The University of South Africa (Unisa), Africa’s largest open distance e-learning institution, has officially opened its application window for the 2027 academic year.
Prospective students can now apply for undergraduate qualifications, honors degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master’s and doctoral degrees, Short Learning Programs, TVET partner qualifications, and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) access. International students are also invited to apply, subject to additional SAQA/exemption requirements.
Application fees are R160 (non-refundable, payable online), and all processing is done through the university’s e-application portal at www.unisa.ac.za/apply.
UNDERGRADUATE QUALIFICATIONS
Unisa’s undergraduate offerings cover higher certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, and bachelor’s degrees across seven colleges: Accounting Sciences, Economic & Management Sciences, Human Sciences, Law, Science/Engineering/Technology, Education, and Agriculture & Environmental Sciences. Higher certificates are entry-level NQF Level 5 qualifications that often serve as a stepping stone to diploma or degree study; diplomas and bachelor’s degrees are three- to four-year qualifications offered fully through Open Distance e-Learning. Prospective applicants must first read the university’s ODeL guidance (Step 1), consider career counseling (Step 2), and choose their qualification from the online qualifications catalog (Step 3) before applying (Step 4) and awaiting an application outcome (Step 5).
Opening date: 17 August 2026
Closing date: 9 October 2026
Where to apply: https://www.unisa.ac.za/apply
HONOURS DEGREES & POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMAS
About: Unisa’s honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas are one-year (full-time equivalent) NQF Level 8 postgraduate qualifications for graduates who already hold a relevant bachelor’s degree or advanced diploma. Honours degrees typically involve advanced coursework plus a mini-research component and are the gateway into master’s study, while postgraduate diplomas are more coursework-driven professional qualifications aimed at deepening skills in a specialist field. Once accepted, students activate a myLife e-mail account (Unisa’s official communication channel) and complete registration in the relevant registration window.
Opening date: 17 August 2026
Closing date: 9 October 2026
Where to apply: https://www.unisa.ac.za/apply
MASTER’S & DOCTORAL DEGREES
About: Master’s and doctoral (PhD) qualifications at Unisa are research-intensive postgraduate degrees. Master’s degrees may be by dissertation (research-only) or by coursework plus dissertation, and doctoral degrees are by thesis. The application requires a research proposal aligned with an available supervisor in the relevant college. Selection degrees (for example, in psychology and some health/education fields) and certain other qualifications have different application windows — the university publishes a separate list of exceptions on the Master’s & Doctoral page, and prospective applicants should check it before applying.
Opening date: 1 September 2026
Closing date: 20 November 2026 (selection degrees and specified exceptions have different windows — see Unisa’s Masters/Doctoral exceptions page)
Where to apply: https://www.unisa.ac.za/apply
SHORT LEARNING PROGRAMMES (SLPs)
About: Short Learning Programs are introductory, practical, non-degree programs designed to quickly and effectively develop skills and knowledge in a chosen subject field. They follow a “just enough” learning approach targeted at a specific learning need or a unique employment requirement and are located within the different academic departments of Unisa’s colleges, administered by the Centre for Lifelong Learning (UCL). SLPs are a strong fit for working professionals who need to upskill, reskill, or add a specialist competency without committing to a full-degree pathway.
Opening date: 2 November 2026
Closing date: Not yet published on the portal (Unisa states that 2027 information will be published shortly)
Where to apply: https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission/Short-Learning-Programmes (registrations handled by uclregistrations@unisa.ac.za)
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
About: The international-students admission route is for applicants who completed their schooling or undergraduate studies outside South Africa. Applicants at undergraduate level must obtain a conditional exemption certificate (Unisa facilitates this at the application stage for a separate fee) or a full exemption via SAQA. Master’s and doctoral applicants do not require an exemption certificate but may require SAQA certification of their foreign qualification. Students from outside Africa must also pay a foreign levy on registration. Payment of the application fee is via Flywire or SWIFT transfer.
Opening date: 17 August 2026 (undergraduate); 1 September 2026 (master’s / doctoral)
Closing date: 9 October 2026 (undergraduate); 20 November 2026 (master’s / doctoral)
Where to apply: https://www.unisa.ac.za/apply
TVET COLLEGES ADMISSION
About: Unisa has agreements with a number of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to offer tuition for selected qualifications, primarily higher certificates. These classes have been shown to improve throughput rates for enrolled students, and successful completion of the higher certificates can give applicants a stronger chance of qualifying for degree studies at Unisa. Prospective applicants apply through the standard Unisa admissions portal but should confirm with the partner TVET college which qualifications are supported at that site.
Opening date: 17 August 2026 (aligned to the undergraduate window, since TVET partnerships primarily deliver higher certificates)
Closing date: 9 October 2026
Where to apply: https://www.unisa.ac.za/apply (and confirm with your TVET partner college)
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)
About: The RPL route is not a qualification in itself — it is a pathway that acknowledges and validates the knowledge, skills and competencies applicants have acquired outside the formal education and training system. Unisa uses three RPL modalities: RPL for access (entry into programmes without formal qualifications), RPL for credit (module exemptions based on prior learning), and advanced standing. Assessment methods include portfolios of evidence, challenge examinations, interviews and workplace-based assessments. RPL is designed to broaden access to education, address historical barriers, and support lifelong learners and career changers whose learning has occurred in non-traditional settings.
Opening date: 17 August 2026 (aligned to the undergraduate application window)
Closing date: 9 October 2026
Where to apply: https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission/Recognition-of-Prior-Learning-(RPL)
