The full process for the 2027 intake: documents you need, direct vs CAO applications, application fees per university, residence and bursary timing.
Calculate your APS for each university you're targeting, decide whether the institution uses direct application (most universities) or the Central Applications Office (CAO) (KZN universities and a few private institutions). Gather certified documents (ID, latest school report, application fee proof), pay the application fee where applicable, and submit before the closing date. Apply separately for residence and funding (NSFAS, Funza Lushaka, bursaries).
Applying to varsity is stressful, but taking it one step at a time makes it manageable. Work through the list below in order, and save every reference number you get.
Each SA university uses its own APS formula. Use the NavyBlue APS Calculator to see your score at every university so you can target a realistic mix of safety, target and reach choices.
Open the relevant tool →Most universities take applications via their own portal. UKZN, DUT, MUT, UNIZULU, MANCOSA and Eduvos use the Central Applications Office (CAO), one application covers all six.
Open the relevant tool →Certified ID, latest school report (Grade 11 or first half of Grade 12), proof of payment of the application fee. International applicants also need a passport, study visa where applicable, and a USAf exemption letter.
Most fees sit between R100 and R600. UCT, UJ, UP and UKZN waive fees for SA citizens applying online. CAO charges R250 SA / R300 international (R470/R580 after 1 November).
Most universities open applications between March and May, and close between June and September. Early-closing programmes (Medicine, Actuarial Sciences, BCom CA) close even earlier. Apply early.
Open the relevant tool →Most universities run residence applications as a separate process. NSFAS opens in September and closes in January. Bursary deadlines vary by funder.
Two routes exist. Pick the right one for the universities on your shortlist.
You apply on each university's own portal. Used by UCT, Wits, UP, Stellenbosch, UJ, NWU, UWC, Rhodes, UFS, NMU, TUT, CPUT, VUT, CUT, UFH, UL, UMP, SPU, UniVen, UNISA, WSU and SMU.
One application = one university. Apply to 3 to 5 to maximise your chances. NavyBlue's status checker hub links to every university's tracking page.
One application covers UKZN, DUT, MUT, UNIZULU plus selected private institutions (MANCOSA, Eduvos). You can list up to six programme choices. Administration fee R250 SA / R300 international (R470 / R580 after 1 November).
Apply on cao.ac.za →Standard checklist for South African applicants. International applicants add a passport and study visa.
Approximate fees for the 2027 intake. Check the official university admissions page for exact details before you pay.
| University | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UCT | Free for SA citizens (online) | International applicants pay R100. |
| Wits | R100 | International R700. |
| UP | Free for SA citizens (online) | International R350. |
| Stellenbosch (SUN) | R100 | International R750. |
| UJ | Free for SA citizens (online) | International R200 (online). |
| NWU | Free for SA citizens (online) | International R750. |
| UWC | Free for SA citizens | International R300 (online). |
| Rhodes (RU) | Free | International applicants have a separate process. |
| UFS | Free for SA citizens (online) | International R200. |
| NMU | Free for SA citizens (online) | International R600. |
| CAO (UKZN, DUT, MUT, UNIZULU) | R250 SA / R300 International | R470 / R580 after 1 November. |
| TUT | R240 (online) / R300 (manual) | International applicants R600. |
| CPUT | R100 | Free if Quintile 1-3 school. |
| UMP | Free for SA citizens (online) | International R600. |
| SPU | Free | Confirm on spu.ac.za. |
| SMU | R200 | International R500. |
These run separately from your academic application. Apply for them in parallel, not after.
Most universities run residence applications on a separate accommodation portal. Places are competitive and assigned by a mix of academic merit, financial need and home distance. Apply at the same time as your academic application. NSFAS-accredited private accommodation is also available where on-campus residence is full.
NSFAS opens applications in September and closes in January. Combined household income must be R350 000 or less. Funza Lushaka (teaching) closes early February. SETA, corporate and university merit bursaries close at varying times from March onward. See the Before you apply guide for the full funding overview.
Application windows vary by university and by programme. Selection programmes (medicine, actuarial sciences, BCom Accounting Sciences) close earliest.
NavyBlue tracks every public university's application window (opening, closing and faculty deadlines) in one place. Updated as universities publish their cycles.
Open the key-dates directory →Calculate your APS for each university, decide whether the institution uses direct application (most universities) or the Central Applications Office (KZN universities + a few private institutions), gather certified documents (ID, latest school report, application fee proof), pay the application fee where applicable, and submit before the deadline. Apply for residence and funding (NSFAS, Funza Lushaka, bursaries) separately.
Most universities need four things: a certified copy of your ID (passport for international applicants), your latest school report (Grade 11 final or Grade 12 first-term), proof that you've paid the application fee, and your final NSC results once they're out. Bursaries, residence and selection programmes (medicine portfolios, art portfolios, music auditions) can ask for extra documents. Keep certifications fresh, most universities want them within 3 months.
The Central Applications Office (CAO) is a single portal for KwaZulu-Natal universities and a few private institutions. One CAO application covers UKZN, DUT, MUT, UNIZULU, MANCOSA and Eduvos. CAO charges R250 for SA citizens and R300 for international applicants. After 1 November the fees go up to R470 / R580.
Yes. Most South African universities open applications based on Grade 11 final results or Grade 12 mid-year marks. Any offer is conditional on your final NSC results meeting or exceeding the cut-off. Selection for competitive programmes (medicine, actuarial science, BCom Accounting Sciences) often happens before final results, so applying early with strong Grade 11 marks matters.
Application fees vary a lot. UCT, UP, UJ, NWU, UWC and a few others waive the fee for SA citizens applying online. Wits charges R100, Stellenbosch R100, TUT R240, SMU R200. The CAO (KZN universities) charges R250 SA / R300 international, rising to R470 / R580 after 1 November. International applicants usually pay R200 to R750 depending on the institution.
Some universities accept late applications if there's still capacity, usually at a higher fee. CAO charges R470 SA / R580 international after 1 November. UNISA opens late windows. TVET colleges usually run rolling applications. Selection programmes like medicine and actuarial sciences close hard and don't reopen.
Yes, at almost every university. You open a residence application on the uni's accommodation portal. Acceptance depends on a mix of academic merit, financial need (NSFAS) and how far you live from campus. Apply for res at the same time as you apply academically, spaces fill long before the year starts.
The big ones: missing the deadline (selection programmes close first), uncertified or expired copies (keep them under 3 months old), applying to only one place, mixing up Maths Lit and Pure Maths, and uploading wrong file types. Apply to 3 to 5 universities with a mix of safety, target and reach choices. It's safer to check your application status weekly so you catch requests for extra documents.
Once your applications are in, the next step is tracking responses, interpreting offers, responding by the deadline and knowing your fallback options if you don't get the offer you wanted.
Step 3: After you apply →NavyBlue's live application directory shows opening dates, closing dates and faculty deadlines for every public university in SA.
Open the key-dates directory