SA Universities Application forms 2026-SA Admissions

SA Universities Application forms 2026-SA Admissions–Which universities are open for 2026

South African universities are now accepting applications for the 2026 academic year. Applications can be submitted electronically, by hand, or via mail to any of the 26 public universities. Although application deadlines vary for each university and program, they will normally fall between March 1st and October 31st, 2025. Make sure to meet deadlines and submit all required documentation on time.

Thinking about studying in South Africa? Excellent choice! Many universities and colleges are ready to welcome you. The application process is mostly online, though some universities also offer walk-in applications.

How to Apply to a University in South Africa For 2026

Online Application:

Choose Your University: Find out from the 2026 universities the one you want to apply to.
Check Deadlines: Check the application deadline for your course
Prepare Your Documents: Ensure you have all the required documents certified and scanned into PDF.
Apply Online: Most universities have online applications, making it convenient to apply from anywhere. Some may offer downloadable forms if you prefer.
Submit and Confirm: After submitting, make sure to confirm that your application has been received and is complete

International Applicants:

Visa preparation: Once accepted, request a visa pack from the university to initiate your visa application process.

Documents that are required to apply to universities in South Africa

Completed application forms
Certified copies of your South African ID or your passport
Certified copies of your parent’s or guardians’ ID/passport
Other supporting documents may consist of your exam results, proof of residence, and a recent payslip
Certified copies of your exam results from Grade 11 and your mid-year matric exam marks
Some universities have an application fee – in this case, proof of payment
If you are an international applicant, you’ll also need to apply for a visa

Always make sure that you have copies of these documents and never send the originals!

South African University Application Dates for 2026

This table outlines the application opening dates for various South African universities for the 2025 academic year

University	Opening Date
Rhodes University, Tshwane University of Technology, Wits University	March 1, 2025
University of Cape Town, University of the Free State, University of Pretoria, Nelson Mandela University, University of Johannesburg, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Durban Institute of Technology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of KwaZulu Natal, Mangosuthu University of Technology, University of Zululand, North-West University, Stellenbosch University, Sol Plaatje University	April 1, 2025
Walter Sisulu University, University of the Western Cape	May 1, 2025
University of Fort Hare, Central University of Technology, Vaal University of Technology, University of Mpumalanga	June 1, 2025
University of Venda	July 1, 2025
University of South Africa (UNISA)	August/September 2025 (varies by program)

South African Universities’ 2026 Late Application

For admittance to various academic programs, universities typically have rigorous deadlines. They have adequate time to review all of the applications and select the top applicants. This is especially useful for highly sought-after programs that receive more applications than the university can handle.
However, late applications are only accepted when certain undergraduate or graduate courses at any of the universities still have openings.
This typically happens after the general application’s formal deadline. This application window is often brief.