Prospective students descend on Unisa KZN, desperate to secure a space for 2025

Thousands of students who have passed matric and are hoping to further their studies at institutions of higher learning could have their dreams shattered by the critical shortage of spaces at many institutions around the country.

Many school-leavers obtained very good 2024 matric results. However, Unisa, like other institutions of higher education in the country, cannot accommodate all those who applied to study at this public university.

Current and prospective students in a computer lab, using the self-help system to register

Every year in January, the media reports extensively on the hopeless situation in which thousands of matriculants find themselves – that of having qualified for entry into a degree programme at a university, yet still not being able to be accepted at any of the public universities in South Africa due to competition for limited space for the first year. Unisa, as the largest open distance learning institution in Africa and the world's longest-standing dedicated distance education institution, enrols nearly one-third of South African students in higher education. This situation is unlikely to change any time soon, and universities will, for the foreseeable future, continue to accept only a fraction of matriculant first-time entry applications.

Prospective students in a queue, waiting to be assisted

In the university’s KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Region, a noticeable increase in the number of applicants was observed when registration was opened, and current and prospective students were allowed to visit various offices across the region, namely, the Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Newcastle, and Richards Bay offices. Students visit Unisa offices to seek help and advice regarding several issues, especially their application outcome status, which programmes they can be accepted into with their matric results and how they can improve their matric results. Returning Unisa students are interested in getting information about study material collection and finding out for which modules they are eligible for registration, given their 2024 examination results.

Dr Joyce Myeza, the Regional Director, said the university's regional management will always be there to assist students whenever necessary and possible. She said there must be a commitment on the part of students to study hard and to ensure that they embark on their studies and succeed. She said students should seek out relevant information, bearing in mind that Unisa is a comprehensive open, distance and e-learning (CODeL) institution that requires dedication and commitment from students since daily face-to-face lectures are not part of the distance and e-learning delivery mode. She urged students to make use of the various support services and facilities provided by the university, such as student administration services, the Unisa Library, counselling services, facilitation of learning (tutorials) and computer laboratories.

Andile Ndlela, Acting SRC Chairperson (in a red cap), with other students during registration

Andile Ndlela, Acting Chairperson of the KZN Region Student Representative Council (SRC), said the 2025 registrations across all offices in the KZN Region were successful even though the number of walk-ins increased, and queries were more complex than in the past. The SRC expressed the view that petty issues, including undue control by security and a lack of printers, resulted in students leaving without having received assistance. The SRC also pointed out that there is limited support for rural villagers who lack access to information about Unisa’s offerings.

The SRC thanked the dedicated university staff who prepared and coordinated this registration period better than in previous years, even if certain issues still require attention, such as the need for better planning for peak periods and the need to address logistical concerns.

The message from the SRC was that they warmly welcome all new and returning students and encourage students to participate in induction and orientation activities organised to equip them with strategies to navigate this academic year, to pass their assignments and examinations and, ultimately, to finish their qualifications and graduate.

* By Siyabonga Seme, Manager: Communication and Marketing, KZN Region