Are you planning to apply to the University of the Free State for the 2027 academic year? One of the first things you may want to know is how much the UFS application fee costs.
The good news is that prospective students can apply to UFS without paying an application fee. The university has officially confirmed that applications for the 2027 academic year are free.
How Much Is the UFS Application Fee for 2027?
The University of the Free State application fee for 2027 is:
R0 — UFS does not charge an application fee
This applies to the university’s standard online admission application process. Applicants can complete and submit their applications without paying an application or administration fee.
The official UFS 2027 application portal clearly states that applying to the university is free.
UFS Application Fee 2027 at a Glance
| Applicant category | Application fee |
|---|---|
| South African undergraduate applicants | R0 |
| South African postgraduate applicants | R0 |
| International applicants | R0 |
| Transfer applicants | R0 |
Applicants should still check the instructions for their specific programme. Some specialised selection processes or external services may have separate costs, but these should not be confused with the standard UFS admission application fee.
Is the UFS Application Really Free?
Yes. UFS does not charge prospective students an application fee for admission in 2027.
The university’s official online application platform confirms:
- Applications opened on 1 April 2026.
- Applications are completed online.
- No standard application fee is payable.
- Applicants must upload the required supporting documents.
- A completed application must be submitted before the relevant closing date.
You should not pay anyone merely to submit an ordinary UFS online application on your behalf.
Do International Applicants Pay an Application Fee?
The standard UFS online application is also free for international applicants.
However, international applicants may have to pay for separate services or documents required during the admission and registration process. These may include:
- A SAQA evaluation of foreign qualifications
- A Universities South Africa exemption application
- Passport-related expenses
- A study visa
- Medical aid required for international students
- Certified or translated academic documents
- English-language tests where required
These are not UFS application fees. They are separate costs charged by the relevant organisations or service providers.
Is There a UFS Administration Fee?
UFS does not charge a standard administration fee merely for submitting an online application for 2027 admission.
Applicants should be careful not to confuse the admission application with other university-related processes that may carry a separate charge.
For example, a fee related to residence accreditation, a specialised assessment, registration or another administrative service is not the same as the ordinary student admission application fee.
Does UFS Charge a Registration Fee?
The application fee and registration-related payments are different.
The application fee is the amount paid when requesting admission. At UFS, that amount is R0 for the standard 2027 application.
Registration and tuition costs become relevant after an applicant has received an offer and is preparing to register as a student.
Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, later costs may include:
- Tuition fees
- Registration-related payments
- Residence charges
- Meal costs
- Textbooks and study materials
- Transport
- Laptop and data expenses
- International student charges
Being allowed to apply for free does not mean studying at UFS is free.
Does NSFAS Need to Pay the UFS Application Fee?
No UFS application fee is charged, so NSFAS applicants do not need funding to cover a standard admission application fee.
Students who need financial assistance must still apply separately for NSFAS or another bursary.
Applying to UFS does not automatically create an NSFAS application. These are two separate processes:
- Apply to UFS for admission.
- Apply to NSFAS for financial assistance.
Applicants must meet the requirements and deadlines for both processes.
Should You Upload Proof of Payment?
You do not need to upload proof of payment for a standard UFS application because there is no application fee.
The supporting documents you upload will instead depend on your applicant category and selected programme.
Applicants should not upload a random payment receipt or pay money to an unofficial person claiming that proof of payment is required to activate a UFS application.
Documents Needed to Apply to UFS
Although the application is free, applicants must upload the required documents.
Current Grade 12 learners may need:
- A copy of their South African ID or valid passport
- Final Grade 11 results
- June or mid-year Grade 12 results when available
- Additional selection documents required by the programme
Applicants who completed matric may need:
- A copy of their ID or passport
- Final National Senior Certificate results
- Their school-leaving certificate
- Any programme-specific documents
Transfer applicants may need:
- A copy of their ID or passport
- Final Grade 12 results
- A complete academic record
- A certificate of conduct
- Previous qualification certificates
- Module descriptions where credit recognition is requested
Postgraduate applicants may need:
- Previous qualification certificates
- Complete academic transcripts
- A curriculum vitae
- A motivation letter
- A research proposal or concept note
- Academic references
- Proof of relevant experience where required
International applicants may need:
- A certified copy of a valid passport
- Certified academic results and certificates
- A SAQA evaluation for applicable foreign qualifications
- A Universities South Africa exemption certificate where required
- Additional documents requested by UFS
Applicants must follow the instructions provided for their chosen programme because document requirements may differ.
How to Apply to UFS for 2027
Applications must be completed through the official UFS online application portal.
Follow these steps:
- Visit the official UFS application portal.
- Select the correct application category.
- Enter your personal and contact information.
- Provide an active email address and cellphone number.
- Enter your school and academic information.
