VerifiedUNISA charges fees per module or paper rather than a single annual amount.
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Fees include the amount you must pay for each module, the minimum payment required at registration, how fees are structured by study area, payment procedures, and provisions for students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
Wherever possible, the most recent UNISA official fee pages or calculators are linked.
Application Fee 2027 (Non‑refundable)
UNISA charges a non‑refundable application fee when you apply through the official application portal.
This fee must be paid before your application is processed and it remains non‑refundable even if you do not enrol or are not accepted.
UNISA does not accept cash or cheques at its administrative offices or campuses.
For the 2027 intake the application fee is R160 when you apply online (R255 for a hard-copy application). Only first-time Unisa applicants pay it, and it must be paid by the closing date. Undergraduate, honours and postgraduate diploma applications for 2027 run from 17 August to 9 October 2026.
Prospective applicants should check the official UNISA student fees page for the latest application fee and payment instructions once the 2027 update is published.
Registration Fee 2027 (Initial Payment)
At UNISA, there is no traditional flat registration fee in the way many other universities have.
Instead, you must pay a minimum amount for each module or paper at registration before your registration can be activated.
These amounts vary by qualification type and subject group.
The official UNISA prescribed fees for 2026 show the amounts that are required as minimum payments when you register for modules or papers.
These figures are likely to be similar for 2027 once the official fee schedule is published.
For example, the 2026 prescribed fees for undergraduate modules in Education, Law, Psychology and Public Administration are: half module R1 145 (minimum R380 at registration), module/paper R2 290 (minimum R755) and the larger module R4 455 (minimum R1 470). Honours and fourth-year modules in the same subject group cost more:
- Half module (year): Total R1 640 with a minimum of R540 payable at registration.
- Single semester module: Total R3 275 with R1 080 payable at registration.
- Full year module / paper: Total R6 440 with R2 125 payable at registration.
- 36 credit year module / paper: Total R9 505 with R3 135 minimum at registration.
These amounts vary by subject group and programme.
These figures come from Unisa’s official 2026 prescribed fee schedule, which lists totals, minimum amounts and due dates. After the minimum payment, the balance for 2026 was due in instalments by 31 March, 15 May and 15 August 2026. Unisa has not yet published its 2027 fees.
Students should consult the UNISA prescribed fees page for detailed module fee structures.
UNISA requires that minimum payments be made by the relevant closing dates for registration to be processed.
If the minimum payment is not received, registration for that module or paper will not be activated.
Tuition Fee Structure per Faculty
UNISA does not publish a single annual tuition fee for all programmes.
Instead, tuition is based on the number of modules or papers you register for, the subject group, and whether your module is offered in a semester or for the full year.
The official fee tables are grouped by discipline so you can estimate your overall year costs based on the modules you plan to take.
Fees per module or paper differ across faculties such as Education, Law, Commerce, Science, Health and other academic divisions.
The official prescribed fee schedule for honours, undergraduate and postgraduate modules shows fee amounts and minimum registration payments for each module type.
Use the official UNISA student fees and funding page and the module fee schedule tool to calculate the total for your qualification.
For postgraduate degrees such as master’s programmes, UNISA also has prescribed fees by module or paper.
These are listed on the official postgraduate fee pages and include research, dissertation or specialised module fees that differ from undergraduate fees.
How to Pay Your Fees (Bank Details)
UNISA provides official bank details that students and funders must use to pay fees.
Payments must be made with your student number as the reference so that the funds are linked to your student account.
UNISA accepts electronic payments (EFT), online credit card payments, and deposits at designated bank branches.
It does not accept cash or cheques at campus administrative offices.
The official UNISA student fees page provides the most recent banking information for student fee payments once the 2027 fee schedule is released.
Students should always confirm the correct account details, branch codes, and reference instructions before making payments.
Fees for NSFAS Funded Students
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) can cover your UNISA tuition and registration requirements if you are eligible and approved.
NSFAS funding covers prescribed tuition costs, including the minimum registration amounts per module, directly to UNISA once your funding status is confirmed.
You must complete the official NSFAS funding process and have confirmed approval before registration.
NSFAS may also provide additional allowances for books, learning material, and other study‑related costs depending on your funding package.
UNISA students should ensure NSFAS has submitted the necessary funding confirmation to the university before the registration deadline so that their accounts are cleared and they can complete registration for their modules.