Categories: University Admissions 2023

my unisa online application form 2026

The University of South Africa (UNISA) has opened its online application portal for the 2026 academic cycle, welcoming both first-year and returning students, as well as those interested in starting a new career. The application period runs from August 21 to November 22, 2025, depending on the qualification. Applicants must submit their applications through the official UNISA website, as the university does not accept applications via email, fax, or postal service.

To apply, prospective students should carefully review the required documents and follow the steps provided on the UNISA website. Both domestic and international applicants need to submit their applications within the specified time frame to ensure consideration for the 2026 academic year.

What You Will Need to Start A New Application At Unisa For 2026

To start a new application at the University of South Africa (UNISA) for 2206, the following requirements must be met:

Make sure you have all of your supporting documentation ready.
Your local police station must certify these documents.
The Certification must be no more than 60 days old at the time of application.
Use a browser that is compatible with all of your applications and inquiries.
Check that your ID card is a government-issued identification card.
Fill out all of the fields marked with a red *.
Your academic credentials must be a scanned copy of the original issued by your previous institute.
Indicate on the University of South Africa (UNISA) application form if you require campus housing.
Examine the entry requirements for your preferred course.

Please Note:

Remember that closing dates vary by course, so check the full list of Unisa courses and their respective closing dates or deadlines for the 2026 intake.

Unisa application fee

The University of South Africa (Unisa) requires an application fee of R135 for both South African and non-South African citizens. This non-refundable fee is non-refundable. The university will accept and process your application only if all required documents, including proof of payment for the 2026 application fee, are received by the application deadlines. Failure to pay will result in rejection. CLICK HERE for more information on how to pay your Unisa application fee.

Unisa Application Materials For 2026

Prospective students must submit specific documents for the online application to the University of South Africa (Unisa), as failure to do so may result in the application form being invalid and potentially rejected for 2026 January intake admissions.

Domestic Applicants

Copy of your school qualifications (eg Senior Certificate, National Senior Certificate)
Copy of your official tertiary academic record(s) (if applicable) (internet copies will not be accepted)
Copy of your ID document (RSA students) or ID/passport (international students)
Copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable) or divorce decree (if applicable)
Sworn translations of documents if they are not in English or Afrikaans

International Applicants Only

Undergraduate

Copy of your school qualifications.
Copy of your tertiary academic qualifications (if applicable)
Copy of your passport
Copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable) or divorce decree (if applicable)
Original sworn translations of documents if they are not in English or Afrikaans
M30 form – Application for a Certificate of Conditional Exemption (ONLY for admission to bachelor degree studies) (PDF 157KB) and supporting documents if you are applying for a certificate of exemption

Honours and postgraduate diploma applications

Copies of all official academic records, including all papers/modules passed, percentages obtained, and the ledger. If your official records are not in English, you must also submit an original translation by a sworn translator.
Copy of your valid passport.
Marriage/divorce documents (if applicable and if the names on your academic record do not correspond with the names on your passport).
A SAQA certificate of evaluation

Master’s & doctoral applications

Copies of all official academic records, including all papers/modules passed, percentages obtained, and the ledger.
A copy of your ID or valid passport.
A research outline, CV, and any additional documents as indicated in the admission requirements for the specific qualification under the departmental focus area requirements (applicants applying for the MBA, MBL, DBL, coursework LLMs and the Coursework MCom in Industrial Psychology do not need to submit a research outline).
RPL approval letter if you applied for admission via RPL.
A SAQA certificate of evaluation

Decide on what to study at Unisa

To apply for a 2026 course at the University of South Africa (Unisa), ensure you meet the admission requirements for your chosen programme. Download the prospectus and read about entry and minimum requirements. Choose two study options on the application form and indicate your top two choices. Consult the brochure for available courses at the campus where you want to study.

Uploading supporting documents at Unisa

The University of South Africa (Unisa) requires clear, legible electronic copies of your application. If the university cannot read the document, management may request resubmission, causing application delays. The university prefers PDF documents, but doc, docx, and jpg files are also acceptable.

How to Start a New Application at Unisa for 2026

To initiate a new application at the University of South Africa (Unisa) in 2026, follow the following steps:

Go to the Unisa application tool at www.unisa.ac.za 2026
Select your Qualification
Read the instructions from Step 1 to Step 3
Click on the “Apply for Admission” Option
Read the instructions on the page that opens very carefully before you proceed to the next stage.
Click on first-time Unisa Applicants/ Returning Applicants
Enter your passport or ID number
Fill in your details with accurate information
Upload the documents that apply to you
After a successful application, a student number will be generated automatically.
Proceed to effect the Unisa Application fee payment for 2026