library volumes.
- Academic Weight: Drives 60% of UJ’s research and hosts 5+ faculties.
Conclusion: APK’s Unmatched Status
The Auckland Park Kingsway Campus is UJ’s biggest campus in 2025, boasting 7,787 lecture seats, 25,000-30,000 students, and a 200-hectare footprint. As the academic, cultural, and administrative heart of UJ, APK outshines APB, DFC, and SWC in size and scope. Whether you’re a prospective student or researcher, APK offers South Africa’s most expansive university experience.
