University of South Africa (Unisa) Online Application 2024

Undergraduate qualifications

Applications for admission to undergraduate qualifications for the 2024 academic year open from 01 September 2023 to 13 October 2023.

Semester 1 applications for selected undergraduate qualifications will open from 01 September to 13 October 2023.

Everyone wanting to start a new qualification must apply for admission. This includesfirst-time Unisa applicants.Unisa students changing to a new qualification and/or specialisation.applicants who previously applied for admission and were not offered a space or who were offered a space, accepted the offer and did not register.students completing a higher certificate or any other programme and who wish to continue with further undergraduate studies.

All applications for admission must be submitted during the prescribed application period.Applicants who plan to enrol for classes at a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college under the Unisa-TVET agreement may apply via the relevant TVET college or online through Unisa.

Honours degrees & postgraduate diplomas

Applications for admission to honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas for the 2024 academic year open from 01 September 2023 to 13 October 2023.Everyone wanting to start a new qualification must apply for admission, including first-time Unisa applicants, Unisa students changing to a new qualification and/or changing the specialisation of their current qualification, and applicants in their final year of an undergraduate qualification who wish to continue with postgraduate studies.All applications for admission must be submitted online. No self-help stations will be available for applications at the regional offices.Admission to a qualification is not automatic. It will depend on whether you comply with the admission requirements and if space is available.Only complete applications (application fee paid, if applicable, and all supporting documents successfully uploaded) will be processed.Students who obtained qualifications outside the borders of South Africa must have their qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and upload a SAQA certificate of evaluation during the application process (https://www.saqa.org.za).

Master’s & doctoral qualifications

Application dates for the 2024 academic year for master’s and doctoral qualifications (some exceptions apply) will be announced soon.Everyone wanting to start a new qualification must apply for admission, including first-time Unisa applicants, Unisa students wanting to apply for a new qualification, students in their final year of a qualification wanting to start a master’s or doctoral qualification, and previously registered master’s and doctoral students who did not register for the 2022 academic year and now wish to continue with their studies.You may only apply for one qualification at master’s and doctoral level. It is, therefore, imperative that you ensure that you meet the minimum admission requirements for your qualification of choice before applying for admission.

If you are applying for admission to a Graduate School of Business Leadership (GSBL) qualification, please apply for a Unisa student number (unless you previously studied at Unisa towards a formal qualification) and complete the online application process.All master’s and doctoral applications and enquiries must be submitted online. For any master’s or doctoral enquiries, please send an e-mail to MandD@unisa.ac.za. GSBL students must direct their enquiries to the relevant e-mail address: SBLMBA@unisa.ac.za / SBLMBL@unisa.ac.za or SBLDBL@unisa.ac.za 

Short Learning Programmes

Applications and registrations for short learning programmes for the 2024 academic year will open in November 2023.

Unisa’s Short Learning Programmes

Unisa’s Short Learning Programmes (SLPs) are introductory, practical, non-degree programmes meant to develop skills and knowledge in a chosen subject field in a quick and effective manner.They are intended to update or broaden students’ skills and knowledge in a specific area by covering fundamental key concepts.The SLPs follow a “just enough” learning approach, which means that they are designed to meet a potential student’s specific learning need or a unique employment requirement.  The SLPs are located within the different academic departments of Unisa’s colleges, and are offered and administered by the Centre for Lifelong Learning.Programme content and registration criteria are available on the Unisa Centre for Lifelong Learning website: www.unisa.ac.za/uclFor all enquiries, please contact us via e-mail: ucl@unisa.ac.za

Who must apply?

Everyone wanting to start a new Short Learning Programme must apply for admission. This includesFirst-time Unisa applicants.Unisa students changing to a new Short Learning Programme.Applicants who previously applied for admission and were not offered a space.

When must I apply?

Semester 2 registrations for Short Learning Programmes is closed.

What is the application fee?

There is no application fee when applying for Short Learning Programmes.

What do I need to know before I apply?

• You must apply online for all Short Learning Programmes.  You may apply for a maximum of two Short Learning Programmes, ranked in order of preference (although you may only register for one should both your applications be successful).By the end of July 2023, Unisa will inform you of the outcome of your application and the course for which you have been accepted for semester 2.You must accept or decline the offer within the prescribed period of time indicated in your offer letter. If you do not accept Unisa’s offer within the prescribed period of time, Unisa will withdraw your offer and give your place to another applicant.

Check your documents & confirm that you are ready to applyI am sure…

• that I have a valid e-mail address and cellphone number, and I accept that Unisa will communicate with me during the application process using this e-mail address and cellphone number.
Please ensure that you provide only one e-mail address and one cellphone number during the application process.All registered Unisa students get a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices and updates are sent exclusively to this account, so it’s very important that you check it regularly.

I have the following documents scanned & uploaded to an electronic device

All applicants starting a new qualification must upload all the required supporting documents, which generally consist of the following:Copy of your school qualifications (eg National Senior Certificate)Copy of your official tertiary academic record(s) (if applicable) (internet copies will not be accepted)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 AfrikaansAny additional documents as may be required for a specific Short Learning Programme

Unisa reserves the right to request original documents and / to verify the correctness of submitted documents at any time. Submitting fraudulent documents is a criminal offence in terms of the Student Disciplinary Code.

I am sure that my documents are scanned according to the rules

Follow the instructions carefully when completing the online application process. Only upload the required documents as individual files and not a complete set of documents as one file.Files are not larger than 2MB (2048KB) each.Only black and white documents may be submitted.Only the following file types are allowed: PDF (Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format file), DOC (Word document file) or TIF (image file)

How to apply?

1. Apply online for all Short Learning Programme.Click here for guidelines on how to apply.Upload supporting documents
   • Everyone applying for a new Short Learning Programme must submit the required documents. The due date for uploading the required documents is the closing date for applications. No documents submitted after the closing date for applications will be accepted.Unisa does not provide scanners or electronic devices. Please ensure that your documents are scanned and uploaded to an electronic device before starting the application process.
   Please ensure that your application is complete. No incomplete applications will be accepted.

What happens after I apply?

• Unisa will assess your application and inform you of the outcome.If your application is successful, Unisa will verify and capture the documents you submitted and do a temporary registration on your behalf.Unisa will send you a “Temporarily Registered” (TP) letter from Unisa via e-mail (followed by an SMS to the cellphone number you provided at the point of application). This letter will also indicate the fee that needs to be paid to activate your registration.

Having problems reading the TP letter?

To view your TP letter successfully on your smartphone, please ensure that you have the latest version of the Adobe Reader app or else download the latest version.In simple steps, to be able to view the document, you need to answer “yes” to the following questions:Do you have a smartphone gadget? If no, do you have access to one or to a computerDid you receive an e-mail with an attachment from Unisa?  If no, wait until you receive the e-mail or SMS.Do you have the latest version of the Adobe Reader app? If no, please download the latest version.

If you are unable to view the letter, please contact the Unisa Centre for Lifelong Learning via e-mail: uclregistrations@unisa.ac.za for assistance.