{"id":45,"date":"2026-03-15T22:18:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T22:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/?page_id=45"},"modified":"2026-09-22T13:41:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T13:41:54","slug":"how-to-apply-to-unisa-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/how-to-apply-to-unisa-for-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"UNISA Application for 2027: Complete Online Admission Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

UNISA Applications for 2027: Dates, Requirements and How to Apply<\/p>\n\n\n\n

University of South Africa (UNISA), one of the largest distance-learning universities in the world, provides flexible open distance learning (ODL)<\/strong> programmes to students across South Africa and internationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you intend to study in 2027<\/strong>, applications must be submitted online during the official admission window. Admission is competitive and depends on programme capacity as well as meeting the academic requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When do UNISA applications open for 2027?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For the 2027 academic year<\/strong>, the expected application periods are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undergraduate qualifications, honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Applications open: 18 August 2026<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Applications close: 9 October 2026<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Master\u2019s and doctoral qualifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Applications generally open: August 2026<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Closing dates vary depending on the qualification and college.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Applicants should monitor the official UNISA website for programme-specific dates and requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What are the closing dates for UNISA applications?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Undergraduate, honours and postgraduate diplomas:<\/strong> 9 October 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Master\u2019s and doctoral programmes:<\/strong> usually close between late October and November 2026<\/strong>, depending on the qualification.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Submitting your application early is recommended to avoid system congestion close to the deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Admission requirements and APS for UNISA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Applicants must meet both statutory admission requirements<\/strong> and college-specific criteria<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        For undergraduate programmes, admission is generally based on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • A National Senior Certificate (NSC)<\/strong> or equivalent qualification<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Meeting the minimum Academic Points Score (APS)<\/strong> for the chosen programme<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Meeting subject requirements where applicable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          APS requirements vary depending on the qualification and college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Meeting the minimum APS does not guarantee admission<\/strong>, as placement is also determined by programme capacity and competition among applicants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          How to apply online to UNISA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Follow these steps to submit your application:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Visit the official UNISA website: unisa.ac.za<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. Click Apply for Admission<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. Choose the appropriate qualification level (undergraduate, honours, postgraduate, master\u2019s or doctoral).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          4. Register using your email address and phone number<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          5. Complete the online application form.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          6. Upload the required supporting documents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          7. Submit the application and pay the application fee once you receive your student number.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Applicants may apply for up to three qualifications<\/strong>, ranked in order of preference. However, only one offer of admission<\/strong> may ultimately be accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Documents required for a UNISA application<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Applicants must upload the following documents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • Certified Grade 12 matric certificate<\/strong> or equivalent qualification<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Official tertiary academic transcripts<\/strong> (if previously studied)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • South African ID document<\/strong> or international passport<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Marriage or divorce certificate<\/strong> (if applicable)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Sworn translation<\/strong> for documents not in English or Afrikaans<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • SAQA evaluation certificate<\/strong> for international qualifications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Each document must generally be less than 2 MB<\/strong> and submitted in PDF, DOC, or TIF format<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              All required documents must be uploaded before the application deadline<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              UNISA application fee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              UNISA charges a non-refundable application fee of R150<\/strong> for online applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Payment is made after receiving your student number<\/strong> during the application process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Applications are only processed once the payment has been successfully received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              How to check your UNISA application status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              Applicants can track their application progress through the MyUNISA portal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Typical status updates include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • Application received<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Documents outstanding<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Offer made<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Application unsuccessful<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                If you receive an offer, you must accept or decline it within 10 working days<\/strong>. Failure to respond within this period may result in the offer being withdrawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                UNISA will also communicate updates through email or phone contact<\/strong>, so ensure your contact details are accurate during the application process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n
                \n
                \n
                \n

                When do UNISA applications open for 2027?<\/h3>\n
                \n\n

                Applications for undergraduate, honours and postgraduate diplomas open on 18 August 2026<\/strong>. Master\u2019s and doctoral applications also generally open in August.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                \n

                What is the application closing date?<\/h3>\n
                \n\n

                Applications for undergraduate, honours and postgraduate diplomas close on 9 October 2026<\/strong>. Master\u2019s and doctoral closing dates vary by qualification.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                \n

                How many qualifications can I apply for?<\/h3>\n
                \n\n

                Applicants can apply for up to three qualifications<\/strong>, ranked by preference. Only one admission offer may be accepted.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                \n

                What documents are required?<\/h3>\n
                \n\n

                Required documents include a matric certificate or equivalent, academic transcripts if applicable, ID or passport, and a SAQA certificate for international qualifications.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                \n

                What is the UNISA application fee?<\/h3>\n
                \n\n

                UNISA charges a non-refundable application fee of R150<\/strong>, payable after you receive your student number.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                \n

                How is APS used in admissions?<\/h3>\n
                \n\n

                Admission is based on APS requirements for each qualification. Meeting the minimum APS does not guarantee admission because space is limited.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                \n

                What happens if I receive an offer?<\/h3>\n
                \n\n

                You must accept or decline the offer within 10 working days<\/strong>. If you fail to respond, the offer may be withdrawn.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                \n

                Can I change my chosen qualifications after submitting?<\/h3>\n
                \n\n

                No. Once your application is submitted, qualification choices cannot be changed.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                \n

                What if my documents fail to upload?<\/h3>\n
                \n\n

                Ensure each file is smaller than 2 MB<\/strong> and in PDF, DOC or TIF format. Upload all documents before the application deadline.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                \n

                How can I contact UNISA for help?<\/h3>\n
                \n\n

                You can call the UNISA contact centre on 0800 00 1870<\/strong> or use the online help options available on the UNISA website.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                UNISA Applications for 2027: Dates, Requirements and How to Apply University of South Africa (UNISA), one of the largest distance-learning […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_ba_keyfacts":"","_ba_provider_contact":"","_ba_provider_name":"","_ba_provider_type":"","_ba_provider_cat":"","_ba_writer":"pieter-van-der-merwe","_ba_reviewer":"naledi-khumalo","iawp_total_views":690,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-45","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":883,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45\/revisions\/883"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}