NWU Fees 2027: Application and Initial Payment Guide

If you plan to study at North-West University in South Africa in 2027, you must understand the costs involved. 

There are several types of NWU fees charged during the application and registration process. 

These include a non-refundable application (administration) fee, a registration fee, minimum payable fees before registration, and tuition fees that vary with your chosen programme and campus. 

Knowing how these work helps you plan your budget and avoid registration blocks.

Application Fee 2027 (Non-refundable)

NWU charges every applicant a non-refundable administration fee: R150 for South African applicants and R600 for international applicants. 

The fee can only be paid online, and you have to pay it before the application portal will let you submit. 

For the 2027 intake, applications opened on 1 June 2026. Selection programmes closed on 30 June 2026, and general programmes and residence applications closed on 31 August 2026. 

This fee is required as part of the application process and does not count toward your student account or tuition.

Once your application is submitted and accepted conditionally, you will receive an official fee quotation from NWU. 

This quotation details the fees you must pay for registration and tuition, depending on your qualification and campus.

Registration Fee 2027 (Initial Payment)

When you are offered a place at NWU, you must pay a registration fee and a minimum first payment before you can complete your registration. 

The registration fee is charged annually and is part of the first payment requirements for the academic year.

For first-year and returning students, the minimum compulsory payment includes the registration fee and a first payment on tuition. If you are a residence student living on campus, a first payment on residence fees is added as well.

NWU’s Fees Payable and Financial Rules for 2026 set the registration fee at R2 525 and the first payment on tuition fees at R10 330, with a further R11 320 first payment on residence fees for students in a university residence. 

That brings the compulsory minimum first payment for 2026 to R24 175 for residence students and R12 855 for non-residence and distance students. International students must pay the full cost of their studies, including residence, before registration can be finalised. 

NWU will publish the 2027 amounts in its next Fees Payable and Financial Rules, so treat the 2026 figures as a guide only.

Keep in mind that NWU will not permit registration until these fees are paid and reflected in your university account.

Tuition Fee Structure per Faculty

Tuition fees at NWU vary depending on the faculty and qualification you choose. 

Your fees are made up of a charge for each course you register for plus an annual programme version cost for your qualification. 

Examples of faculties include:

1. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
2. Faculty of Education
3. Faculty of Engineering
4. Faculty of Health Sciences
5. Faculty of Humanities
6. Faculty of Law
7. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
8. Faculty of Theology

NWU does not list a single flat fee for all programmes. Instead, tuition is calculated based on programme version costs and course credits. 

These costs are provided to students through official fee quotations once an application is successful. 

First-time applicants receive a fee quote when they accept a conditional offer and again when they accept their final offer, while senior students can request one on the Student Portal under My Finances, then Fee Quotation.

Because these fees change yearly and depend on the programme chosen, students are advised to request a personalised fee quotation via the NWU portal.

How to Pay Your Fees (Bank Details)

NWU directs students to its online Payment Portal for all student-related payments. 

Registration, tuition, residence and other fees can be paid there, or in person at the cashiers on each campus between 08:00 and 15:30 on weekdays. The application administration fee is paid online as part of your application.

When making payments, you must use your 8-digit university number as the reference. This ensures the payment is correctly allocated to your account.

Official ways to pay NWU fees:

1. Online: the NWU Payment Portal (choose the Student option)
2. Mahikeng Campus cashier: Admin Building
3. Potchefstroom Campus cashier: Joon van Rooy Building (F1), Payment Hall
4. Vanderbijlpark Campus cashier: Admin Building, Building 24

The Payment Portal link and the contact email for the Bank Administration Department (NWU-bankdeposit@nwu.ac.za) are listed in the “Bank Administration” section of the NWU fee pages. 

If anyone sends you bank account details for NWU fees by SMS, email or social media, check with the Bank Administration Department before you pay.

Fees for NSFAS Funded Students

If you are funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), you may be exempt from paying the minimum first payment required for registration. 

NSFAS funding covers registration and tuition fees directly, as long as you have submitted all required documents and your funding is approved before the registration deadline.

To qualify for NSFAS support, you must meet the eligibility criteria set by NSFAS and submit your application to NSFAS in time. 

According to NWU, students whose myNSFAS status shows as provisionally funded are cleared to register without paying the minimum first payment.

Ensure that your NSFAS application is finalised early in the application cycle to avoid any delays that could affect your registration process.