Even though Unisa is an open distance learning university and does not offer teaching in a classroom, there are many ways to connect with Unisa, your lecturers and fellow students.
Setting up your support system now means that you will very easily and quickly be able to access services or interactive forums when you need them. It also means that you will be exposed to much more information and help from your lecturers and fellow students than if you study alone.
Look at the list below for all the ways that you can connect with Unisa and other students
Register on myUnisa – your self-service portal
myUnisa is your online connection to Unisa: your information, general services, your modules, and your lecturers and fellow students. Once you have tried myUnisa, you won’t look back. You will find information and be able to resolve most of your enquiries on myUnisa. This means that you can update your personal information and manage your studies yourself.
These are just some of the things you can do on myUnisa:
Download your study material, including your tutorial letters and study guides
Submit and track your assignments, and receive your assignment results
Join discussion forums
Contact your lecturers
Read material posted by your lecturers
Check your Unisa financial status and pay your fees using the credit card payment method
Update your personal details
Keep up to date with Unisa information, as Unisa uploads important information here
Contact Unisa for administrative purposes
Register for additional modules during the registration period
Find your e-resources
Check your examination timetable, change your exam venue and get examination results
And much, much more.
Getting started on myUnisa
You will need about one hour to claim your UNISA Login, login to and browse the myUnisa Learning Management System and setup your new myLIfe email account. Schedule this time in your year planner and schedule time at least twice a week to go to myUnisa to read updates from your lecturers and other important Unisa information.
Follow the steps below to claim your UNISA Login details for access to the myLIfe e-mail account and myUnisa.
Click here for the tutorial on how to join myUnisa:
Follow the steps in the tutorial to claim your UNISA Login details. Follow the steps exactly – the system has been set up in a very specific way to allow Unisa to verify that you are a registered Unisa student. Write down your passwords for your myLife e-mail account and for myUnisa, and keep them in a safe place. You will need these passwords to access your e-mail and myUnisa.
Now that you are registered on myUnisa:
Go to “My Admin” and check that all your personal details are correct, including your cellphone number and your exam centre. If the details are incorrect, please correct them. If you need to change your exam venue you can send a request to Unisa using myUnisa.
Go to “My workspace”:
Here you can look at the exam and assignment schedules for all your modules. Check that this matches what you have included in your year planner.
Click on each one of your modules – you will find these tabs along the top navigation or in the tab called “more”:
Read the letter from your lecturer.
Schedule discussion classes that you would like to join in your year planner.
Click on “additional resources” to check if your lecturer has posted any additional reading or audiovisual material.
Some lecturers use the blogging tool.
Try to resolve any enquiries you may have on myUnisa before trying other contact channels at Unisa. Click here for a list of contact details.
Get an electronic student card
Having an electronic student library card makes access to Unisa’s libraries so much easier. If you would like to purchase an electronic student library card, please visit the Kgorong building (ground floor) on the Muckleneuk campus, one of the Gauteng regional offices or ask at your nearest regional office where you can obtain this card. Your photograph will be taken for this card and you must carry this card whenever you wish to enter a Unisa library.
Learn more about regional centres and services
The regional centres are a wonderful way to connect with Unisa, ask for advice, meet other students, and join tutorials and discussion classes.
In the section that follows, we’ll introduce you to some of the useful services available at the regional centres. For more information on the regional centres, click here.
Selected services available at the regional centres:
Academic literacies centres
Unisa also has Academic literacies centres. These centres can assist you with planning, structuring and improving how you write your assignments and examinations. If you are studying towards a qualification with many quantitative subjects such as Mathematics or Statistics, the Quantitative Literacy facilitators can also assist you to develop skills to manage these subjects. For the contact details of Unisa’s academic literacies centres, click here.
Counselling services
Contact a counsellor to help you with personal issues that may be affecting your studies, to develop your academic skills or to discuss your career.
Discussion classes
Discussion classes are presented by your lecturer and provide an opportunity to discuss areas that you are concerned about with your subject lecturer and also with a group of students who understand what you are going through.
The class is an opportunity to discuss study and course material difficulties, as well as assignment feedback. But most importantly, it’s an ideal opportunity to talk about preparing for your exams. You’ll find that the more time you spend consciously working towards exams, rather than simply submitting assignments, the better prepared you will be once exam time arrives.
Read your Tutorial letters 101 for more information on when and where discussion classes are held, or visit your closest regional centre or the myUnisa website. Always check revised schedules on myUnisa or contact the regional office.
