Applications to study at the University of Mpumalanga for the 2027 academic year are open, and prospective students should prepare all their supporting documents before starting the online application.
Missing, incorrect or unreadable documents may prevent an application from being completed or assessed. Applicants should therefore scan or photograph their documents clearly and save them in one of the formats accepted by UMP.
Here is everything you need to prepare before applying.
Documents Required for a UMP Application
The University of Mpumalanga requires applicants to upload electronic copies of the following documents:
- A certified copy of your South African identity document
- A certified copy of your Senior Certificate or National Senior Certificate
- Certified copies of any other relevant academic documents
- Proof of payment of the non-refundable application fee
- Academic records or transcripts if you previously studied at another institution
- A certified copy of your passport if you are an international applicant
- Additional programme-specific documents where required
UMP states that applicants must have electronic copies of their identity document, school-leaving certificate and other relevant documents ready before beginning the application.
Documents Needed by Current Grade 12 Learners
Applicants who are currently completing Grade 12 should generally prepare:
- A certified copy of their identity document
- Their latest available Grade 11 or Grade 12 school results
- Proof of payment of the application fee
- Any additional documents requested for their chosen programme
Current matric learners may apply using their latest available results. However, final admission will depend on their final National Senior Certificate results and whether they meet the requirements for the programme.
Applicants must capture their school-leaving subjects during the online application process.
Documents Needed by Applicants Who Have Completed Matric
Applicants who have already completed Grade 12 should prepare:
- A certified copy of their identity document
- A certified copy of their National Senior Certificate
- Proof of payment of the application fee
- Any other relevant certificates or supporting documents
Make sure that your certificate is complete and that all subjects, marks and personal details are visible.
Applicants who completed matric under an older examination system may need to upload their Senior Certificate instead of a National Senior Certificate.
Documents Needed by Transfer Students
Applicants who are currently studying or have previously studied at another university, college or higher education institution may need:
- A certified copy of their identity document or passport
- A certified copy of their National Senior Certificate
- A complete academic transcript
- A certificate of conduct, where requested
- Proof of previous qualifications
- Proof of payment of the application fee
- Other documents required by the programme
UMP’s application process requires applicants to capture details of previous studies if they have studied at another institution.
Submitting an academic transcript does not automatically guarantee that credits will be transferred. The university will assess previous modules and qualifications according to its recognition and admission rules.
Documents Needed for Postgraduate Applications
Applicants applying for an honours degree, postgraduate diploma, master’s degree or doctoral programme may need:
- A certified copy of their identity document or passport
- Certified copies of previous qualifications
- A complete academic transcript
- Proof of payment of the application fee
- A curriculum vitae
- A research proposal for certain master’s and doctoral programmes
- Academic or professional references, where required
- Proof of English-language ability, where applicable
- Other documents requested by the relevant faculty
Postgraduate requirements may differ depending on the qualification. Applicants should check the specific admission requirements for their selected programme before submitting an application.
Documents Needed by International Applicants
Applicants who are not South African citizens should prepare:
- A certified copy of a valid passport
- Certified copies of school-leaving or academic certificates
- A complete academic transcript
- Proof of payment of the international application fee
- Proof of English-language proficiency, if requested
- A South African Qualifications Authority evaluation where required
- Other immigration or study documents that may be requested after admission
International applicants should ensure that their names and personal details are consistent across their passport, certificates and application form.
Foreign qualifications may need to be evaluated to determine whether they are equivalent to South African qualifications.
UMP Application Fee and Proof of Payment
Proof of payment is one of the documents applicants must upload.
The University of Mpumalanga’s application fees for 2027 are:
- South African applicants: R200
- Applicants from SADC countries: R400
- Other international applicants: R550
Applicants must use their identity number or UMP student number as the payment reference. The application fee is non-refundable.
Your proof of payment should clearly display:
- The amount paid
- The payment date
- The applicant’s payment reference
- The receiving account
- The payment status
Do not upload a screenshot that cuts off important payment information.
Must UMP Application Documents Be Certified?
UMP specifically asks applicants to upload certified copies of their identity document, Senior Certificate or National Senior Certificate and other relevant documents.
