On this page, you will find a list of all South African universities’ application dates for the 2026 academic year. This list includes the 2026 application link of each university in South Africa.
Generally, most universities will start accepting the 2026 online applications from the 1 of April 2025. It is also a known fact that the 31st of September 2025 will be the application deadline for undergraduate courses at most South African universities.
If you want to increase your chances of getting accepted in 2026, you should apply to at least 5 universities on the list below. Bear in mind that there are many qualifying students that are rejected by South African universities each year, due to limited space. The worst part is that, the number of rejected students who actually qualify to study, keeps increasing each year. 2026 won’t be any different.
Nelson Mandela University (NMU) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 6 April 2025
- Applications Close:
- MBChB applications: 31 May 2025 (NBT results must be available on or before 31 July 2025).
- Early applications (excluding MBChB): 5 August 2025
- Late applications (excluding MBChB): 30 September 2025
- International student applications (excluding MBChB): 30 September 2025
- Student Housing applications: 30 September 2025
University of Fort Hare (UFH) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of Fort Hare (UFH) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: July/August 2025 (TBC by UFH)
- Applications Close: November/December 2025 (TBC by UFH)
University of Pretoria (Tuks) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of Pretoria (Tuks) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 01 April 2025
- Applications Close: Faculty specific
North-West University (NWU) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the North-West University (NWU) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 01 June 2025
- Applications Close: Faculty specific
University of South Africa (UNISA) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of South Africa (UNISA) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 21 August 2025
- Applications Close: 11 October 2025
University of the Free State (UFS) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of the Free State (UFS) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 01 April 2025
- Applications Closing Dates:
- 31 May 2025 (Health Sciences programmes apart from Nursing)
- 31 July 2025 (Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Nursing)
- 30 September 2025 (all non-selection programmes)
- 1 November 2025 (Fine Arts)
Rhodes University 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Rhodes University application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: March 2025
- Applications Close:
- 31 July 2025 (Undergraduates)
- 31 October 2025 (Postgraduates)
Walter Sisulu University (WSU) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: May 2025
- Applications Close:
- 28 September 2025 (Health Sciences faculty)
- 31 October 2025 (Other faculties)
University of Johannesburg (UJ) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of Johannesburg (UJ) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 1 April 2025
- Applications Close:
- 30 November 2025 (Undergraduates)
- 15 December 2025 (Post-graduates & Honours)
University of the Western Cape (UWC) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of the Western Cape (UWC) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 15 May 2025
- Applications Close:
- 31 August 2025 (Bachelor of Dentistry and Bachelor of Oral Health)
- 30 September 2025 (All other faculty programmes)
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 01 April 2025
- Applications Close: November 2025 (Faculty specific dates may apply)
University of Witwatersrand (Wits) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 01 April 2025
- Applications Close:
- 30 June 2025 (Faculty of Health Sciences; Bachelor of Architecture; Bachelor of Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, Bachelor of Arts in Film and TV)
- 30 September 2025 (All other programmes and residence applications)
University of Cape Town (UCT) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of Cape Town (UCT) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 01 May 2025
- Applications Close: 31 August 2025
University of Limpopo (UL) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of Limpopo (UL) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 01 April 2025
- Applications Close: 30 September 2025
Apply at the University of Limpopo
University of Venda (UniVen) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of Venda (UniVen) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: May 2025
- Applications Close: 27 September 2025
University of Mpumalanga (UMP) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 01 April 2025
- Applications Close: 06 November 2025
Stellenbosch University 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Stellenbosch University application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 06 April 2025
- Applications Close:
- 31 July 2025 (Undergraduates, residence applications)
- 01 August 2025 (Financial Assistance)
Apply at Stellenbosch University
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) Application Dates
Below are the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 1 April 2025
- Applications Close: 30 September 2025
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 06 April 2025
- Applications Close: 31 July 2025
Central University of Technology (CUT) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Central University of Technology (CUT) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: May 2025
- Applications Close: 31 August 2025
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 1 May 2025
- Applications Close:
- 31 August 2025 (Design programmes)
- 30 September 2025 (all other programmes)
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 15 April 2025
- Applications Close:
- 31 July 2025 (Specific programmes)
- 30 September 2025 (All other programmes)
Vaal University of Technology (VUT) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: 15 March 2025
- Applications Close: 30 September 2025
Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: Dates not yet released by the institution
- Applications Close: Dates not yet released by the institution
Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2026 Application Dates
Below are the Durban University of Technology (DUT) application dates for 2026 studies:
- Applications Open: Dates not yet released by the institution
- Applications Close: Dates not yet released by the institution
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