Services for students with disabilities
Unisa is committed to assisting all students in achieving their study and career ambitions, including students with disabilities. There are a number of services offered by Unisa to support students - from application to graduation.
These services include:
producing study material in alternative formats, including Braille, large print, electronic, audio and DAISY.
requesting electronic copies of prescribed books from publishers on behalf of students.
providing academic administration support interventions after registration.
transcribing assignments, examination question papers and scripts.
providing Sign Language Interpretation Services for students attending tutorials or discussion classes.
providing basic training in orientation and mobility to blind and partially-sighted students.
implementing institution-wide advocacy and awareness-raising programmes on the needs of students with disabilities.
implementing train-the-trainer programmes in the regions.
For more information, please use the following contact details:
Tutorials for semester and year modules take place at the learning centres (these can be found at the regional centres) and are interactive, face-to-face sessions with a qualified tutor. This tutor is a subject expert and appointed by the academic department at Unisa.
As a registered student, you may visit a Unisa campus or region of your choice, complete a Tutorial Support Programme enrolment form and pay the enrolment fee. You can’t enrol for tutorials for more than three modules and tutorials only start once 15 students have registered for that particular module. Once you have registered and paid for the programme, you will receive 15 one-hour tutorial classes for each module for which you have registered.
You can find details of the tutorials offered at your closest learning centre on the myUnisa website or from the centre itself.
Unisa library
Get your recommended reading, e-reserves and books from the library.
Find out about counselling, career and academic development
Sometimes you just need to talk to someone. That’s where the Unisa counsellors can assist. They can help via phone, in person, by post or e-mail.
When should you contact a counsellor?
If you have personal issues that are affecting your ability to study.
If you are uncertain about the career direction you have chosen.
If you are struggling to develop good study and academic skills.
To plan your career or make career changes.
For assistance in developing your career portfolio.
What channels do the counsellors use to help you?
In-person
You can meet with a peer helper, assistant student counsellor, career counselling intern, counsellor or academic literacies facilitator in person.
Workshops
Career and academic-related workshops are offered at each centre. Please contact the centre closest to you to find out about the programme
Telephone
You may speak to a peer helper, assistant student counsellor, career counselling intern, counsellor or academic literacies facilitator via the telephone.
Fax and letter
Write a letter or fax your request to the counselling or academic development office closest to you.
We provide an e-guidance and counselling service to prospective and current undergraduate and postgraduate students regarding career decisions, qualifications, subject choices and orientation to studies at Unisa.
Unisa’s academic literacies centres support the development of student reading and writing, and quantitative literacy through online facilitation for students who are unable to attend individual consultations and workshops.
Facilitators help writers develop effective strategies for academic reading and writing. Students can send extracts of their writing (a maximum of 10 pages) to acalit@unisa.ac.za.
The turnaround time for online assignment feedback is 10 working days.
Please note that assignments are NOT edited. Rather, facilitators give students guidelines on how to improve their individual writing and become better writers.
The directorate’s website contains information about career, personal and academic issues. The aim is for you to be able to help yourself with the option of contacting us via e-mail, telephone, fax, letter or in person should you get stuck.
Additional resources
We suggest that you also purchase a copy of Effective study – this book contains information that will specifically help you with time management and planning, forming a study group, dealing with multiple-choice and essay-type questions, study methods, memory strategies and examination preparation. For more information on the counselling services and how to contact counsellors available at Unisa, click here.
Use the Unisa library
The Unisa library is the largest academic library in Africa. There are books, e-books and journals, special collections and archives, and e-reserves (recommended reading ready for electronic download). As a registered student, you have free, unlimited access to the library provided you treat it and its contents with respect and return all your books on time.
Who may use the library?
All Unisa libraries’ services and facilities are available to all currently registered students, including students registered for certificate and short learning programmes.
Where can I access the library?
The main library on the Muckleneuk campus
One of the regional libraries in Polokwane, Sunnyside, Durban, Parow, Florida, Johannesburg, the SBL in Midrand, Ekurhuleni and Akaki in Ethiopia
You will need an electronic student card which can be purchased from Unisa at a cost of R45.
This card can be purchased in the Kgorong building on the Muckleneuk campus or at the Gauteng Regional Centre.
To use the self-service kiosks you will need to create a PIN – the librarian will be able to assist you with this.
Other Unisa libraries
You must carry your paper student card, along with your ID book, driver’s licence or valid passport.
