University of Zululand

Undergraduate admission (NSC)

Degree: a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with an achievement rating of 4 (50%) in four recognised 20-credit NSC subjects, a rating of 3 (40%) in Life Orientation, and a rating of 3 (40%) in English First Additional Language or 4 (50%) in English Home Language. Diploma: NSC certified by Umalusi with a rating of 3 (40-49%) or better in four recognised 20-credit subjects, 3 in Life Orientation, and 3 in English First Additional Language or 4 (50-59%) in English Home Language. Higher Certificate: an NSC certified by Umalusi; each faculty sets its own minimum entry requirements. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission, and each faculty adds its own subject requirements.

Other routes

An old Senior Certificate (pre-2008) with matriculation exemption is accepted. Candidates without full exemption may seek conditional exemption from Universities South Africa if they are at least 23 years old and have passed four subjects with at least an E symbol. Mature-age exemption is open to applicants aged 45 and above; both exemptions must be obtained before registration. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows learning gained outside formal programmes to give access or credits; enquiries go to [email protected] or 035 902 6030/6178. Recognition of modules from other institutions is requested on form SAF01.

International applicants

Foreign qualifications must be evaluated for equivalency through SAQA/USAf. Offers are conditional on obtaining a South African student visa, and no full-time student on a campus is registered without one. At registration, international students bring originals of: SAQA evaluation, foreign conditional exemption certificate, valid passport, valid study permit, proof of financial means (bank statement, bursary or funds to cover living expenses and tuition) and proof of medical insurance. Asylum seekers must comply with Section 22 permits, and refugees with Section 24 permits or hold a maroon ID. Postgraduate international students who do not study on a South African campus while conducting research may register without a student visa.

Applying

First-time undergraduate applicants apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) in Durban, or submit forms with documents and proof of payment to the Admissions Offices at KwaDlangezwa (Admin Building, Room 32) or Richards Bay (Office A2-13). The closing date for undergraduate applications for all faculties, PGCE applications, honours and master's by coursework and returning-student applications is 30 October. After an offer, students accept it on the iEnabler system and upload a certified ID, certified NSC or final statement of results, and proof of residence (all required before registration). Applications for change of qualification do not go through CAO.

Postgraduate entry

Honours applicants apply to the hosting academic department; the head of department assesses suitability and the Dean confirms. The application form (ADM01 plus departmental form PGRD2) goes to the Admissions Office with proof of payment of the application fee, and the SAQA certificate where relevant. Master's and doctoral applicants submit forms with the prescribed fee and may apply at any time; applications for research master's and doctoral studies close on 27 March, and registration must be finalised before 31 May each year at the main campus. A separate PGCE application form exists.

Registration deposit

The optional Minimum Initial Payment for non-funded students is R3 000 for non-residential students and 50% of the residence amount for residential students; students funded for the full cost of study (including NSFAS) pay nil.

• KwaDlangezwa Campus (main campus), 24 Main Road, KwaDlangezwa, near Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal: developed from 1960 and home to all four faculties and academic support departments. Facilities include a library (open 07h45 to 23h00 Monday to Friday and 08h00 to 18h00 on Saturdays in the academic period), campus clinic, HIV/AIDS unit, protection services, student housing, Bureau for Sport and Recreation, Financial Aid Office, Guidance and Counselling, Law Clinic, and the Centre for Co-operative Education and Entrepreneurial Training. King Bhekuzulu Hall (opened 1980) is the main hall.
• Richards Bay Campus, corner of Guldengracht and East Central Arterial Roads, Arboretum, Richards Bay (172 km north of Durban off the N2): completed in 2009 as an urban campus for entrepreneurial and vocational programmes in partnership with local industry and the maritime sector; courses delivered include Public Relations, Transport Management and Hospitality Management. It has its own library, clinic, admissions, student administration and ICT offices, and computer labs and sport and recreation facilities.
• UNIZULU Science Centre, Richards Bay: a science exploratorium with more than 200 interactive experiments, a 200-seat auditorium, an inflatable planetarium and a career guidance centre, visited by up to 30 000 school learners a year, mainly from rural schools between the Tugela River and Kosi Bay.
• Ntambanana farm: a 2 500-hectare farm acquired in 1983 for agriculture, with a research and training farm operational from 1993.