Apply for admission

Are you ready to apply for admission?

Who must apply?

Everyone wanting to start a new qualification and/or a new specialisation/stream must apply for admission.
Applicants in their final year of study towards an undergraduate qualification must apply for admission.
Applicants who wish to be considered via the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process, must apply for admission to their qualification of choice and use the "decline letter" to commence with their application via the RPL office.

When may I apply?

Apply for admission to honours degrees or postgraduate diplomas for the 2026 academic year between 3 November and 19 December 2025.

What do I need to know before I apply?

Check that you qualify for admission and that you have the necessary documents ready to upload during the application process.

I am sure...

that I meet the statutory and college admission requirements for my qualification(s) of choice.

that I have a valid e-mail address and cellphone number, and I accept that Unisa will communicate with me during the application process using this e-mail address and cellphone number.

Please only provide one e-mail address and one cellphone number during the application process.
If you previously studied through Unisa, Unisa will communicate with you via your myLife e-mail address.

I have the following documents scanned & uploaded to an electronic device:

All applicants starting a new qualification must upload all the required documents, which generally consists of the following:

Copy of your official tertiary academic record(s) (if applicable) (internet copies will not be accepted)
* International students must also upload a copy of the university ledger (grading scale).
** If you obtained your qualifications outside the borders of South Africa, your qualifications need to be evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). You may still apply for admission without the SAQA certificate of evaluation. If you’re accepted for the 2026 academic year, you’ll be allowed to register, but you must submit your SAQA certificate by 15 December 2026. To apply for a SAQA certificate of evaluation, please visit https://www.saqa.org.za
*** Final-year students (excluding Unisa students) who do not yet have an official academic record indicating completion of qualification must upload the official academic record to Unisa.

Copy of your ID document (RSA students) or ID/passport (international students)

Copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable) or divorce decree (if applicable)

Sworn translations of documents if they are not in English or Afrikaans

Some qualifications may require additional documents. Unisa reserves the right to request original documents and/to verify the correctness of submitted documents at any time. Submitting fraudulent documents is an offence in terms of the Student Disciplinary Code.

I am sure that my documents are scanned according to the rules

Follow the instructions carefully when completing your online application:

Only upload the required documents.
Make sure that you the documents as individual files, not as one big file.
Double-check that everything you upload is clear and legible.

Files may not be bigger than 2MB (2048KB) each.

Only submit black and white documents.

Only the following file types are allowed: PDF (Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format file), DOC (Word) or TIF (image file).

How to apply?

1. Go to the online application system

2. Upload supporting documents

Everyone applying for a new qualification must submit the required documents (all first-time applicants and Unisa students starting a new qualification).
The due date for uploading the required documents is the closing date for applications. No documents submitted after the closing date for applications will be accepted.
Unisa does not provide scanners or electronic devices. Please ensure that your documents are scanned and uploaded to an electronic device before starting the application process.

3. Pay the application fee

R150.00 for online applications.
Pay the application fee once you have received a student number from Unisa.
Send the proof of payment to susdepid@unisa.ac.za
Visit www.unisa.ac.za/feepayment for banking details and payment information.

Use the student number you receive from Unisa AND the application fee allocation number as your reference number
For example:
STUDENTNUMBER, space, 5370810030

PLEASE NOTE:

This fee is non-refundable even if you decide not to study through Unisa, do not qualify for admission to Unisa or cannot be offered a space due to limited spaces available.

Unisa does not provide cashier services and the payment should be made via bank deposit or online channels.

The due date for the application fee is the closing date for the application period. Any application submitted without an application fee paid on time will not be processed. Please ensure that you keep a copy of your proof of payment.

4. Make sure your application is complete

If your application for admission to study through Unisa is incomplete, you will have to re-apply during the next application period.

Honours degrees & postgraduate diplomas