UNISA Application

The application opening dates for the 2023 academic year are approaching, and students are eager to know when they can begin applying to universities such as UNISA.

Is UNISA Open For 2023 Applications?

No, applications for 2023 are not open yet. Application dates for 2023 are as follows:

Undergraduate qualifications (Higher Certificates, Advanced Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas & Degrees): 11 August – 15 October 2022
Honour’s Degrees & Postgraduate Diplomas: 11 August – 15 October 2022
Master’s & Doctoral qualifications: 8 September – 12 November 2022

Does UNISA Have Late Applications?

UNISA does not accept late applications. However, if UNISA still has places available once the applications have closed, UNISA will announce a second opening for late applications.

However, this is not guaranteed. If all places are taken in the first application period, no late application period will be given.

How Much Is Application Fee At UNISA?

UNISA applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of R120 for online applications. Note that this fee is subject to change. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, UNISA no longer accepts in-person applications.

Can I Apply To UNISA Without Matric?

No, you cannot apply to study at UNISA if you do not have your Matric. All universities require you to have your Matric to apply.

What Can I Study Without Matric?

There are many courses you can study if you do not have Matric, such as:

Matric programmes
ICB courses
CIMA courses
Short courses

Some of these courses are accredited, and others are non-accredited courses. In the past, you were also able to study some NATED courses without Matric. However, this is no longer the case. All NATED courses now require Matric to apply.

Matric Programmes

There are Matric programmes available for you to study if you do not have your Matric and would like to get it. Whether you did not get to write your Matric, or you wrote your Matric but failed, or if you passed but are unsatisfied with your results, you can improve or get your Matric online. There are three Matric programmes:

Matric Rewrite – for students under the age of 21 who wrote Matric and would like to improve their results
Matric Upgrade – for students 21 or older who wrote Matric and would like to improve their results
Adult Matric – for adults 21 and older who have not written their Matric

Matric Rewrite

You can improve your Matric results by doing a Matric Rewrite if you are under the age of 21. You can rewrite a maximum of four subjects, and you must write the subjects you wrote in your Matric final exams. You may not change any subjects.

Matric Upgrade

You can improve your Matric results by doing a Matric Upgrade if you are 21 or older. You can upgrade up to four subjects. You can also choose to change a maximum of four subjects instead. You can apply as early as 19, but you must be 21 to write the exams, because you will write the Adult Matric exams.

Adult Matric

You can get your Matric by doing an Adult Matric Course if you are 21 or older and have not written Matric before. You will get your Senior Certificate (Amended) once you have successfully completed your Adult Matric. This certificate will function the same way as a National Senior Certificate, known as school Matric. You can use your Adult Matric to apply to further your studies, depending on how well you passed, or to apply for work.

Where Can I Study Matric Programmes?

There are many reputable colleges that offer Matric programmes through distance learning, such as:

ICB Courses

The Institute of Certificate Bookkeepers (ICB) offers three courses through reputable distance learning colleges. Their courses are accredited by ICB and by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). QCTO accreditation means that they are recognised in South Africa as formal qualifications. ICB is an international organisation, so their qualifications are recognised internationally. ICB courses go up to the Diploma level, and none require Matric to apply.

ICB Course	Entry Requirement	Subject Examples	Career Opportunities with Full Qualification
Financial Accounting	Grade 10 or equivalent	Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB) Cost and Management Accounting (CMGT) Income Tax Returns (ITRT) Management Accounting Control Systems (MACS)	Financial Accountant Tax Practitioner Tax Consultant
Business Management	Grade 11 or equivalent	Business Management 1 (BMT1) Human Resources Management and Labour Relations (HRLR) Financial Reporting and Regulatory Frameworks (FRRF)	Accounting Officer Business Manager Business Advisor
Office Administration	Matric or Matric Equivalent	Business and Office Administration 1 (BOA1) Human Resources Management and Labour Relations (HRLR) Management (MGMT)	Office Manager Public Relations Manager Administrative Manager

Where Can I Study ICB Courses?

Many distance learning colleges offer ICB courses. Some reputable ones are:

CIMA Courses

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) offers Business Accounting courses through reputable distance learning colleges. Their courses are accredited by CIMA, and are also recognised internationally. CIMA courses go up to the Degree level. There are four course levels in CIMA Business Accounting:

Business Accounting: CIMA Certificate Level
Business Accounting: CIMA Operational Level
Business Accounting: CIMA Managerial Level
Business Accounting: CIMA Strategic Level

CIMA Course	Entry Requirement	Subject Examples	Career Opportunities with Full Qualification
Business Accounting	Be over 16, and taken Maths if you completed high school past Grade 9	Fundamentals of Management Accounting Managing Finance in a Digital World Management Case Study Financial Strategy	Debtors Clerk Business Manager Chief Financial Officer

Where Can I Study CIMA Courses?

Many distance learning colleges offer CIMA courses, such as:

Short Courses

Short courses are made to help you develop your workplace skills and to better your CV. It is becoming more common for employers to hire candidates with short course skills, as they have workplace skills.

The short courses offered at the colleges listed below are all open-access. This means the only requirements you must meet to apply are that you must be over the age of 16, and you must be able to understand, read and write in English. You must also be comfortable studying through distance learning, as all courses are offered online only.

Short Courses At Matric College

Short Courses At Skills Academy

Short Courses At Ember Academy

Short Courses At Learning Group

What Have We Learned?

UNISA applications for 2023 will open on 11 August 2022
UNISA does not always have a late application opening
The application fee is R120, subject to change
You cannot apply to UNISA without Matric
There are many alternative study options available without Matric

Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Sive Ncanywa
Date: August 11, 2022

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