Funding
NSFAS & Bursaries: Funding Your 2027 Studies
How NSFAS funding works alongside your UNISA application, plus other bursaries worth applying for early.
Read more →
2027 Intake · In the Service of Humanity
Apply to UNISA — Africa's largest open distance e-learning university.
UNISA is headquartered in Pretoria but has no traditional campus to attend — with over 400,000 students, it's one of the world's mega-universities, letting you study from anywhere in South Africa or abroad. Applications for 2027 are online-only — here's exactly what you need, and by when.
7Colleges
R150Application Fee
9 Oct2026 Closing Date
About the university
In the service of humanity, since 1873
The University of South Africa traces its roots back to the University of the Cape of Good Hope, founded in 1873, and today is the only higher education institution in the country to carry the nation's name. As a distance-education mega-university, UNISA attracts around a third of all higher education students in South Africa, and is the only university of its kind in Africa.
UNISA offers over 400,000 students, including students from 130 countries, a multimodal blend of online and postal study, making higher education accessible to people who cannot attend a traditional contact university. It's also the first tertiary institution in Africa to own an airport.
Good to know
UNISA's online application fee is R150, but it only applies to first-time applicants who don't yet have a UNISA student number — returning students don't pay it again. Popular qualifications and modules can reach capacity before the official closing date, so apply as early as possible.
Plan ahead
2027 key application dates
UNISA sets a single main window for undergraduate, Honours and postgraduate diploma applications, with a separate, later window for Master's and doctoral qualifications.
17 AUGUST 2026
Applications open
The UNISA online application portal opens for undergraduate, Honours and postgraduate diploma applications.
9 OCTOBER 2026
Main closing date
Final date for undergraduate, Honours degree and postgraduate diploma applications for 2027.
2 SEP – 21 NOV 2026
Master's & doctoral window
A separate, later application period for Master's and doctoral qualifications.
SEP – NOV 2026
NSFAS window
NSFAS applications are separate from the UNISA application and open on their own timeline.
Fully online, no paper forms
How to apply to UNISA
UNISA applications are submitted online through myUNISA or the UNISA Student App — there are no regional offices where you can hand in hard copies, and cash payments aren't accepted.
01
Before you start
- Check your qualification's closing date and admission requirements in the current prospectus.
- Gather a certified copy of your ID or passport and your latest results or transcripts.
- Remember you may apply for up to three qualifications in one application.
02
Submit online
- Go to the official UNISA online application system on unisa.ac.za/apply.
- Register with a personal email address and complete your applicant profile.
- Upload your supporting documents and pay the R150 application fee once you receive your student number.
- Submit before the closing date for your qualification.
Checklist
Documents you'll need
- Certified copy of your South African ID or passport
- Grade 11 final results, or latest Grade 12 results if you're a current matriculant
- National Senior Certificate or matric certificate, once available
- Academic transcripts, for current or previous tertiary students
- Proof of payment of the application fee, once you have a student number
Costs
Application fees
First-time applicantsR150
Returning UNISA studentsNot payable
Master's & doctoral applicantsR160
⚠️ UNISA's application fee is non-refundable, even if you don't qualify for admission. Popular qualifications and modules can close early once they reach capacity — apply as early as possible after the portal opens.
Where you could study
Colleges at a glance
College
Accounting Sciences
Financial accounting, auditing, taxation and management accounting qualifications.
College
Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Agricultural management, environmental science and sustainability-focused qualifications.
College
Economic and Management Sciences
Business management, economics, marketing and public administration.
College
Education
Teacher training and education qualifications for working and aspiring educators.
College
Human Sciences
Psychology, social work, languages, theology and the broader humanities and social sciences.
College
Law
LLB and paralegal qualifications, designed for both school leavers and working adults.
College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Computing, engineering and the natural sciences, alongside UNISA's College of Graduate Studies and Graduate School of Business Leadership.
Study from anywhere
How distance learning at UNISA works
myUnisa Portal
Your online hub for study material, assignments, exam bookings and results.
Regional Offices
Support centres across South Africa help with registration, library access and exams.
Exam Venues
Nationwide and select international exam centres for students who can't attend Pretoria.
Study While Working
A flexible schedule that lets you fit qualifications around a job or other commitments.
Keep reading
More guides for your application journey
A few extra resources worth going through before and after you apply.
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Student life
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Read more →Common questions
Frequently asked questions
When do UNISA 2027 applications open and close?
Undergraduate, Honours and postgraduate diploma applications open on 17 August 2026 and close on 9 October 2026. Master's and doctoral applications run on a separate, later window, from around 2 September to 21 November 2026 — always confirm the date for your specific qualification.
How much is the application fee?
UNISA charges a non-refundable R150 online application fee for first-time applicants who don't yet have a student number. Returning students don't pay it again, and Master's/doctoral applicants pay R160.
Where is UNISA located?
UNISA's administrative headquarters is in Pretoria, but as an open distance e-learning university it has no residential campus to attend — students study from anywhere in South Africa or abroad, supported by regional offices and exam centres.
What colleges does UNISA offer?
Seven colleges: Accounting Sciences; Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; Economic and Management Sciences; Education; Human Sciences; Law; and Science, Engineering and Technology — plus a College of Graduate Studies and the Graduate School of Business Leadership.
Does UNISA offer NSFAS funding?
Yes. UNISA is an eligible NSFAS institution. NSFAS applications for 2027 are expected to open between September and November 2026, and must be submitted separately from your UNISA application.
In the service of humanity starts with applying.
Get your documents ready and submit your UNISA application — from anywhere — before your qualification's closing date.
Apply to UNISA Now →