- Select your preferred study programmes.
- Upload the required supporting documents.
- Read and accept the application agreement.
- Review all the information you entered.
- Complete every stage of the online application.
- Submit the application.
- Save your acknowledgement letter and UFS student number.
The official application system takes applicants through stages covering selection information, study choices, verification, personal information, document uploads and the application agreement.
When Did UFS Applications for 2027 Open?
UFS applications for the 2027 academic year opened on:
1 April 2026
The university’s prospective-student and application pages confirm that 2027 applications opened on this date.
Applicants should apply as early as possible because programmes have different closing dates.
UFS 2027 Application Closing Dates
The principal undergraduate closing dates published by UFS include:
31 May 2026
Applications closed for programmes such as:
- MB ChB
- Occupational Therapy
- Optometry
- Physiotherapy
- Radiation Sciences
- Biokinetics
- Dietetics
- Sports Coaching
31 July 2026
Applications close for programmes such as:
- Nursing
- Social Work
- Architecture
31 August 2026
This is the closing date for international undergraduate applications.
30 September 2026
This deadline applies to:
- Transfer applicants from other tertiary institutions
- Remaining selection programmes
- Non-selection undergraduate programmes
Closing dates for honours, postgraduate diplomas, master’s and doctoral programmes may differ by faculty or department.
Applicants must check their specific programme instead of assuming that every qualification closes on 30 September.
Can You Apply After the Closing Date?
Applicants should not rely on late applications being available.
UFS programmes may close once the stated deadline has passed or when the available spaces have been filled. Selection programmes usually have earlier closing dates and may not reopen.
The safest approach is to submit the complete application before the official deadline for your preferred programme.
Can Someone Charge You to Apply to UFS?
A person or business may charge you for providing a private application-assistance service, but that payment does not go to UFS as an application fee.
Applicants can submit their own applications free of charge through the official online portal.
Be cautious of anyone who claims that:
- UFS charges a compulsory application fee
- They can guarantee admission
- They can change your application outcome
- They have special access to university officials
- You must pay them to unlock the application portal
- They can secure residence placement for a fee
Admission depends on official academic requirements, programme selection processes and available space.
Common UFS Application Mistakes to Avoid
Even though the application is free, applicants can still experience problems if they:
- Use an incorrect email address
- Enter the wrong ID or passport number
- Upload blurry documents
- Leave out academic results
- Select the wrong programme
- Miss an additional selection form
- Fail to complete the application agreement
- Save the application without submitting it
- Apply after the programme deadline
- Pay money to an unofficial person
- Create several applications instead of updating the original one
Review the entire application carefully before submitting it.
How to Know Whether Your Application Was Submitted
After completing the UFS application, you should receive an acknowledgement or confirmation containing your student number.
Keep copies of:
- Your student number
- The application confirmation
- Uploaded supporting documents
- Email correspondence from UFS
- Your login details
If you do not receive confirmation, return to the portal and check whether every application stage was completed.
How to Check Your UFS Application Status
Applicants can check their application status through the UFS online self-service platform.
You should also monitor:
- Your email inbox
- Your spam or junk folder
- SMS messages sent to your registered cellphone number
- Requests for outstanding documents
- Notifications from the relevant faculty
Respond promptly when UFS asks for an additional document or corrected information.
UFS Application Contact Details
Applicants who need help can contact the university through its official channels.
Applications and student administration: studentadmin@ufs.ac.za
Telephone: +27 51 401 9111
Information desk: +27 51 401 3000
These details are published on the official University of the Free State website.
When contacting UFS, provide:
- Your full name and surname
- Your student number, if already issued
- Your ID or passport number
- Your selected programme
- A clear explanation of the problem
Never send your password or banking PIN.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the UFS application fee for 2027?
The UFS application fee is R0. Applications are free.
Do South African applicants pay an application fee?
No. South African applicants can submit the standard online application without paying an application fee.
Do international students pay an application fee?
The standard UFS admission application is free. International applicants may still have separate costs for qualification evaluations, visas, medical aid and other requirements.
Must I upload proof of payment?
No proof of application-fee payment is required because UFS does not charge an application fee.
Does applying for free guarantee admission?
No. Admission depends on your academic results, programme requirements, selection criteria and available space.
Is registration also free?
No. A free application does not mean that tuition, registration, accommodation and other study expenses are free.
When did UFS applications for 2027 open?
Applications opened on 1 April 2026.
Final Reminder
The University of the Free State does not charge an application fee for the 2027 academic year. The amount prospective students must pay to submit a standard UFS application is therefore R0.
Applicants should use the official UFS online application portal, upload all required documents and submit their applications before the closing date for their selected programmes.
Do not pay anyone who falsely claims that a compulsory UFS application fee is required or that payment can guarantee your admission.