Universities Open For 2026 Applications

Universities Open For 2026 Applications, South African Universities 2026 Application Dates and Procedures

The 26 public institutions (universities) in South Africa are currently taking applications for graduate and undergraduate programs for the 2026 academic year. You must visit the university of your choice and complete the application in person or online. Reading this article is necessary if you wish to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies at a South African university in 2026 and need to know the admission dates, application procedures, and prerequisites for acceptance.

Key University Application Dates for 2026

Although it does not guarantee automatic acceptance, a timely application is vital for any South African university admission. Each university has its application dates, so you should know when your selected university opens and closes applications. Nonetheless, we can state categorically that applications for a diploma, higher certificate, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD will open from April 1, 2025, to October 31, 2025. This is the application date for the academic year 2026 in South Africa.

Modes of application for South African Universities 2026 intake

There are several ways to apply to a university in South Africa for the 2026 academic intake. You can submit your application via:

Online: Most of the universities accept applications through their online portals
Walk-in/In-person: A walk-in application is where you are allowed to submit your application directly to the campus of the university.
Email: Applications via email enable you to send your completed forms, together with all supporting documents, electronically through the official email address
Mail: A postal address will be given to those who want to apply manually.
Fax: A few of the universities allow students to submit their applications by fax for processing.

You need to find out the application mode for your school and comply accordingly.

One thing you should never do when applying to a university is apply using two or more modes. You are required to submit your application via only one mode.

Some of the 26 public universities accept applications through the Central Application Office. These universities are usually located in KwaZulu-Natal. They do not accept direct applications, especially if you are a first-time student applying for undergraduate qualifications

Requirements for online university applications 2026, South Africa

Prospective students need to have the following to apply online to any of the universities that are currently accepting 2026 applications:

An internet
A working mobile number
An active email address
Gadgets like tablets, laptops, phones, and PCs
ID Number
Scanned application documents

Essential documents for South African university applications 2026

All prospective students wishing to join any university in South Africa for the 2026 academic intake must have these documents certified and scanned into PDF, JPEG, GIF, or PNG formats.

Completed application form.
National Senior Certificate (NSC).
A copy of ID or passport.
Proof of payment for the application fee (if applicable).
Bachelor’s degree transcripts and certificate.
Statement of purpose or research proposal (if applicable).

International Students must submit:

A valid passport.
Proof of English proficiency
A valid student visa.

These documents are essential; your application will be invalid without them. Regardless of your academic grades or performance, you must not forget to either upload them online, submit them in person, mail them, or email them. Otherwise, your application will be rejected without a second thought.

Application fee requirements and deadlines for the 2026 intake

The application fee or handling fee is a key component of the application process. I am happy to announce that some universities offer free online and manual applications. However, another side of the coin is that most universities require an application fee. We advise visiting your intended universities and reviewing their application fee policies.

We implore all applicants to be vigilant regarding the application fee. You must provide proof of payment when applying, and this should be done before the closing date. Once paid, please keep the original receipt and submit a scanned copy of it

Admission requirements and APS calculation for South African universities

To be accepted into your desired university, You must

Meet the Academic qualifications of the course
Apply on time
Pay the application fee on time
Submit all required documents within the application period
Accept your offer on time if you are sent one
National Senior Certificate or an equivalent qualification

National Senior Certificate (NSC)

The National Senior Certificate (NSC) or an equivalent qualification is the standard secondary school diploma required for university admission in South Africa. You need to perform well to get the best choice of courses

Admission Points Score (APS)

In South Africa, the Admission Points Score (APS) assesses if a student meets the requirements of the course he or she wants to study. It is calculated from the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, with each subject receiving a point value based on the student’s final grade.

How to calculate APS:

Best six NSC Subjects: The APS is based on the student’s top six National Senior Certificate subjects, These courses are:

Home Language, First Additional Language, Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy, and Life Orientation.
2 additional subjects (usually from subjects like Physical Science, Geography, History, Accounting, etc.).

Calculate the APS:

Based on your grade, assign the appropriate number of points to each of the six subjects.
To determine your overall APS, add up the points for each of the six subjects.

Important Notes for International Students

International applicants must apply for a study visa after receiving their admission offer.
They must submit proof of their passport and meet language proficiency requirements.
It’s highly recommended that international students apply early to allow enough time for the visa process.

Steps to Apply for South African Universities 2026

Now, follow the steps below to apply to the university of your choice and join for the 2026 academic year:

Gather all supporting documents.
Scan all the documents.
Get all documents certified at your local police station.
Research and choose your university.
Download and read the prospectus or brochure.
Settle on the course you want to apply for.
Visit the university website to which you wish to apply.
Read all the information regarding the 2026 applications before you start.
Fill out the university’s online application form.
Complete the form with accurate and up-to-date information.
Upload all the scanned copies of your documents.
Pay the online application fee, if applicable, as the university requires.
Click the “Submit” button to send your application for review

Please note that this is just a basic outline of the online application steps. You may encounter more complex procedures as you progress. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete the form

South African University Application Dates 2026

Below are the application dates for the 2026 academic intake for a few of South Africa’s leading universities.

University of the Western Cape: May 11 (Dentistry), September 30 (Other programs)
Stellenbosch University: April 1, 2025
University of Cape Town: April 2–July 31, 2025
University of Pretoria: April 1, 2025 (Veterinary: May 31, Other programs: June 30)
University of the Witwatersrand: March 1, 2025 (Teaching & Nursing: July 31, Others: September 30)
University of KwaZulu-Natal: April 1–September 30, 2025
University of Johannesburg: April 1–October 31, 2025
Rhodes University: April 1–November 30, 2025
Vaal University of Technology: April 1–October 31, 2025 (South African applicants), January 26, 2026 (International applicants)
University of Fort Hare: June 1–November 30, 2025
University of Venda: April 1–September 30, 2025
University of South Africa (Unisa): September 1 to November 22, 2025
Cape Peninsula University of Technology: 13 May 2025 to March 1, 2026
University of Zululand: April 1 September, 2025
University of Limpopo: April 1 to October 31, 2025
Durban University of Technology: April 1 to November 30, 2025
Mangosuthu University of Technology: April 1 to October 31, 2025
Central University of Technology: May 13, 2025 to September 30, 2025
University of the Free State: April 1 to September 30, 2025
University of Mpumalanga: April 1 – September 30, 2025
North-West University: April 1 – September 30, 2025
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University: April 1 – September 30, 2025
Walter Sisulu University: April 1 – November 30, 2025
Nelson Mandela University: April 1 – September 30, 2025
Sol Plaatje University: April 1 – September 30, 2025
Tshwane University of Technology: April 1 – September 30, 2025

University Prospectuses (Universities Open For 2026 Applications)

Every institution will formally release its prospectus, which will include comprehensive details about the courses it offers, how to apply, costs, and prerequisites. Prospective students are highly encouraged to study the university’s prospectus to learn more.

Contact Details for More Information

For up-to-date information regarding specific application deadlines, requirements, or university details, always visit the official website of the university you’re applying to.