CUT Fees 2027: Application and Registration Fee Guide

The Central University of Technology (CUT) is a public university of technology with campuses in Bloemfontein and Welkom. 

CUT offers diplomas, degrees, postgraduate qualifications and certificates in faculties such as Engineering, Health & Environmental Sciences, Management Sciences and Humanities. 

Before you register, you must understand the costs involved in applying and securing your place as a student. 

CUT Application Fee 2027 (Non‑refundable)

CUT does not charge an application fee. Prospective students can apply to study at CUT without paying any fee for the application process. 

Whether you are applying for undergraduate, postgraduate or diploma programmes, applications submitted through the official online system are free of charge.

This is confirmed in the university’s official application process information. 

CUT’s application page carries a scam alert: there are no authorised consultants who help with applications, and you should never pay money to individuals claiming to represent the university. Always use the official application route.

You begin the application by creating an account and completing your details on the official CUT application portal.

CUT Registration Fee 2027 (Initial Payment)

While CUT does not charge an application fee, the university does require students to make an initial payment on registration when they are offered a placement. 

This payment is part of the Minimum Initial Payment (MIP) required to access modules and complete registration for the academic year and may include:

• Registration fee (non‑refundable)
• Deposit towards tuition fees
• Residence deposit (if applicable)

CUT’s 2026 Financial Registration Guidelines (published 9 January 2026) set the following Minimum Initial Payments for the 2026 academic year. The 2027 amounts will only be confirmed when CUT releases its next guideline, so treat these as last year’s benchmark:

For South African citizens (non‑residence):

• Registration fee (non‑refundable): R1 453
• Deposit on tuition fees: R3 807 (or 10% of tuition if you register for fewer than three subjects)
• Minimum Initial Payment (MIP): R5 260

For SADC and international students (non‑residence):

• Registration fee (non‑refundable): R1 453
• International administration fee: R2 603
• Deposit on tuition fees: R3 807 (or 10% of tuition if you register for fewer than three subjects)
• Expected Minimum Initial Payment: R7 863

Residence students: If you are accepted into a CUT residence and are self-funded, the 2026 guideline adds a residence deposit of R3 610 to the MIP. That brings the total to R8 870 for South African students and R11 473 for international students.

The “MIP” is credited to your tuition account and is not a separate extra fee. It must be paid before registration forms and module access can be completed.

CUT Tuition Fee Structure per Faculty

CUT sets tuition fees annually for each qualification and programme. 

Tuition fees are charged separately from the initial payment and vary by course, faculty and level of study. 

The Fees, Bursaries & Loans page on the CUT website is where the university posts its current financial guideline and tuition information.

CUT has not yet published 2027 tuition fees. For context, the 2026 guideline explains that tuition went up by 4.15% for 2026, based on a mix of CPI and the Higher Education Price Index. 

Your full tuition bill depends on the qualification and subjects you register for, so ask Student Accounts for a quote if you need an exact figure.

After the MIP, the rest of your fees must be settled by CUT’s deadlines: 31 October for year programmes, 31 May for first-semester programmes and 31 October for second-semester programmes (2026 dates).

For the most precise and updated 2027 fees per faculty and programme, always refer to CUT’s official tuition fee download once the new fee schedule is released.

How to Pay Your CUT Fees (Bank Details)

CUT accepts multiple secure payment methods once your registration is confirmed. 

You may pay your MIP, tuition, residence deposits and other charges using:

1. Electronic funds transfer (EFT)
2. The university’s online payment platform (see the Payment Platform link on the fees page)
3. Direct deposit into CUT’s official bank account

When making payments, use your student number (or your ID or passport number) as the reference so the funds are applied to the correct account. CUT warns applicants never to pay money to individuals. 

The official CUT fees page and student accounts office provide banking details and step‑by‑step instructions for payments.

For official payment instructions and exact account information, visit CUT’s fees page.

CUT Fees for NSFAS Funded Students

If you qualify for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), you must ensure that your funding confirmation is submitted to CUT before registration begins. 

Students on CUT’s NSFAS-funded list who register for an NSFAS-funded qualification do not pay the MIP at registration. This applies to returning NSFAS students and to first-time entering students listed as funded.

Students backed by other confirmed donors, verified by the Fees and Financial Aid Office, are also exempt, unless the donor’s award letter excludes the registration fee. Your funding may cover:

• Registration initial payment (where eligible)
• Tuition fees for the funded qualification
• Other approved student charges per the NSFAS award terms

Always verify the specific funding coverage with both NSFAS and the CUT Financial Aid office to avoid unexpected out‑of‑pocket expenses.