What can I do in the library?
Use the library catalogue to locate a specific book.
Complete a “Request for Information” form if you’re looking for information on a specific topic. Complete the form (which can be found on the website or in the library) and return it to the Information Search Librarians via e-mail, post or in person.
Access the e-reserves on the Unisa library website.
When does my membership expire?
Membership begins with registration for the current academic year and is automatically cancelled directly after completion of the final examination of the same year.
Students who qualify for supplementary/aegrotat examinations will be notified to this effect in a letter from the university.
These students have to submit a copy of this letter to the library to ensure that their membership is extended until after the supplementary/aegrotat examinations.
Getting started at the library
Locate your nearest library and schedule a visit in your year planner. You can also book a training session to make the best use of your visit. This will teach you all about the library, the services that are offered and how to use them. If you’d like to schedule a training session, please remember to call the library first.
Remember that to access the library you must use your student card with your ID book or an electronic student card. If you are a first-time registering student, watch the library video on your my Studies @ Unisa DVD to familiarise yourself with the library. Re-registering students can download this DVD from the myUnisa website. Click here to view the student orientation videos. For more information on the library, click here.
Connect on Facebook & Twitter
There is a growing community of students on Facebook and Twitter. It’s a great way to share ideas, find students who live close to you, ask questions and stay informed.
If you aren’t already on Facebook, it’s easy to join – visit the Facebook website, create your profile and join the Unisa group (search for University of South Africa). If you haven’t already joined Twitter, go to the Twitter website and sign up.
Unisa posts important information and reminders on Facebook and Twitter.
Join a study group
Joining a study group is extremely beneficial, as it allows you to connect in a group where you can share ideas and problems, and find support.
You can join a study group in the following ways:
Find students studying the same modules via myUnisa.
Find fellow students in a similar location via Facebook – these could be students studying the same modules or a study group that will help you enforce discipline around study times.
Join tutorials or discussion classes – this way you can make contact with students in your region who are studying the same modules.
Join a Peer Collaborative Learning Programme – this is a more structured study group led by a senior student. Unisa will help you to find a group.
Participate in student organisations
The Student Representative Council
The Student Representative Council is a committee of student leaders elected by students for students. This means that they are committed to serving students and represent the student voice and viewpoint in the university’s governance structures. They give input into institutional meetings to ensure that the student voice is always considered when important decisions are made. There are SRCs at many of the regional centres.
If there is anything that you wish to bring to the attention of the SRC, you should make contact with them via the regional centres or find more information on myUnisa.
The student organisations and structures
Unisa aims to connect students other than just academically. For this reason, the student organisations and structures facilitate students in creating recreational groups that will be recognised and shared with other students in the region.
The following categories will be considered:
College student structures
Student political organisations
Religious student organisations
Other cultural and recreational groups
Get financial assistance
By now you will have paid the first minimum payment to register. Have you made provision for the remainder of the payments, prescribed books and travel expenses to get to exam centres? Does your company offer you enough study leave or will you need to take unpaid leave? Financial worries can place great stress on a person and it is best to resolve all financial aspects of your studies now before studying gets underway.
If you need financial assistance, Unisa offers a number of ways in which they can assist:
NSFAS loans – these are loans funded primarily by the South African National Department of Education which provides funds to academically able, but financially needy students. This loan will need to be repaid. It is, however, possible to get 40% of the loan converted to a bursary by passing 100% of your subjects. Therefore if you borrowed R50 000 and passed 100% of your subjects and achieved your qualification, you will only need to pay back R30 000. For more information, click here.
Students with disabilities – the Department of Labour offers bursaries to South African students with disabilities who show the potential to succeed academically. For more information, click here.
Even though Unisa is an open distance learning university and does not offer teaching in a classroom, there are many ways to connect with Unisa, your lecturers and fellow students.
Setting up your support system now means that you will very easily and quickly be able to access services or interactive forums when you need them. It also means that you will be exposed to much more information and help from your lecturers and fellow students than if you study alone.
Look at the list below for all the ways that you can connect with Unisa and other students
Register on myUnisa – your self-service portal
myUnisa is your online connection to Unisa: your information, general services, your modules, and your lecturers and fellow students. Once you have tried myUnisa, you won’t look back. You will find information and be able to resolve most of your enquiries on myUnisa. This means that you can update your personal information and manage your studies yourself.