When certifying documents:
- Take the original document and a copy to an authorised commissioner of oaths.
- Make sure the certification stamp and date are visible.
- Ensure the commissioner signs the copy.
- Check that none of the information is covered by the stamp.
- Scan or photograph the entire certified page.
Applicants should use recently certified documents whenever possible, particularly where the university or another authority specifies a certification period.
File Formats Accepted by UMP
UMP accepts supporting documents in the following electronic formats:
- DOC
- DOCX
- TIFF
- PNG
- JPG
- JPEG
These accepted formats are listed on the university’s official online application page.
PDF is often the best option for certificates and academic records because several pages can be combined into one organised file.
How to Prepare Your Documents for Uploading
Before uploading your documents, check that:
- Every page is clear and readable.
- The document is facing the correct direction.
- No corners or sections have been cut off.
- Your name and identity number are visible.
- The certification stamp can be read.
- The file is not password-protected.
- The file format is accepted by UMP.
- The file is uploaded under the correct document category.
Use simple filenames such as:
ID_Copy.pdfMatric_Certificate.pdfLatest_Results.pdfAcademic_Transcript.pdfApplication_Fee_Proof.pdf
Avoid filenames containing unusual symbols or unclear names such as “document1” or “photo123”.
How to Upload Documents on the UMP Application Portal
Applicants must complete their applications through the UMP online application portal.
During the application process, applicants will be required to:
- Enter their personal information.
- Create a five-digit PIN.
- Record the student number displayed by the system.
- Accept the POPI Act terms and application rules.
- Complete their biographical and contact details.
- Enter their school-leaving subjects.
- Provide information about previous studies.
- Upload all required supporting documents.
- Select up to two academic programmes.
- Complete a residence application where required.
- Check that the application progress reaches 100%.
UMP confirms that applicants may choose a maximum of two programmes and that the application should reflect 100% completion at the end of the process.
UMP 2027 Application Dates
Applications for admission to UMP in 2027 opened on 1 June 2026.
The official closing dates are:
- Undergraduate programmes: 30 November 2026
- Advanced diplomas: 30 November 2026
- Honours programmes and postgraduate diplomas: 30 January 2027
- Master’s programmes: 30 January 2027
- Doctoral programmes: 30 January 2027
These dates are published on the official UMP application page.
Applicants should apply before the closing date and avoid waiting until the final day.
Common Document Mistakes to Avoid
Your application could be delayed if you:
- Upload an uncertified identity document
- Submit blurry or incomplete documents
- Upload the wrong applicant’s documents
- Use an incorrect payment reference
- Upload proof for the wrong payment amount
- Leave out an academic transcript
- Upload documents in an unsupported format
- Fail to capture previous study information
- Submit an application that does not show 100% completion
Review every uploaded document before completing the application.
How to Know Whether Your Application Is Complete
At the end of the online application, the progress confirmation should show 100%.
Applicants should also:
- Save their UMP student number.
- Keep their five-digit PIN secure.
- Save a copy of their proof of payment.
- Retain copies of all uploaded documents.
- Regularly check their application status.
- Monitor their email and cellphone messages for updates.
An application reference or student number does not necessarily mean that all documents have been accepted. Applicants should continue checking the portal for outstanding requirements.
UMP Application Contact Details
Applicants who need assistance with applications or supporting documents may contact UMP using the following details:
Application and registration enquiries: studentapplications@ump.ac.za
General enquiries: info@ump.ac.za
Switchboard: 013 002 0001
The university publishes these details on its official application page.
When sending an enquiry, include your full name, identity or passport number and UMP student number.
Final UMP Application Document Checklist
Before submitting your University of Mpumalanga application, make sure you have:
- A certified copy of your ID or passport
- A certified Senior Certificate or National Senior Certificate
- Your latest school results, where applicable
- Academic transcripts for previous tertiary studies
- Certified copies of previous qualifications
- Proof of payment of the correct application fee
- Any programme-specific supporting documents
- Clear electronic files in an accepted format
Preparing these documents early will make the UMP application process faster and reduce the risk of submitting an incomplete application.