Honours degrees & postgraduate diplomas

Application for admission starts here Step 1 Are you ready for ODeL, Unisa and postgraduate studies? Step 2 Choose or find your qualification Step 3 Apply for admission Step 4 Application outcome

FAQs for honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas: application for admission

Applying for admission


Who must apply for admission?

Everyone wanting to start a new qualification must apply for admission.

This includes

  • first-time Unisa applicants.
  • Unisa students changing to a new qualification and/or changing the specialisation (stream) of the current qualification.
  • applicants completing an undergraduate qualification who wish to continue with postgraduate studies.
  • applicants who wish to be considered via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), must apply for admission to their qualification of choice and use the "declined letter" to commence with their application via the RPL office.

You must apply for admission if you previously applied for admission and received feedback, but did not register for any reason.

Please note: If you were registered for the same qualification in the previous academic year, you do not need to re-apply for admission. You may proceed to register when registration opens for the next academic year. 


When can I apply?

Applications for admission to honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas for the 2025 academic year to be open from 21 August to 11 October 2024. 


For how many qualifications may I apply?

You may apply for a maximum of two qualifications, ranked in order of preference (although you may only register for one should both of your applications be successful). Please ensure that you meet all the admission requirements before applying for your qualification(s) of choice. If you applied for two qualifications, please wait for both to be processed and then accept your preferred choice for the 2025 academic year. Once you accept an offer, you will not be able to change your choice.

If you receive an offer for a qualification and accept the offer, the other qualification for which you may have applied (if not processed simultaneously) will automatically fall away and will not be processed. Should you wish for the other qualification to also be processed, please send an e-mail to the e-mail address of the college under which your qualification resides (eg if you choose the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences, you should use the cashons@unisa.ac.za e-mail address). Please do not send your e-mail to multiple e-mail addresses.


How do I apply?

Visit the Unisa application website (www.unisa.ac.za/applyHONS) and follow the 4-step process. All applications for honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas must be submitted online. No hard copy or e-mail applications will be accepted.


I studied previously through Unisa. Must I also submit my academic record?

If you previously studied through Unisa, you do not need to upload your academic record. If, however, you studied through another university or institution, please upload your academic record as part of the application process. Your academic record does not need to be certified.

A final-year student from another university/institution must provide an academic record which states that your qualification has been completed. Please send the document to the relevant college e-mail address by 31 January 2025 and include your student number in the subject line of the e-mail. Academic records received after this date will only be processed if there are still spaces available for the qualification.


Will I still be able to submit any outstanding documents after applications have closed?

No. Unisa will not accept any late applications or documents submitted after the closing date for applications, unless specifically requested by the university. An exception will be made for international students who applied at SAQA and are awaiting their SAQA certificate of evaluation. The SAQA certificate of evaluation must be e-mailed to the relevant college e-mail address by 15 December 2025. Applicants waiting for results from other institutions will also be able to e-mail their complete academic records, stating that they have completed their qualifications, by 15 December 2025. 

Please remember to include your student number in the subject line of the e-mail. 


Check the status of your application 

Check the status of your application here. 


I want to appeal the outcome of my application. What should I do?

  • You can submit your appeal online. Appeals will only be considered after the closing date for applications and only if there are still spaces available. 
  • If you do not meet the minimum admission requirements for your qualification of choice, you are advised to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), provided that you are 23 years of age or older with at least 5 years current and relevant work experience related to the qualification you wish to pursue. Prior learning should have been gained through one or more of the following means: research experience, workplace learning, information/non-formal learning, company/industry-based training, working with experts or life experience. 

Fees and student funding


Is there an application fee? If so, how much is it?

The application fee for online applications is R140,00.


Please note:

  • The application fee is only applicable to students who do not have a formal Unisa student number.
    * Student numbers issued for short learning programmes are not formal Unisa student numbers. If you have a student number issued by the Graduate School of Business Leadership, please ensure that you pay the application fee during the application process to receive a formal Unisa student number.
  • The application fee is a once-off fee. Once you have paid the application fee and received a formal Unisa student number, you do not need to pay the application fee again.
  • Use the student number you receive from Unisa AND the application fee reference number (ie STUDENTNUMBER 5370810030). Visit www.unisa.ac.za/paymentinfo for banking details and payment information. 
  • International students are advised to use the Flywire payment option. 
  • The due date for the application fee is the closing date for the application period. Any application submitted without an application fee will not be processed. Please ensure that you keep a copy of your proof of payment.
  • This application fee is non-refundable even if you decide not to study through Unisa or do not qualify for admission to Unisa.


Is the application fee subject to a cooling-off period?

No and it is not refundable. 

I applied in the previous application period but did not upload the required supporting documents and/or pay the application fee. What must I do?

You must apply for admission during the next application period. Your student number allocated to you as part of your previous application remains valid. You must pay the application fee (if you have not done so yet) and/or upload all supporting documents with the new application.

After applying for admission


I’ve applied. What happens now?

