University of South Africa

Application dates (2027 intake)

Undergraduate and honours/postgraduate diploma applications: 17 August to 9 October 2026. Master's and doctoral applications: 1 September to 20 November 2026 (selection degrees and some other qualifications have different periods). Short learning programme applications open 2 November 2026. All applications are online; applications are not accepted at regional self-help stations for postgraduate study.

Undergraduate admission

Applicants must meet the statutory and college requirements and the minimum Academic Point Score (APS) of the chosen qualification. Applicants may apply for up to three qualifications in order of preference but register for only one; selection depends on available places, not on order of application. Learners completing Grade 12 in 2026 may apply for 2027.

APS uses six recognised 20-credit NSC subjects, excluding Life Orientation, to a maximum of 42: 7 = 80-100%, 6 = 70-79%, 5 = 60-69%, 4 = 50-59%, 3 = 40-49%, 2 = 30-39%, 1 = 0-29%. Minimum APS differs by college and qualification.

Typical subject requirements

• Bachelor of Science General: NSC with degree endorsement, at least 50% in the language of teaching and learning, 50% in Mathematics or Technical Mathematics, and 50% in Physical Science or Technical Science where the curriculum includes physics or chemistry.
• Bachelor of Business Administration: NSC degree route with 50% in the language of teaching and learning and 50% in Mathematics; any completed higher certificate or relevant diploma is also accepted.
• Bachelor of Social Work: 60% in English and 60% in four further content subjects; a selection qualification.
• Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences: NSC with 30% in the language of teaching and learning; Higher Certificate in Criminal Justice: 40%.

A completed higher certificate does not guarantee admission to a diploma or degree, as places are limited. Senior Certificate (pre-2009) holders are assessed against Senior Certificate symbol requirements and equivalence tables.

Documents, fee and outcome

Upload a school qualification, official tertiary academic records where applicable (internet copies not accepted), ID or passport, marriage or divorce documents if relevant, and sworn translations for documents not in English or Afrikaans. Files: maximum 2 MB each, black and white, PDF, DOC or TIF. The non-refundable application fee is R160, paid by bank deposit or online (no cash), with proof sent to [email protected], and is due by the closing date. Outcomes are issued four to six weeks after closing; offers must be accepted or declined within 10 working days, only one offer can be accepted, and first-time applicants must complete the First-Year Experience MOOC before accepting. Accepted applicants must register for semester 1 of 2027 or reapply. Students pay per module, typically 4 to 6 modules a year at roughly R1 925 to R8 005 per module, plus prescribed books.

Mature-age and Recognition of Prior Learning

RPL provides access without a formal qualification and credit for modules, assessed through portfolios, challenge examinations, interviews and workplace assessments. Programme pages set age and experience conditions, for example at least 27 years, Grade 10 and about five years' relevant experience for the BSc General (30 years for the BBA). Credits and exemptions from other institutions are assessed case by case, up to 50% of prescribed credits.

Honours, postgraduate diploma, master's and doctoral

Admission is not automatic and depends on qualification requirements and space. Master's and doctoral applicants may apply for only one qualification (a second application replaces the first), need a student number first, and normally supply a research outline, CV and academic records (MBA, MBL, DBL and some coursework programmes need no research outline). Final-year undergraduates may apply for postgraduate study.

International applicants

Apply online at www.unisa.ac.za/apply; the application fee is R160 (payable through Flywire, or SWIFT once a student number is issued). Foreign school qualifications must be on the Matriculation Board's acceptable list, and bachelor applicants may need a Certificate of Conditional Exemption (M30 form, separate fee). Foreign tertiary qualifications for postgraduate entry must be evaluated by SAQA (required NQF level: doctoral 10; master's 9; honours, postgraduate diploma and professional bachelor's 8; advanced diploma 7); the certificate can follow after acceptance but is needed before re-registration, sent to [email protected]. A foreign levy is payable at registration, and students outside Africa pay it. Documents needed: passport copy and sworn translations where required. Contact: [email protected] (undergraduate), [email protected] (master's and doctoral). Recognition of Unisa qualifications in the home country should be confirmed with the relevant authority there.

• Muckleneuk Campus, Preller Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria: head office and main campus.
• Unisa Science Campus, corner of Christiaan de Wet Road and Pioneer Avenue, Florida, 1709: base of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology; hosts a water demonstration unit able to treat about 4 800 litres a day and a Centre for Augmented Intelligence and Data Science.
• Sunnyside Campus, corner of Justice Mohammed and Steve Biko streets, Sunnyside, Pretoria.
• Regional centres: Eastern Cape, Ethiopia, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Midlands, North Eastern and Western Cape, offering advice, counsellors, academic literacies services and a limited number of computers.

The Library, with a postgraduate and academic personal-librarian service, can be reached on +27 12 429 3313 (P O Box 392, UNISA, 0003). The Student Communication Centre is open Monday to Friday 08:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 08:00 to 14:00.