Applications for the University of South Africa (Unisa) 2027 academic year are now open for prospective students who want to study undergraduate qualifications, honours degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master’s degrees and doctoral qualifications. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the relevant closing dates and ensure that all required supporting documents are uploaded on time.
For undergraduate qualifications, honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas, applications opened on 17 August 2026 and will close on 9 October 2026. Applications for master’s and doctoral qualifications opened on 1 September 2026 and generally close on 20 November 2026, although some qualifications may have different application periods.
Unisa Applications 2027: Important Dates
The application periods vary according to the level of study.
| Qualification | Opening Date | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate qualifications | 17 August 2026 | 9 October 2026 |
| Honours degrees & postgraduate diplomas | 17 August 2026 | 9 October 2026 |
| Master’s & doctoral qualifications | 1 September 2026 | 20 November 2026 |
| Short Learning Programmes | 2 November 2026 | Check individual programme |
Some master’s and doctoral selection degrees and other qualifications may have different application periods. Applicants should therefore check the application period for their specific qualification before submitting an application.
Who Must Apply for Unisa 2027?
Applicants may need to submit a new application even if they have previously studied or applied at Unisa. You must apply for admission if you are:
- Applying to Unisa for the first time.
- A current Unisa student who wants to change to a new qualification or specialisation.
- Someone who previously applied but was not offered a space.
- Someone who received an offer previously but did not register.
- Completing a Higher Certificate and want to continue with another undergraduate qualification.
- Planning to study through a TVET college under the Unisa-TVET agreement.
Unisa states that anyone who wants to start a new qualification must submit an application during the prescribed application period.
How to Apply for Unisa 2027
The Unisa application process is completed online. Applicants should follow the steps below.
Step 1: Choose Your Qualification
Before beginning the application, decide which qualification you want to study. Check the admission requirements, including the required Admission Point Score (APS) and any subject-specific requirements. Undergraduate applicants may apply for a maximum of three qualifications, giving them the opportunity to select alternative choices.
Step 2: Check the Admission Requirements
Applicants should carefully check whether they meet the requirements for their chosen qualification before applying. Admission depends on the applicable statutory requirements, qualification-specific requirements and required APS. Meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee admission, because some qualifications have limited spaces.
Step 3: Prepare Your Supporting Documents
Applicants should have their supporting documents ready before starting the online application. For undergraduate applicants starting a new qualification, the required documents generally include:
- Copy of school qualifications, such as the National Senior Certificate or Senior Certificate.
- Copy of official tertiary academic records, where applicable.
- Copy of a South African ID for South African applicants.
- Passport or relevant identification for international applicants.
- Marriage certificate or divorce decree, where applicable.
- Sworn translations where documents are not in English or Afrikaans.
Some qualifications may require additional documents.
Step 4: Prepare Documents in the Correct Format
Unisa has specific requirements for documents uploaded during the application process. Each document should be uploaded as an individual file rather than combining all documents into one large file. Files must not exceed 2MB each and should be submitted in an accepted format such as PDF, DOC or TIF. Applicants should also ensure that uploaded documents are clear and legible.
Step 5: Start Your Online Application
Applicants should access the official Unisa application page and select the appropriate category. The application categories include:
- Undergraduate qualifications
- Honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas
- Master’s and doctoral degrees
Applicants must follow the online instructions and provide accurate personal and academic information. Make sure details such as your name, ID number, cellphone number and email address are entered correctly.
Step 6: Select Up to Three Qualifications
Undergraduate applicants may apply for up to three qualifications, ranked according to preference. Applicants should consider their choices carefully because the selected qualifications can affect the alternatives considered if the first choice is not offered. If an applicant receives more than one offer, they can ultimately register for only one qualification.
Step 7: Upload Your Supporting Documents
All required supporting documents must be uploaded during the application process. This is particularly important because the deadline for submitting supporting documents is also the application closing date. Documents submitted after the closing date will not be accepted. For undergraduate applications, the supporting documents must therefore be submitted by 9 October 2026.
