There are 26 public universities in South Africa, and reports indicate that out of these, 23 universities have received nearly 4.5 million applications for the 2024 academic year.
The expected enrollment for 2024 is around 210,000 students, corresponding to the available spaces with 1.1 million enrolments in total.
35% of these students will use distance learning while the remaining 65% will be on campus.
The Department of Higher Education is actively monitoring the approved enrolment plans of universities. In April 2024, the department will distribute enrolment templates for universities to complete.
2024 University Registration
For returning students, the registration period will run from 2 January to mid-February 2024, while first-time entering students will initiate their registration from 3 January to 15 February 2024.
To ensure that the 2024 academic year goes smoothly, the Department of Higher Education will be using the same monitoring tool used in 2023 to monitor registration.
During a parliamentary committee meeting, the Department explained:
To ensure stronger accountability, a steering committee consisting of representatives from DHET including the CAS directorate, Universities, NSFAS and student leaders will be established. The Committee will deal with registration related matters including advising on mitigation strategies for potential risks that may affect 2024 registration.
With Matric results being released on 19 January 2024, first-time entering students should expect to hear soon after whether they've been accepted into the university of their choice.
On 5 January, registrars from the universities will meet to discuss the readiness of universities to start the 2024 academic year. A further meeting with security managers to discuss plans of universities to deal with threats that may arise during registration will be held on 4 January.
At the beginning of each academic year, protests erupt due to registration issues. These issues include students being financially excluded and not allowed to register due to historic debt.
The Department also revealed, "Only 9 universities will allow late applications and walk ins". This is a great opportunity for anyone who missed the initial application period to still get a chance at being a university student in 2024.
To prepare for the upcoming academic year in 2024, it is advisable to consult the university academic calendar.
