Applications to the University of South Africa (Unisa) for the 2027 academic year are open, giving prospective students an opportunity to apply for undergraduate qualifications, honours degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master’s degrees and doctoral qualifications.
If you want to study at Unisa in 2027, it is important to submit your application before the applicable closing date and make sure that all required supporting documents are uploaded.
For undergraduate qualifications, honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas, applications opened on 17 August 2026 and close on 9 October 2026.
This guide explains the Unisa 2027 application dates, requirements, application fee, documents needed and how to apply online step by step.
Unisa Application Dates for 2027
Unisa has different application periods depending on the level of study.
| Qualification | Opening Date | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate qualifications | 17 August 2026 | 9 October 2026 |
| Honours degrees & postgraduate diplomas | 17 August 2026 | 9 October 2026 |
| Master’s & doctoral qualifications | 1 September 2026 | 20 November 2026 |
| Short Learning Programmes | 2 November 2026 | Check individual programme |
Unisa notes that some master’s and doctoral selection degrees and other qualifications have different application periods. Applicants should therefore check the deadline for their specific qualification.
Who Must Apply to Unisa for 2027?
Applying is not only for students who have never studied at Unisa before.
You must apply for admission if you are:
- Applying to Unisa for the first time.
- A current Unisa student who wants to change to a new qualification or specialisation.
- Someone who previously applied but was not offered a space.
- Someone who previously received an offer but did not register.
- Completing a Higher Certificate and want to continue with another undergraduate qualification.
- Planning to study through a TVET college under the Unisa-TVET agreement.
Unisa confirms that everyone wanting to start a new qualification must submit an application during the prescribed application period.
How to Apply at Unisa for 2027
The Unisa application process is completed online.
Step 1: Choose Your Qualification
Before starting your application, decide what you want to study.
Check the admission requirements for the qualification, including the required Admission Point Score (APS) and any subject-specific requirements.
Unisa allows undergraduate applicants to apply for a maximum of three qualifications. This means you can select alternatives in case you are not offered a place in your first choice. (University of South Africa)
You can search the available qualifications through the official Unisa website.
Step 2: Check That You Meet the Requirements
Do not apply for a qualification without first checking its requirements.
Admission depends on whether you meet the statutory requirements, college-specific requirements and the required APS for your selected qualification.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee admission because some qualifications have limited spaces.
Step 3: Prepare Your Documents
Prepare your supporting documents before starting your online application.
Undergraduate applicants starting a new qualification will generally need:
- Copy of school qualifications, such as the National Senior Certificate or Senior Certificate.
- Copy of official tertiary academic records, if applicable.
- Copy of South African ID for South African applicants.
- Passport or relevant identification for international applicants.
- Marriage certificate or divorce decree, if applicable.
- Sworn translations if documents are not in English or Afrikaans.
Some qualifications may require additional documents.
Step 4: Prepare Your Documents in the Correct Format
Unisa has specific requirements for documents uploaded during the application.
Each document must be uploaded as an individual file rather than combining everything into one large document.
Files must not exceed 2MB each and should be submitted in one of the accepted formats: PDF, DOC or TIF. Unisa also instructs applicants to submit black-and-white documents and ensure that everything uploaded is clear and legible. (University of South Africa)
Step 5: Start Your Unisa Online Application
Once your documents are ready, go to the official application page:
Select the appropriate category, such as:
Undergraduate qualifications
Honours degrees & postgraduate diplomas
Master’s & doctoral degrees
Follow the online instructions and enter your personal and academic information carefully.
Make sure your name, ID number, cellphone number and email address are correct.
Step 6: Choose Up to Three Qualifications
Undergraduate applicants may apply for up to three qualifications, ranked according to preference.
Choose carefully.
Consider using your second and third choices strategically. For example, if your first choice has highly competitive requirements, you could consider including a related qualification with different entry requirements among your alternatives.
However, you may ultimately register for only one qualification if you receive multiple offers.
Step 7: Upload Your Supporting Documents
Upload all required supporting documents during the application process.
This is an important step because Unisa states that the deadline for uploading supporting documents is also the application closing date.