Step 8: Pay the Unisa Application Fee
The Unisa application fee is R160 for online and self-help applications. The application fee is non-refundable, including where:
- You decide not to study at Unisa.
- You do not meet the admission requirements.
- Your application is unsuccessful.
Only first-time Unisa applicants are required to pay the application fee. Applicants who have previously paid an application fee to Unisa do not have to pay it again. Unisa also states that the application fee for the 2027 academic year will not be accepted after the closing date. An application will not be processed until the required application fee has been paid and the supporting documents have been uploaded.
Can Grade 12 Learners Apply for Unisa 2027?
- Yes. Learners completing Grade 12 in 2026 can apply for undergraduate study at Unisa for the 2027 academic year.
- The application period for these applicants runs from 17 August to 9 October 2026.
- Eligible Grade 12 learners should not wait until their final matric results are released before applying if they can apply during the current application period.
What Happens After Applying?
Submitting an application does not mean that an applicant has automatically been accepted. Unisa assesses applications based on factors including:
- Admission requirements for the selected qualification.
- Academic results and APS.
- Available spaces in the qualification.
Some qualifications have limited capacity, meaning that meeting the minimum requirements does not necessarily result in an offer of admission. Unisa will communicate the outcome after the application has been processed.
What Happens If Unisa Accepts Your Application?
- If an application is successful, Unisa will make an offer for a particular qualification.
- Applicants must accept or decline the offer within 10 working days from the date of the offer. If the applicant does not respond within this period, the offer will be withdrawn and the space will be lost.
- First-time Unisa applicants must also complete the university’s First-Year Experience MOOC (FYE MOOC) before accepting an offer.
- If an applicant receives offers for more than one qualification choice, only one offer can be accepted.
Does Applying Guarantee Admission?
- No. Applying to Unisa does not guarantee admission.
- Applicants must meet the requirements for their chosen qualification, but Unisa also considers the number of available spaces.
- The university states that meeting the general or qualification-specific admission requirements does not guarantee that an applicant will receive a space for the 2027 academic year.
Unisa Honours and Postgraduate Diploma Applications 2027
Applications for honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas opened on 17 August 2026 and close on 9 October 2026. The application period applies to first-time applicants, current students changing qualifications or specialisations, and students completing an undergraduate qualification who want to continue with postgraduate studies.
Unisa Master’s and Doctoral Applications 2027
Applications for master’s and doctoral qualifications opened on 1 September 2026. The general closing date is 20 November 2026. However, some selection degrees and other master’s and doctoral qualifications may have different application periods. Applicants should therefore check the specific qualification before relying on the general closing date.
Will Unisa Accept Late Applications?
Applicants should not rely on late applications. Unisa states that applications must be submitted during the prescribed application period. Applicants who do not apply during the relevant application period may need to wait for the next application period. For undergraduate qualifications, honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas, applicants should therefore aim to complete the application process by 9 October 2026.
Unisa 2027 Application Checklist
Before submitting your application, make sure you have:
- Selected suitable qualifications.
- Checked the admission and APS requirements.
- Prepared the required supporting documents.
- Completed the online application.
- Uploaded all required documents before the deadline.
- Paid the R160 application fee, if you are a first-time Unisa applicant.
- Monitored your application and email for updates.
Apply for Unisa 2027
Applications for the 2027 academic year are currently open. Undergraduate qualifications: 17 August – 9 October 2026 Honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas: 17 August – 9 October 2026, Master’s and doctoral qualifications: 1 September – 20 November 2026, subject to exceptions for some qualifications.
Official Unisa Application Portal
Applicants can access the official application page here: Unisa Apply for Admission: https://unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission, Applicants should prepare their documents, confirm the requirements for their preferred qualification and submit their applications before the applicable closing date.
