Which Universities Have No Application Fee in South Africa 2026

Which Universities Have No Application Fee in South Africa 2026, Universities with FREE Applications in South Africa 2026

Are you seeking universities that will accept free applications for the 2026 academic year while the application window is open in South Africa? We have put together a list of universities that offer students free paper and online applications. Prospective South African and international students can apply for free, as these universities do not charge application fees.

Offering free applications does not degrade the quality of education at these universities. In terms of quality, these universities compare favourably to others that charge for fees. These famous universities offer exceptional training to the students they accept. Charging no application fee means that you can submit your application without paying any processing fees.

2026 University Application Window

Visit the corresponding university’s website and complete the online application process.

Many outstanding universities in South Africa provide free online applications, saving you money on expensive application fees. If you meet all of the entrance requirements, you will be considered for admission; do not be concerned about the expense of applying; all you need to do is submit your application on time.

If you’re looking for information on which South African universities don’t require an application fee as well as when to apply, this one is for you

A Comprehensive List of South African Universities with No Application Fees

The complete list of South African universities where prospective students can apply without having to worry about paying application fees is provided below. Universities with FREE Applications in South Africa 2026

University of Johannesburg (UJ)

The application season for the 2026 academic year will begin on April 1, 2025, and end on October 31, 2025. There are no application fees for online applications. Manual submission requires applicants to provide a receipt after paying a non-refundable charge of R200

Rhodes University (RU)

Applying to Rhodes University (RU) for the 2026 academic year is free of charge. The application window for the 2026 academic intake will open from April 1 to September 30, 2025. Ensure that you meet your course’s entry requirements and apply on time. Submit all supporting documentation well ahead of time.

Stellenbosch University:

Stellenbosch University will accept applications from April 1 through July 31, 2025. All prospective South African candidates are required to submit an online application and pay an application fee of R100, which is non-refundable. However, students who attend the Business School or apply from outside of South Africa (international students) do not need to pay an application fee. South African applicants can request a waiver of the application fee by completing an online form.

University of Pretoria:

If your household income is less than or equivalent to R150 000 per year, you are not required to pay application fees to study at the University of Pretoria. Any applicant with a household income of R150001 or higher must pay an application fee of R300 (30 US dollars) for 2026. Applications to study at the University of Pretoria in 2026 are entirely online and will open up on April 1, 2025.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology:

The dates for CPUT vary according to the course you are applying for. The official application deadline for the academic year 2026 is March 15, 2026, with some programs having an earlier due. Cape Peninsula University will officially open the 2026 application window on May 13, 2025.

Online CPUT applications are free of charge, but paper applications require a non-refundable R100 application fee.

North-West University

Applications for the selection courses close on June 30, 2025, and open on April 1, 2025. Non-selection programs, however, don’t have a closing date.

South African citizens do not need to pay an application fee; however, foreign applicants must pay a fee of R575 on the day of application.

Nelson Mandela University (NMU):

Depending on the course you are applying for, Nelson Mandela University has different application dates. Nonetheless, the general application window is open from April 1 through September 30, 2025.

South African applicants are not required to pay an application fee for this university, but international applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee of R500 at the time of application.

University of the Free State (UFS)

The University of the Free State in South Africa is one of the top universities that provides free online applications, and as a result, they receive a lot of applications. The majority of the courses for the 2026 academic year will begin on April 1 and finish on September 30, 2025.

Walter Sisulu University

The good news is that there are no application fees at Walter Sisulu University! This is one of the best universities that provides a free online application service. The application window for the 2026 academic year is April 1 to October 31, 2025.

University of the Western Cape (UWC)

There is no application fee for applying to the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Every applicant is exempt from paying application fees in order to access the form for free. Applications for studies at the University of Western Cape (UWC) in 2026 are entirely online and are scheduled to open on April 1, 2025.

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