Unisa applications for the 2027 academic year are open. Prospective students who want to register for undergraduate qualifications, honours degrees, or postgraduate diplomas can apply now through the official online application system. This article explains the exact opening and closing dates, who needs to apply, how the application process works, the required documents, the application fee, and what happens after submission.
Are UNISA 2027 Applications Currently Open?
Yes. Unisa opened applications for the 2027 academic year on 17 August 2026. Applications for undergraduate qualifications, honours degrees, and postgraduate diplomas close on 9 October 2026. Anyone who wants to start a new qualification at Unisa in 2027, or change to a different qualification, must apply within this window. Students who are already registered and continuing with the same qualification do not need to apply again, since registration and application are two separate processes.
It is worth noting that some qualifications close earlier than the general deadline. Programmes with limited space, such as certain Nursing and Engineering qualifications, tend to reach capacity before 9 October. Anyone targeting a high-demand qualification should apply as early in the window as possible rather than waiting close to the deadline.
UNISA 2027 Application Dates at a Glance
Different qualification levels at Unisa follow different application timelines. The table below summarises the confirmed dates for the 2027 intake.
| Qualification Type | Opening Date | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate qualifications (Higher Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees) | 17 August 2026 | 9 October 2026 |
| Honours degrees | 17 August 2026 | 9 October 2026 |
| Postgraduate diplomas | 17 August 2026 | 9 October 2026 |
| Master’s and doctoral qualifications | 1 September 2026 | Varies by college; check the specific research proposal and registration deadlines |
| Short Learning Programmes (SLPs) | 2 November 2026 | Varies by programme |
These dates apply specifically to the 2027 academic year and are set by Unisa’s official application calendar. Because Unisa is a distance-learning institution operating year-round, its application cycle runs earlier than that of contact universities. Applications for a given academic year typically open in the middle of the preceding year, which is why the 2027 cycle opened in August 2026 rather than in early 2027.
Who Needs to Apply for 2027?
Not every existing Unisa student needs to submit a new application. The following categories of people do need to apply during the 2027 application period:
- First-time applicants who have never studied at Unisa before.
- Current Unisa students who want to change to a different qualification.
- Current Unisa students who want to change the specialisation or stream within their current qualification.
- Final-year undergraduate students who want to continue with postgraduate studies, such as an honours degree or postgraduate diploma, once their undergraduate qualification is complete.
- Applicants applying through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process, after first receiving a decline letter for their qualification of choice.
Students who are simply continuing in the same qualification they registered for previously do not apply again. They proceed directly to registration once the registration period opens.
How to Apply for UNISA 2027
The application process is completed entirely online. Below are the steps a prospective student follows to submit a 2027 application.
- Decide on a qualification. Applicants can apply for up to three qualifications in a single application cycle, and these must be ranked in order of preference. If more than one of the three is approved, the applicant can only register for one of them.
- Confirm the admission requirements. Every qualification has its own minimum Admission Point Score (APS) and, in some cases, subject-specific requirements. These requirements differ between colleges and between qualifications within the same college, so it is necessary to check the specific requirements page for the intended qualification before applying.
- Gather the required documents. This includes a certified copy of an ID document or passport, a certified copy of a Grade 12 certificate (Senior Certificate or National Senior Certificate), and academic transcripts from any previous tertiary institution attended, where applicable.
- Complete the online application form through the official Unisa application portal.
- Upload the required documents. Documents must be uploaded as individual files rather than combined into one file, each file must be under 2MB, and only PDF, DOC, or TIF formats are accepted. Documents must also be submitted in black and white.
- Submit the application before the closing date. Documents submitted after the closing date will not be accepted, so applicants should upload everything well ahead of the deadline rather than close to it.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee once a student number has been issued.
Application Fee for 2027
The application fee for online applications to Unisa for the 2027 academic year is R160. This fee is paid only after the applicant has received a student number, and it is non-refundable, even if the applicant later decides not to study through Unisa, does not meet the admission requirements, or cannot be offered a space due to limited availability in the chosen qualification. The fee covers the full application cycle regardless of how many qualifications (up to three) are included in a single application. Payment is made via bank deposit or an approved online payment channel, using the student number and a specific fee allocation reference number provided by Unisa.
What Happens After Submitting an Application
Submitting an application does not guarantee admission. Unisa assesses every application against three factors: whether the applicant meets the minimum academic admission requirements for the chosen qualification, the applicant’s APS or Academic Score, and the number of available spaces for that specific qualification in the given semester. Because space is limited for many qualifications, meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically result in an offer.
Feedback is only issued once all applications received by the closing date have been fully processed, so outcomes are not sent out on a first-come, first-served basis in terms of timing, although applying earlier does help avoid last-minute technical issues. Applicants who are offered a space have a limited number of working days, usually ten, to accept or decline the offer once it is issued. First-time applicants must also complete a free short online course called the First-Year Experience MOOC before they are able to accept an offer. Applicants who applied for more than one qualification are advised to wait until all their applications have been processed before accepting a specific offer.
Applicants who do not qualify for admission are notified once their application has been processed. In certain circumstances, there may be an option to submit an appeal, and applicants should use Unisa’s official appeal channel and instructions for this rather than relying on general guidance, since appeal windows and requirements can vary depending on the qualification and the reason for the rejection.
What Is New for the 2027 Application Cycle
One notable change for the 2027 intake is the number of qualifications an applicant can select. Previously, applicants could rank up to two qualification choices; for 2027, this has been increased to three qualifications, still ranked in order of preference. This gives applicants a wider safety margin if their first-choice qualification is highly competitive or reaches capacity early.
Another point worth noting is the introduction of specific research-related requirements for postgraduate bursary applicants at the master’s and doctoral level, which is a separate process from the general academic application and has its own opening and closing dates later in the year.
Postgraduate Bursary Applications for 2027
Separate from the general qualification application, Unisa also runs a postgraduate bursary application for master’s and doctoral students. This bursary application period runs from 21 September 2026 to 30 November 2026. Only applications submitted through the official myUnisa portal are considered; hard copy, email, or hand-delivered submissions are not accepted. Bursary applicants who are self-registered or whose applications are rejected have a short appeal window in the following year to contest the outcome, provided they can show that the stated rejection reason does not match their actual academic status.
Key Points to Remember
- General undergraduate, honours, and postgraduate diploma applications for 2027 run from 17 August 2026 to 9 October 2026.
- Master’s and doctoral applications open on 1 September 2026, with specific deadlines depending on the college and research stage.
- Applicants can now select up to three qualifications, ranked by preference.
- The non-refundable application fee is R160, payable after a student number is issued.
- Late applications and late document submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
- Admission is not automatic and depends on meeting requirements, APS score, and space availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to apply again if I am already a Unisa student continuing the same qualification? No. Continuing students register for the next study period; they do not submit a new application unless they are changing qualifications or specialisations.
Can international students apply for the 2027 academic year? Yes. International applicants follow the same application process and timelines, but they may need to submit additional documents, such as a certified copy of a passport instead of a South African ID, and may need to have foreign qualifications evaluated.
What happens if I miss the 9 October 2026 closing date? Applications and supporting documents submitted after the closing date are not accepted for the 2027 intake. Late applicants would need to wait for the next available application cycle.
Is admission guaranteed if I meet the minimum requirements? No. Meeting the minimum admission requirements makes an applicant eligible for consideration, but final admission also depends on the applicant’s Admission Point Score relative to other applicants and the number of available spaces in that specific qualification.