When applying for to study at a university of South Africa, it's best to get those applications in as soon as you can. Here are the application dates for the universities and universities of technology, so make sure you don't miss them!
University Application Dates For 2024 Academic Year, Including Closing Dates
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) applications opened on 4 March and will close on 30 September 2023.
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
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6 March 2023 - 30 June 2023: Faculty of Health Sciences (all programmes), Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Audiology, Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology, BA Film and TV
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6 March 2023 - 30 September 2023: All other programmes
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
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16 May 2023 - 28 July 2023: Teaching courses and Bachelor of Nursing
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16 May 2023 - 28 September 2023: All other programmes
University of the Western Cape (UWC)
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13 May 2023 - 30 September 2023: All programmes
University of Cape Town (UCT)
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3 April 2023 - 31 July 2023
Rhodes University
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31 May 2023 - 30 September 2023
Vaal University of Technology (VUT)
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Applications will open on 8 May with the closing date for applications being 30 September 2023 with applications for the Bachelor of Education in senior phase and FET Teaching, Diploma in Safety Management, Diploma in Labour Law, Policing and Diploma in Information Technology closing on 31 August.
Central University of Technology (CUT)
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31 March 2023 - 29 September 2023
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)
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3 April 2023 - 28 July 2023
Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
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3 April 2023 - 29 September 2023
North-West University (NWU)
Applications will open on 3 April 2023, however this South African university has not yet provided a closing date.
University of Johannesburg (UJ)
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1 April 2023 - 31 October 2023
University of Limpopo (UL)
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8 March 2023 - 28 July 2023: MBChB
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8 March 2023 - 29 September 2023: All other programmes
University of the Free State (UFS)
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5 April 2023 - 30 September 2023
University of Venda (Univen)
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2 May 2023 - 27 September 2023
University of Fort Hare (UFH)
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1 June 2023 - 30 October 2023
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
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2 May 2023 - 30 September 2023: Health Science Programmes
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2 May 2023 - 31 October 2023: All other programmes
University of Pretoria (UP)
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1 April 2023 - 31 May 2023: Faculty of Veterinary Science
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1 April 2023 - 30 June 2023: All other faculties
Durban University of Technology (DUT)
Applications are currently open and will close on 30 September.
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
Applications are currently open and will close on 30 September.
Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)
Applications are currently open and will close on 30 September.
University of Zululand (Unizulu)
Applications are currently open and will close on 30 September.
University of Mpumalanga (UMP)
2024 applications open on 1 June and closes on 30 November.
Sol Plaatje University (SPU)
Applications to study at SPU in the 2024 academic year opens on 9 May and will close on 30 November.
Stellenbosch University Opening And Closing Dates
Stellenbosch University opened their 2024 applications on 3 April and closed it on 31 July. Stellenbosch is always one of the first university to open their applications for the following academic year.
University of South Africa (Unisa) Opening And Closing Dates
The University of South Africa (Unisa) applications for the 2024 academic year will open on 1 September. Unisa has then set their university application closing dates to be the 13th of October, giving you a month and a half to apply.
The calendar at the University of South Africa (Unisa) works differently to all the other universities. Unlike other universities in South Africa, Unisa will have semester registrations which is why their application dates are set later.
NSFAS Applications Are Open
If you need financial support for your studies you can also apply for NSFAS. Check our NSFAS section to see if you are eligible.
Check Your Application Status
Once you submit your online application, you will probably want to keep up with the application status of it. Head to our Education section to find online application guidelines on how to do this for the university you submitted an online application at.
For more detailed information on the tuition fees, applications and courses offered by a South African university, you can visit our Where To Study directory
UPDATE - Related Articles:
Now that the Tshwane University of Technology has opened applications for 2025 make sure you read our article on how to apply to TUT for 2025.