  • Unisa will assess your application according to the academic admission requirements of your qualification of choice and the final mark received for your major subjects at undergraduate level.
  • Unisa will inform you whether or not your application was successful and the qualification(s) for which you have been accepted.
  • If your application is successful, Unisa will offer you a space for the qualification for which you applied.
  • First-time applicants to Unisa must complete the First-Year Experience MOOC (massive open online course). You will not be able to access Unisa's offer if you have not completed Unisa's free online MOOC.
  • If you accept Unisa's offer for the 2025 academic year, you may only register for the qualification and specialisation for which you received an offer. Should you decide not to register for the 2025 academic year for any reason, you will need to apply for the 2025 academic year.
  • Unisa reserves the right to withdraw any offer for admission to the 2025 academic year should it be found that you do not meet the statutory, college and/or minimum admission requirements for the qualification to which you have been admitted. In such a case, if you are already registered, the university will refund any registration fees paid towards said qualification.


When can I expect feedback on my online application?

The verification of applications takes some time. Applications follow a formal selection and approval process, which may take up to three months to be finalised.

Unisa will assess your application. You may be offered a space for the 2025 academic year based on the following: whether you meet the academic admission requirements for your qualification of choice, your minimum academic score (AS) and the number of places available for the qualification for which you have applied.

Please note:

  • If you do not qualify for admission, you will get feedback as soon as your application is processed. 
  • Based on Unisa's application and selection process outlined above, you may not automatically be accepted to study through Unisa in 2025 even if you meet the minimum admission criteria.
  • If you qualify for admission, you will only receive final feedback as to whether or not Unisa will offer you a space for the 2025 academic year once all applications received by the closing date for applications have been processed.


I've received an offer. What must I do?

  1. First-time applicants to Unisa must complete the First-Year Experience MOOC (massive open online course). The aim of the FYE MOOC (UOL009-FYE101_2024) is to orientate and prepare first-time entering students so that they can successfully undertake their studies at Unisa. Please note: You will not be able to accept Unisa's offer (step 2 below) if you have not completed Unisa's free online MOOC.
  2. You must accept or decline Unisa's offer for the 2025 academic year within the prescribed timeframe (usually 10 calendar days is allowed, unless otherwise indicated in the offer e-mail). To accept or decline Unisa's offer, go to www.unisa.ac.za/acceptoffer
    *Unisa reserves the right to withdraw an offer if you don't accept within the time period indicated in the offer e-mail.


I’ve applied for one qualification, but now want to change to another qualification. What should I do?

It is, unfortunately, not possible to change your qualification once you have submitted your application. If you only applied for one qualification and would like to add another honours or postgraduate diploma option, you may send an e-mail to pgd@unisa.ac.za  Remember to include your student number in the subject line of your e-mail. 


My application for admission to Unisa was unsuccessful. What can I do?

If your application for admission to a qualification or to both qualifications of choice is declined, you may appeal the outcome of your application, either on the basis that you believe the decision was an error on the part of the university or that further supporting documents may result in a different outcome regarding your application for admission.

Please note:

  • You have 10 days from the date on which you receive the outcome of your application to submit an appeal online. Failure to file an appeal in the prescribed timeframe constitutes a waiver of the right to lodge an appeal.
  • Not uploading required supporting documents during the application process or where the qualification is under enrolment management are not regarded as grounds for an appeal.
  • If your application was rejected based on you not meeting the minimum admission requirements of your qualification of choice, you are advised to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), provided that you are 23 years of age or older with at least 5 years current and relevant work experience related to the qualification you wish to pursue. Prior learning should have been gained through one of more of the following means: research experience, workplace learning, information/non-formal learning, company/industry-based training, working with experts or life experience. 

Registration


What are the dates for the compulsory Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGD) study school at the SBL?

A one-week compulsory study school is planned for February 2025. More comprehensive information will be provided in the acceptance letter. Please ensure that you are registered before the commencement of the study school.


I want to register, but didn’t apply during the application period. What should I do?

Unisa will accept applications for admission to honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas for the 2025 academic year from 19 August to 11 October 2024. 

Please note that most honours and postgraduate diploma modules are year modules and will, therefore, only be open for applications during the next academic year. Applications for admission to the Graduate School of Business Leadership's Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration and a limited number of honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas are available for the second semester.


I have one or more undergraduate modules outstanding for my undergraduate qualification, but would like to register for some honours degree modules (concurrent registration). Is this possible?

To be considered, the following criteria apply:

  • You must have applied for the relevant honours degree during the prescribed application period.
  • The maximum of two outstanding modules may not be your major subjects for your undergraduate qualification. 
  • You must be currently registered for the outstanding undergraduate modules. 

I need to defer my studies (put my studies on hold). When and how can I do this?

Unisa's Admission Policy (par 4) allows a student to defer his or her studies for a maximum period of two years, except in exceptional circumstances determined by the Executive Dean of the College where the student is registered or the Registrar. A student who wishes to defer his or her studies must, before the closing date for re-registration for a particular year, submit a substantiated application to the Registrar using the application for deferment of studies form on the Unisa website. Such deferment must be recommended by the Chair of the Department and Executive Dean of the College concerned and, if granted, is for a period of one year only, after which a further application must be submitted. Deferment will not be granted more than twice, except in exceptional circumstances determined by the Executive Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Periods during which a student is permitted by the university to defer his or her studies will not be taken into account when calculating a student's period of registration.