Early & Late University Application Dates For 2026

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Early & Late University Application Dates For 2026

Early & Late University Application Dates For 2026

South African universities and TVET colleges are currently accepting applications for the 2026 academic year. Some institutions will close as early as June 30, 2025, while others will close by November of the same year. All of the universities’ opening, closing, and expected late application dates for the 2026 academic year are listed here. Please check your university’s dates and apply within that period.

Essential Application Information for the 2026 Academic Year

Prospective students mark the early and late deadlines for the universities or TVET colleges they have selected on their calendars to ensure they do not miss the application window. Students will not be allowed to reapply until the following year if they miss deadlines.

The application process requires substantial preparation, which involves obtaining and certifying documents, converting them to PDF, and researching bursary prospects for funding. Successful applications require careful planning and timely submission to ensure that all necessary procedures are accomplished. Although early applications do not guarantee admission, they do have an impact

2026 Application Dates for South African Universities: Early and Late Application Windows

Below are the top 26 public universities in South Africa, along with their 2026 application dates, including the anticipated late application dates for 2026, for your reference.

Nelson Mandela University (NMU) 

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 September 2025

Late Application Window:

University of Fort Hare (UFH)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 November 2025

Late Application Window:

University of Pretoria (UP)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 02, 2025
  • Closing Date – June 30, 2025

Late Application Window:

North-West University (NWU)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 31 August 2025

Late Application Window:

University of South Africa (UNISA)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – September 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 14 November 2025

Late Application Window:

University of the Free State (UFS)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 September 2025

Late Application Window:

Rhodes University (RU)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 September 2025

Late Application Window:

Walter Sisulu University (WSU)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – June 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 31 October 2025

Late Application Window:

University of Johannesburg (UJ)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 31 October 2025

Late Application Window:

University of the Western Cape (UWC)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – 02 April 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 September 2025

Late Application Window:

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 September 2025

Late Application Window:

University of Witwatersrand (Wits)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – March 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 September 2025

Late Application Window:

University of Cape Town (UCT)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 02, 2025
  • Closing Date – 31 August 2025

Late Application Window:

University of Limpopo (UL)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – October 31, 2025

Late Application Window:

University of Venda (Univen)

Early Application Window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 26 September 2025

Late Application Window:

  • Opening Date – January, 13, 2026
  • Closing Date: 20 February 2026 (if there are still spaces available)
  • Application Link For 2026

University of Mpumalanga (UMP)

Early Applications

  • Opening Date – 01 June 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 November 2025

Late Application Window:

Stellenbosch University (SUN)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 31 July, 2025

Late Application Window:

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 2, 2025
  • Closing Date – August 30, 2025

Late Application Window:

University of Zululand (UniZulu)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – September 30, 2025

Late Application Window:

Sol Plaatje University (SPU)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 November 2025

Late Application Window:

Central University of Technology (CUT)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – May 13, 2025
  • Closing Date – September 30, 2025

Late Application Window:

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – April 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 September 2025

Late Application Window:

Vaal University of Technology (VUT)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – May 06, 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 September 2025

Late Application Window:

Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – January 01, 2025
  • Closing Date – 30 September 2025

Late Application Window:

Durban University of Technology (DUT)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – January 13, 2025
  • Closing Date – February 22, 2025

Late Application Window:

Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)

Early Application window

  • Opening Date – May 13, 2025
  • Closing Date – September 30, 2025

Late Application Window:

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