Documents submitted after the closing date will not be accepted.
For undergraduate applications, this means the required documents should be submitted by 9 October 2026.
Step 8: Pay the Unisa Application Fee
The Unisa application fee for online and self-help applications is R160.
The fee is non-refundable, even if:
- You decide not to study at Unisa.
- You do not meet the admission requirements.
- Your application is unsuccessful.
Only first-time Unisa applicants are required to pay the application fee. Applicants who previously paid an application fee to Unisa do not have to pay it again.
Importantly, Unisa states that application fees for the 2027 academic year will not be accepted after the closing date.
An application will also not be processed until the required application fee has been paid and supporting documents have been uploaded.
Can Grade 12 Learners Apply to Unisa for 2027?
Yes.
Learners completing Grade 12 in 2026 can apply to study at Unisa in 2027.
Unisa specifically confirms that learners completing Grade 12 in 2026 may submit undergraduate applications between 17 August and 9 October 2026.
Do not wait until your final matric results are released before applying if you are eligible to apply during the current application period.
What Happens After You Apply?
Submitting an application does not mean you have automatically been accepted.
Unisa assesses applications according to factors including:
- Admission requirements for the qualification.
- Your academic results and APS.
- Available spaces in the qualification.
Some qualifications have limited capacity, which means an applicant who meets the minimum requirements may still not receive a place.
Unisa will communicate the outcome of your application once it has been processed.
What Happens If Unisa Accepts You?
If your application is successful, Unisa will make you an offer for a particular qualification.
You must accept or decline the offer within 10 working days from the date of the offer. If you fail to respond within this period, Unisa states that the offer will be withdrawn and you will lose the space.
First-time Unisa applicants must also complete the university’s First-Year Experience MOOC (FYE MOOC) before they can accept an offer.
If you receive offers for more than one of your qualification choices, you can only accept one offer. Once an offer is accepted, the other offers fall away.
Does Applying to Unisa Guarantee Acceptance?
No.
Admission is not automatic.
You must meet the requirements for your chosen qualification, but Unisa also considers the number of spaces available.
The university specifically states that meeting the general or qualification-specific admission requirements does not guarantee that you will receive a space for the 2027 academic year.
This makes it important to select your three qualification choices carefully.
Unisa Honours and Postgraduate Diploma Applications 2027
Students interested in an Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma can apply between:
Opening date: 17 August 2026
Closing date: 9 October 2026
This includes first-time Unisa applicants, current students changing qualifications or specialisations, and students in the final year of an undergraduate qualification who want to continue with postgraduate studies.
Unisa Master’s and Doctoral Applications 2027
Applications for master’s and doctoral qualifications are open from:
1 September to 20 November 2026
Applicants should note that selection degrees and some other master’s and doctoral qualifications may have different application periods.
Always check the specific qualification before assuming that the general closing date applies.
Will Unisa Accept Late Applications for 2027?
Students should not rely on late applications.
Unisa states that applications must be submitted during the prescribed application period. Its undergraduate FAQ also says that students who did not apply during the application period will need to apply during the next application period.
For undergraduate qualifications, honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas, applicants should therefore aim to complete everything by 9 October 2026.
Unisa Applications 2027: Important Dates to Remember
The main deadline prospective students need to remember is 9 October 2026 for undergraduate qualifications, honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas.
Master’s and doctoral applicants generally have until 20 November 2026, although some qualifications have different dates.
Applicants should make sure that they:
- Choose suitable qualifications.
- Check admission and APS requirements.
- Prepare all supporting documents.
- Complete the online application.
- Upload the required documents before the deadline.
- Pay the R160 application fee if they are a first-time Unisa applicant.
- Monitor their application and email for updates.
Apply for Unisa 2027
Applications are currently open for the 2027 academic year.
Official Unisa 2027 Application Portal
Undergraduate applications: 17 August – 9 October 2026
Honours & Postgraduate Diploma applications: 17 August – 9 October 2026
Master’s & Doctoral applications: 1 September – 20 November 2026, with exceptions for some qualifications.
Don’t wait until the closing date. Prepare your documents, check the requirements for your preferred qualifications and submit your application while applications are open.