Closing Date UNISA Application 2025 – The University of South Africa (UNISA) is well-known for its extensive distance education programmes, making it a popular choice for students looking for a flexible, high-quality education. In addition, please note that the UNISA admissions application is only available online if you’re interested in applying. That is to say, applications for admissions cannot be submitted at any physical stations. Consequently, to complete the application, adhere to the following detailed instructions.
Now, let’s get down to brass tacks: from 1 September 2023 through 14 October 2024, the University of South Africa (UNISA) will formally begin accepting online applications for the 2025 academic year. This admissions procedure applies to all three levels of undergraduate study—bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral.
About UNISA
Unisa is the direct descendant of the University of the Cape of Good Hope (UCGH), established in 1873 by a parliamentary act of the Cape Colony. UCGH was the first university in South Africa. The University of London inspired UCGH; rather than providing direct instruction, it established curriculum and exams for neighbouring “university colleges.”
When the colonies of South Africa were unified under one administration in 1910, UCGH was directed to supervise all of the country’s universities. In addition, the institution was renamed the “University of South Africa” (Unisa) in 1916 and moved to Pretoria in 1918. It served as an examination centre for numerous universities, now critical, independent institutions in South Africa.
Unisa started providing ‘postal tuition’ in 1946 when the final college affiliated with the university was transitioning towards independence. Over the years, it has expanded to become a leading global online education provider, serving over 130 countries and enrolling over 400,000 students.
From colonialism to apartheid to democracy, Unisa has been there through every turbulent period in South Africa’s modern history. From its inception, Unisa has reflected the paradoxes of South Africa, supporting various state ideologies while welcoming political dissenters, including Nelson Mandela, who is currently serving a lengthy jail sentence, into the realm of higher education.
Eligibility for Unisa Application
To apply, the applicant must certify the following eligibility requirements:
- The applicants must meet the statutory and college admission requirements for their qualification(s) of choice.
- They must meet the minimum academic points score (APS) for their qualification(s) of choice.
- Also, applicants must have a valid e-mail address and cellphone number and accept that Unisa will communicate with them using these e-mail addresses and cellphone numbers during the application process. Applicants must provide only one e-mail address and cellphone number during the application process.
Requirements for the Unisa Application
Everyone applying for a new qualification (including first-time applicants and Unisa students beginning a new qualification) must provide the relevant documents. The deadline for submitting the requested documents is the same as the application closing date. No documents submitted after the application deadline will be considered.
Unisa does not provide scanners or electrical equipment. Please ensure that all your documents have been scanned and transferred to an electronic device before beginning the application process.
UNISA Required Documents to Upload:
- Copy of your school qualifications
- Copy of your official tertiary academic records (if applicable). No internet copies.
- Certified copy of your ID document (RSA students) or ID/passport (international students)
- Copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable) or divorce decree (if applicable)
- Sworn translations of documents if they are not in English or Afrikaans
- Application fee of R125 for application at Unisa, which should be paid once you receive your student number
- Supporting documents for your application
UNISA How to Upload Documents:
- Click here
- Scroll down and click on the bubble next to ‘Documents’
- Fill in your information
- Click on Choose File and select the corresponding files from your device
- Click on ‘Upload’
- Once done submitting all documents, click on ‘Submit documents and continue’
Application portal (link, features of the application portal)
The portal of the application for UNISA is https://w2.unisa.ac.za/CW/SITES/CORPORAT/DEFAULT/APPLY_FO.HTM
The portal is straightforward to use, and the interface is relatable. The study only needs a fair knowledge of computers to make use of the portal.
Step-by-Step Application Process for UNISA Application
You can apply for a new qualification regardless of whether you are a first-time applicant or a continuing student. How do I apply online at UNISA? Below is a quick guide on the UNISA online application for 2024/2025.
- Start by navigating to the University of South Africa portal: http://www.unisa.ac.za to access UNISA application form.
- Upload relevant documents as support. Both new applicants and continuing students enrolling for new qualifications should provide their academic papers as part of the procedure. All the required documents must be scanned and submitted before the expiry of the specified period. The admission officers will not review all materials submitted after that.
- The scanned files above should not be more than 2MB (2048KB) each, and they should be strictly black-and-white documents in PDF, DOC, or TIF formats.
- You require a student number before applying for admission, and you should be granted admission before you can register. If the qualification that you are applying for is still open (has not reached the deadline), there will be a circle next to the programme that you can click on. When you click on the circle, you will be prompted to the page where you will be asked if you have a student number. So, you should click where necessary and follow the instructions to proceed.
Closing date or deadline for Unisa Application
Applications are open on the following dates;
- Unisa Undergraduate qualifications, i.e. (higher certificates, advanced certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas & degrees): 11 August – 15 October
- Unisa Honours degrees & postgraduate diplomas dates: 11 August – 15 October
- Unisa Master’s & doctoral qualifications dates: 8 September – 12 November
The deadline for the 2024 UNISA application is November 12th. Applicants for both undergraduate and graduate programmes are strongly encouraged to submit their applications electronically or by mail. No applications will be considered after this date. It is recommended that you apply within the application cycle prior to the closing date.
Unisa Application fees
To apply online, enter your Unisa student number and application fee reference number (e.g., 5370810030).
This money is non-refundable, even if you decide not to study at Unisa, do not meet the entrance requirements, or are not awarded a spot owing to limited availability. Unisa does not accept cash in any of its offices.
Need To Contact Student Services?
E-mail: myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za
Telephone: 012 429 3111 (Option 2)
You can also contact Unisa for student assistance