Unisa Registration: Closing Dates for Semester 1

Pieter van der MerweWritten by Pieter van der MerweStaff Writer (UCT Alumnus)
Naledi KhumaloReviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Every year, thousands of students prepare to register at the University of South Africa (Unisa) for the first semester. 

Unisa is one of the largest universities on the continent, offering distance learning for undergraduate, honours, postgraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies. 

To keep your place in Semester 1, you must register within Unisa’s published dates. Unisa has not yet published its 2027 registration dates, so the 2026 dates below show you what to expect. 

When Does Unisa Registration Open?

Unisa opens registration early in January. For 2026, registration opened on 7 January 2026. 

During this period, new students and returning students can log into the Unisa online system to choose modules and submit the required information.

Registration is only available online. There are no paper forms accepted. 

You must use Unisa’s official registration portal to complete the process once your admission has been confirmed.

What Is the Closing Date for Semester 1 Registration?

The closing date depends on the modules you register for. 

For semester modules (courses that run for half the year), the 2026 deadline was 20 February 2026. 

You must complete your online registration and pay any required fees before this date.

Unisa applies this date strictly: after it, the system blocks Semester 1 registration. 

Unisa sets this date to ensure that all students are enrolled and ready before the semester starts.

What Other Registration Deadlines Apply?

Yes, Unisa has different registration closing dates for other types of modules:

  1. Year modules (courses that run all year) closed on 20 March 2026 for undergraduate qualifications.
  2. Honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas with year modules closed on 31 March 2026.
  3. Semester 2 registration ran from 29 June to 23 July 2026, with final payment by 31 July 2026.

If you are studying a postgraduate qualification such as an MCompt, MBA, or MBL, your registration may close slightly earlier depending on the programme requirements. 

Always check your specific qualification’s rules on the official Unisa site.

Who Must Register by the Semester 1 Deadline?

Everyone who accepts a Unisa offer for Semester 1 must register within the registration period, including:

  1. New students Unisa has accepted for the coming academic year.
  2. Returning students who need to re-register and choose new modules.
  3. Students adding or changing modules for the first semester period.

Failing to register within this period may mean you lose your place for Semester 1 and have to wait until Semester 2 or the next academic year.

How Do You Complete Your Unisa Registration?

To register for Semester 1 in 2026, you should:

  1. Accept your offer of admission on the Unisa application portal once notified that you have been admitted.
  2. Log in to your myUnisa account with your student number and password.
  3. Choose your modules for the semester as guided by your qualification requirements.
  4. Pay the required study fees or minimum initial payment within the registration period.

Unisa will not finalise your registration until you have paid the minimum required fees and selected your modules correctly. 

Make sure all steps are completed before 20 February 2026 for Semester 1 modules.

What Happens If You Miss the Semester 1 Registration Deadline?

If you do not complete your online registration by 20 February 2026, your registration for Semester 1 will not be accepted. This means:

  1. Your studies for Semester 1 cannot start.
  2. You may have to wait until the second semester registration period if that avenue is open.
  3. You may need to reapply for admission for the next academic intake.

Unisa systems generally do not allow late registrations after the closing date, so it is important to meet deadlines and not delay your process.

Can You Register for Unisa After the Closing Date?

Unisa’s official position is that registrations must be completed online before the closing date. There are no formal late registration periods for Semester 1. 

If you miss the 20 February 2026 deadline, you should contact Unisa’s student support or your faculty for guidance on next steps, but there is no guarantee you will be able to add Semester 1 modules.

Avoid waiting until the last minute. Early registration ensures your module selections and payments are processed in time and reduces the risk of system delays.

How Can You Prepare for Registration?

Before the registration period starts:

  1. Check your admission status on the Unisa portal.
  2. Prepare your required documents, such as your ID and academic records.
  3. Arrange your study fees or funding so you can pay before the closing date.
  4. Familiarise yourself with the myUnisa system and module requirements.

Preparing early means you will be ready to register from 7 January 2026 and complete the process before the semester closes on 20 February 2026.

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