How university applications work in South Africa
Last updated 10 November 2026
Each public university runs its own application, with its own dates and fee. A few take undergraduate applications through the Central Applications Office instead. This page puts the dates, fees and official links side by side for the 2027 intake, read from the universities’ own pages on 11 November 2026.
We do not rank universities or tell you where to apply. We show what each one publishes.
What we found
We read the official pages of 26 universities. For 17 of them we could confirm both a closing date and a fee, and those have full pages. The other 9 have gaps, such as a closing date inside a PDF we could not open or a fee that is not on the page. Their pages say so.
5 universities show a free application: CPUT, CUT, UJ, UFS, Venda. Others charge a fee, so compare the table above before you apply.
The Central Applications Office
DUT, MUT, UKZN, Zululand take undergraduate applications through the CAO. You make one application and pay one administration fee, which was R 250 if paid on or before 31 October 2026 and R 470 from 1 November 2026 for 2027 entry. Check the CAO site for the current amount.
Closing dates differ by programme
Medicine, nursing, pharmacy and other health programmes often close months before the general date. Some programmes also need a portfolio, an audition or a national benchmark test. Read the page for the exact programme you want.
Steps for any application
The steps are similar everywhere.
- Check the admission requirements for your programme.
- Note the closing date and the fee.
- Apply on the university’s own site or the CAO.
- Pay the fee only through the official system.
- Upload your documents and keep checking your email and status page.
APS and admission
Many universities use an admission points score, but they do not all work it out the same way. Stellenbosch uses an average, Wits counts Life Orientation, and Unisa uses a points score that includes other factors. Use our APS calculator for the standard scale, and read each university’s own method.
Funding
Applying for a place and applying for funding are separate. NSFAS has its own application. Read the NSFAS application guide and ask each university about bursaries.
Documents you will usually need
Have your ID document or passport, your latest school results and a working email address ready before you start. If you have studied before, you will also need your tertiary results. Each university lists its own required documents on its application page, and some programmes ask for extra items such as a portfolio or a motivation. Open the page for your university to see the links.
Beware of scams
Several universities warn that people charge fees to help with applications. Applying is done by you, on the official site. Do not pay a stranger to secure a place.
Figures were read on 11 November 2026. Dates and fees change each year, and the next ones are usually published from about April. This page is general information and is not run by any university.