The application cycle for the 2026 academic year (starting in January 2026) will be open in April.

• Opening Date: Applications are expected to open on Monday, April 1, 2025.
• Closing Date: The main application deadline will likely be around July 31, 2025. Some programs may have earlier deadlines, so always double-check with the specific program you’re interested in.

Application Fee:

• South African and SADC region applicants: R100
• Applicants from outside the SADC region: R300
• Graduate School of Business (GSB) applicants:
• South African and African citizens and residents: R2,070
• Applicants from outside of Africa: USD 300

Application Link: Applications are submitted online through the UCT Apply Online platform: https://applyonline.uct.ac.za/

Applications typically open in April 2025 and close in July 2025. So, you’ll need to wait a while before you can submit your application

• Opening date: April 1, 2025
• Closing date: July 31, 2025
• Application fee: R120 for South African applicants, R500 for international applicants
• Application link: www.ufh.ac.za (direct link to the application portal will be available once applications open.)

The application period for the 2025 academic year at UMP is currently open.

Closing Date: The application deadline is September 30, 2025. However, it’s recommended to apply earlier, especially for popular programs, as applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Application Fee:

• South African Citizens: R200
• SADC Nationals: R300
• International Applicants: R400

Application Link:

• You can apply online through the UMP Self Help iEnabler platform: https://ienabler.ump.ac.za/pls/prodi41/w99pkg.mi_login

Here’s a breakdown of the key information for NMU online applications for the 2026 academic year:

Opening Date: April 1, 2025

Closing Dates:

• August 2, 2025: Early applications (excluding MBChB, BPharm and BRad)
• September 30, 2025: Late applications (excluding MBChB, BPharm and BRad)
• June 30, 2025: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
• June 30, 2025: Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) and Bachelor of Radiography (Diagnostic)

Application Fee:

• Free: South African citizens and SADC nationals
• R500: International applicants

Application Link: https://applyonline.mandela.ac.za/

When to Apply

• The application period opens from April 1 to October 31, 2025. Applications to study at the University of Zululand start on April 1 and end on October 31 every year.

Application Fee

• The application fee for South African citizens is R250, and for international applicants, it is R300. You can pay the application fee online or at any Absa bank branch.

Application Link:

• Once the application window opens, you can apply online through the Central Applications Office (CAO) website.

The opening date is usually in April of the year preceding the academic year. The closing date is the end of October (October 31) of the year preceding the academic year.

2025 Application Window:

• Application Opening Date: Monday, April 1, 2025
• Application Closing Date: Thursday, October 31, 2025

Application Fee:

• The application process for study at Walter Sisulu University in South Africa is free of charge.

Application Link:

• The application link for WSU online applications is https://ieweb.wsu.ac.za/pls/prodi41/gen. However, this link will not be active until the online applications open in April 2025.

The online applications for Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) for the 2026 academic year are set to open in May 2025

2025 Application Period

• Opening Date: May 1, 2025
• Closing Date: 31 October 2025

Application fee:

• Online applications: Free
• Hardcopy applications: R100 (non-refundable)

Application Link:

• You can access the CPUT application page at https://www.cput.ac.za/study/apply

Durban University of Technology (DUT) typically opens in April and closes in October of the year preceding the intake.

2026 Application Period:

• Expected Opening Date: April 1, 2025
• Anticipated Closing Date: October 31, 2025, 11:59 P.M

Application link or website:

• Once the applications open, you can apply online through the DUT Central Applications Office (CAO) website: https://www.cao.ac.za/

Application Fee

• The application fee for undergraduate programs at DUT is currently R220 for South African applicants and R270 for international applicants. However, this fee is subject to change, so be sure to check the CAO website for the latest information.

The good news is that applications for studying at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in 2026 are now open.

2026 Applications Dates:

• Opening date: The 2026 intake application process is expected to open on June 1, 2025.
• Closing date: Applications will generally close on October 31, 2025

Application fee:

• The application fee for South African citizens is R250, while international applicants pay R300. This fee covers all applications made through the Central Applications Office (CAO) for all universities in the province.

Application link:

• All applications for MUT must be submitted online through the Central Applications Office (CAO) website: https://www.cao.ac.za/

2025 applications window:

• Opening date: The 2026 intake application process is now open on March 1, 2025.
• Closing date: Applications to study at TUT will generally close on September 30, 2025

Application fee:

• There is an application fee of R240 for foreign students and South African citizens. There is no refund or transferability of the money.

Application Link:

• Visit the TUT online application portal: www.tut.ac.za

The Vaal University of Technology accepts applications between April and September preceding the year of the intended study. Here’s what you need to know about applying to VUT for the 2026 academic year:

• Opening Date: 1 April 2025
• Closing Date: 30 September 2025

Application Fee:

• South African Citizens: R100 (including international students)

Application Link:

• You can access the Vaal University of Technology application website or link via https://www.vut.ac.za/

• Opening Date: We anticipate the 2025 online applications to open sometime in early April 2024.
• Closing Date: 2026 application period will remain open until 31 October 2025
• Late applications will be open from January 12 to February 19, 2026.

Application fee: The application fee is usually around R100

Application Link:

• The application link is usually available on the UNIVEN website at https://www.univen.ac.za/apply/. Once the applications open, you will be able to find the link under the “Apply Online” section.

The University of Pretoria (UP) online applications for 2026 will not open until April 2025

Here’s the information you’ll need when applications open:

Opening date: Monday, May 13, 2025

Closing date:

• Applications will be closed for Bachelor of Dentistry & Oral Health and School of Government postgraduate degrees on August 31, 2025
• Applications will end for BA Honours Sports Recreation and Exercise Science, BA Honours in Biokinetics, and BSC Honours Biokinetics on Wednesday, July 31, 2025
• All other courses will close on September 30, 2025

Application fee:

• There is no application fee.

Application link: https://www.uwc.ac.za/apply-now

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) Application Open for 2026

Typically, SMU opens applications for the following academic year around April of the preceding year. You can expect the 2026 application window to open sometime in April 2025.