What You Need to Know About Walter Sisulu University
Walter Sisulu University (WSU) sits across four towns in the Eastern Cape: Mthatha, Butterworth, Buffalo City, and Komani. It’s known for practical degrees in health sciences, education, business, and technology. WSU is all about lifting up rural communities with hands-on courses that actually get you work. If you’re looking for a university that feels like home but still pushes you, WSU is a real option.
WSU isn’t one of those places where you need insane marks for every single course. Some degrees, like Medicine, are tough to get into, but there are also solid options for you if your APS is mid-range or if you want to start with a diploma. With about 30,000 students, you’ll meet people from all over the province.
What APS Do You Need?
APS is everything at WSU, but it’s not the same for every course. If you want to study Medicine, you need at least 30 APS with 60% or higher for Maths, Physical Science, and Life Science. Nursing needs 24 APS and you can get in with Maths Lit, but some science subjects still need decent marks. Most education and diploma courses start from 18 APS up, but the subject requirements can trip you up, so check if your subjects match.
If you’re aiming for business, like Accountancy, you need around 21 APS and at least 40% for Maths. For teaching or community education, Maths Lit is fine, but for science degrees, you must have pure Maths. WSU uses your best six subjects, and Life Orientation only counts for education qualifications.
How to Apply
I know online portals can be a nightmare, but take it step-by-step and you’ll be fine. Apply at the WSU application portal on their website: https://www.wsu.ac.za/. There’s no application fee, so you don’t need to stress about scraping together cash just to apply. Have your ID, matric results, and any extra certificates ready to upload.
Applications open 15 January 2025. The key deadlines are 30 September 2025 for international applicants, and 31 October 2025 for South Africans. Registration happens online and ends 30 January 2026. If you forget your PIN, there’s a reset link on the site. Everything is online, so you don’t need to line up on campus.
Fees and Funding
Fees depend on your course, and you can see the exact numbers on the WSU fees page. For registration, you might need a minimum initial payment (MIP) of either R5,000 or more, depending on your course and debt status. If you’re self-funded and owe nothing, just pay the MIP and you’re set to register.
NSFAS is available if your family income fits, and there are extra bursaries like the Hexagon Trust and IMESA Bursary for Engineering. Don’t sleep on those—apply early. If you’re funding yourself or using Fundi, make sure your payments are sorted before registration.
Life on Campus
WSU has residences in all four towns, but you need to apply early because they fill up fast. For some campuses, like Butterworth or Mthatha, res fees can be around R17,500 to R46,400 for the year, depending on the residence. The uni is pushing campaigns to help with food security, like the GreenGrow competition and the NO! to Student Hunger project, so you won’t be left alone if things get tight.
Getting to class isn’t too bad, especially if you live in res. If you’re commuting, taxis and local transport are common around the campuses. There’s a strong sense of community, especially for rural students who might be away from home for the first time.
Not sure if your marks are enough? Use our free APS calculator to check where you stand.