These are just some of the things you can do on myUnisa:
Download your study material, including your tutorial letters and study guides
Submit and track your assignments, and receive your assignment results
Join discussion forums
Contact your lecturers
Read material posted by your lecturers
Check your Unisa financial status and pay your fees using the credit card payment method
Update your personal details
Keep up to date with Unisa information, as Unisa uploads important information here
Contact Unisa for administrative purposes
Register for additional modules during the registration period
Find your e-resources
Check your examination timetable, change your exam venue and get examination results
And much, much more.
Getting started on myUnisa
You will need about one hour to claim your myLife e-mail account, register on myUnisa and browse through the site. Schedule this time in your year planner and schedule time at least twice a week to go to myUnisa to read updates from your lecturers and other important Unisa information.
Follow the steps below to claim your myLife e-mail account and register on myUnisa.
Click here for the tutorial on how to join myUnisa:
Follow the steps in the tutorial to claim your myLife e-mail account and register on myUnisa. Follow the steps exactly – the system has been set up in a very specific way to allow Unisa to verify that you are a registered Unisa student. Write down your passwords for your myLife e-mail account and for myUnisa, and keep them in a safe place. You will need these passwords to access your e-mail and myUnisa.
Now that you are registered on myUnisa:
Go to “My admin” and check that all your personal details are correct, including your cellphone number and your exam centre. If the details are incorrect, please correct them. If you need to change your exam venue you can send a request to Unisa using myUnisa.
Go to “My workspace”:
Here you can look at the exam and assignment schedules for all your modules. Check that this matches what you have included in your year planner.
Click on each one of your modules – you will find these tabs along the top navigation or in the tab called “more”:
Read the letter from your lecturer.
Schedule discussion classes that you would like to join in your year planner.
Click on “additional resources” to check if your lecturer has posted any additional reading or audiovisual material.
Some lecturers use the blogging tool.
Try to resolve any enquiries you may have on myUnisa before trying other contact channels at Unisa. Click here for a list of contact details.
Get an electronic student card
Having an electronic student library card makes access to Unisa’s libraries so much easier. If you would like to purchase an electronic student library card, please visit the Kgorong building (ground floor) on the Muckleneuk campus, one of the Gauteng regional offices or ask at your nearest regional office where you can obtain this card. Your photograph will be taken for this card and you must carry this card whenever you wish to enter a Unisa library.
Learn more about regional centres and services
The regional centres are a wonderful way to connect with Unisa, ask for advice, meet other students, and join tutorials and discussion classes.
In the section that follows, we’ll introduce you to some of the useful services available at the regional centres. For more information on the regional centres, click here.
Selected services available at the regional centres:
Academic literacies centres
Unisa also has Academic literacies centres. These centres can assist you with planning, structuring and improving how you write your assignments and examinations. If you are studying towards a qualification with many quantitative subjects such as Mathematics or Statistics, the Quantitative Literacy facilitators can also assist you to develop skills to manage these subjects. For the contact details of Unisa’s academic literacies centres, click here.
Counselling services
Contact a counsellor to help you with personal issues that may be affecting your studies, to develop your academic skills or to discuss your career.
Discussion classes
Discussion classes are presented by your lecturer and provide an opportunity to discuss areas that you are concerned about with your subject lecturer and also with a group of students who understand what you are going through.
The class is an opportunity to discuss study and course material difficulties, as well as assignment feedback. But most importantly, it’s an ideal opportunity to talk about preparing for your exams. You’ll find that the more time you spend consciously working towards exams, rather than simply submitting assignments, the better prepared you will be once exam time arrives.
Read your Tutorial letters 101 for more information on when and where discussion classes are held, or visit your closest regional centre or the myUnisa website. Always check revised schedules on myUnisa or contact the regional office.
Services for students with disabilities
Unisa is committed to assisting all students in achieving their study and career ambitions, including students with disabilities. There are a number of services offered by Unisa to support students - from application to graduation.
These services include:
producing study material in alternative formats, including Braille, large print, electronic, audio and DAISY.
requesting electronic copies of prescribed books from publishers on behalf of students.
providing academic administration support interventions after registration.
transcribing assignments, examination question papers and scripts.
providing Sign Language Interpretation Services for students attending tutorials or discussion classes.
providing basic training in orientation and mobility to blind and partially-sighted students.
implementing institution-wide advocacy and awareness-raising programmes on the needs of students with disabilities.
implementing train-the-trainer programmes in the regions.
