Applications for the UNISA 2027 academic year are about to open, and the window to apply is limited. Here’s what prospective students need to know before submitting.
When Do the 2027 UNISA Applications Open?
UNISA’s undergraduate, honours, and postgraduate diploma applications run from 17 August to 9 October 2026. Master’s and doctoral applications open on 1 September 2026.
Applying early — rather than in the final week — gives you time to fix any document issues and avoids the traffic surges the online portal experiences as the deadline approaches.
Automatic Acceptance Not Guaranteed?
Meeting the basic academic requirements for a qualification doesn’t guarantee you a space. UNISA uses a points score system to decide who gets an offer, weighing up:
- Whether you meet the admission requirements for your chosen qualification
- Your Academic Points Score (APS), calculated from your Grade 12 results
- The number of spaces available for that specific qualification
According to UNISA’s own published admissions information, this points score calculation also factors in elements such as the school you attended, along with broader demographic considerations like gender and socio-economic background — part of the university’s approach to widening access while maintaining academic standards.
Some qualifications have limited space, so even applicants who meet every requirement aren’t guaranteed a place — it isn’t a first-come, first-served system.
How to Apply to Study at UNISA?
All UNISA applications are now submitted entirely online — the university has done away with in-person or self-help station applications at its regional offices, so there’s no need to visit a campus.
UNISA doesn’t accept printed or hard-copy application forms, and payments can’t be made in cash, so you’ll need your documents scanned and your payment method sorted in advance.
You’ll need the following ready to upload:
- Your school qualification (Senior Certificate/NSC), or your Grade 11 results if you’re still completing Grade 12
- Your official tertiary academic transcripts, if applicable
- A certified copy of your ID document (or passport for international applicants)
- Your marriage certificate or divorce decree, if applicable
- Sworn translations of any documents not in English or Afrikaans
Files must be clear black-and-white scans under 2MB each, submitted as separate PDF, DOC, or TIF files — not bundled into one document.
How Much is the Application Fee?
The non-refundable online application fee is R160.00. A few points worth knowing include:
- You only pay once you’ve received your UNISA student number — not at the point of submitting your form
- Payment must be made via bank deposit or online payment channels; UNISA doesn’t offer cashier services
- The fee is due by your qualification’s closing date — applications without a fee paid on time won’t be processed
- It’s non-refundable, even if you’re not offered a space or decide not to study through UNISA
Application Outcomes
Once the closing date has passed, UNISA processes all applications received and communicates outcomes as spaces are finalised for each qualification. This can take some weeks, so patience is genuinely required here. If you’re successful:
- First-time applicants must complete UNISA’s First-Year Experience (FYE) MOOC before they’re able to accept their offer
- You’ll then have a limited window — typically 10 working days from the date of the offer — to accept or decline it
- If you applied for more than one qualification (you may apply for up to three, ranked in order of preference), wait until all your applications have been processed before accepting your preferred offer
If your application is unsuccessful, UNISA will inform you, and you can explore alternative qualifications or appeal the decision if you believe there was an error in the process.
Additional FAQs
Applying only secures you an offer — it doesn’t enrol you. If you’re accepted, you still need to formally register for your qualification within the registration period UNISA specifies; if you don’t register, your space is given to someone else and you’ll need to reapply in a future cycle.
You can still apply now. UNISA will consider your application based on your Grade 11 final results or your most recent Grade 12 interim marks, and issue a conditional offer. Your admission is only finalised once you submit your final NSC results.
Last Updated: 12 August 2026