For more information, please use the following contact details:
Tutorials for semester and year modules take place at the learning centres (these can be found at the regional centres) and are interactive, face-to-face sessions with a qualified tutor. This tutor is a subject expert and appointed by the academic department at Unisa.
As a registered student, you may visit a Unisa campus or region of your choice, complete a Tutorial Support Programme enrolment form and pay the enrolment fee. You can’t enrol for tutorials for more than three modules and tutorials only start once 15 students have registered for that particular module. Once you have registered and paid for the programme, you will receive 15 one-hour tutorial classes for each module for which you have registered.
You can find details of the tutorials offered at your closest learning centre on the myUnisa website or from the centre itself.
Unisa library
Get your recommended reading, e-reserves and books from the library.
Find out about counselling, career and academic development
Sometimes you just need to talk to someone. That’s where the Unisa counsellors can assist. They can help via phone, in person, by post or e-mail.
When should you contact a counsellor?
If you have personal issues that are affecting your ability to study.
If you are uncertain about the career direction you have chosen.
If you are struggling to develop good study and academic skills.
To plan your career or make career changes.
For assistance in developing your career portfolio.
What channels do the counsellors use to help you?
In-person
You can meet with a peer helper, assistant student counsellor, career counselling intern, counsellor or academic literacies facilitator in person.
Workshops
Career and academic-related workshops are offered at each centre. Please contact the centre closest to you to find out about the programme
Telephone
You may speak to a peer helper, assistant student counsellor, career counselling intern, counsellor or academic literacies facilitator via the telephone.
Fax and letter
Write a letter or fax your request to the counselling or academic development office closest to you.
We provide an e-guidance and counselling service to prospective and current undergraduate and postgraduate students regarding career decisions, qualifications, subject choices and orientation to studies at Unisa.
Unisa’s academic literacies centres support the development of student reading and writing, and quantitative literacy through online facilitation for students who are unable to attend individual consultations and workshops.
Facilitators help writers develop effective strategies for academic reading and writing. Students can send extracts of their writing (a maximum of 10 pages) to acalit@unisa.ac.za.
The turnaround time for online assignment feedback is 10 working days.
Please note that assignments are NOT edited. Rather, facilitators give students guidelines on how to improve their individual writing and become better writers.
The directorate’s website contains information about career, personal and academic issues. The aim is for you to be able to help yourself with the option of contacting us via e-mail, telephone, fax, letter or in person should you get stuck.
Additional resources
We suggest that you also purchase a copy of Effective study – this book contains information that will specifically help you with time management and planning, forming a study group, dealing with multiple-choice and essay-type questions, study methods, memory strategies and examination preparation. For more information on the counselling services and how to contact counsellors available at Unisa, click here.
Use the Unisa library
The Unisa library is the largest academic library in Africa. There are books, e-books and journals, special collections and archives, and e-reserves (recommended reading ready for electronic download). As a registered student, you have free, unlimited access to the library provided you treat it and its contents with respect and return all your books on time.
Who may use the library?
All Unisa libraries’ services and facilities are available to all currently registered students, including students registered for certificate and short learning programmes.
Where can I access the library?
The main library on the Muckleneuk campus
One of the regional libraries in Polokwane, Sunnyside, Durban, Parow, Florida, Johannesburg, the SBL in Midrand, Ekurhuleni and Akaki in Ethiopia
You will need an electronic student card which can be purchased from Unisa at a cost of R45.
This card can be purchased in the Kgorong building on the Muckleneuk campus or at the Gauteng Regional Centre.
To use the self-service kiosks you will need to create a PIN – the librarian will be able to assist you with this.
Other Unisa libraries
You must carry your paper student card, along with your ID book, driver’s licence or valid passport.
What can I do in the library?
Use the library catalogue to locate a specific book.
Complete a “Request for Information” form if you’re looking for information on a specific topic. Complete the form (which can be found on the website or in the library) and return it to the Information Search Librarians via e-mail, post or in person.
Access the e-reserves on the Unisa library website.
When does my membership expire?
Membership begins with registration for the current academic year and is automatically cancelled directly after completion of the final examination of the same year.
Students who qualify for supplementary/aegrotat examinations will be notified to this effect in a letter from the university.
These students have to submit a copy of this letter to the library to ensure that their membership is extended until after the supplementary/aegrotat examinations.
Getting started at the library
Locate your nearest library and schedule a visit in your year planner. You can also book a training session to make the best use of your visit. This will teach you all about the library, the services that are offered and how to use them. If you’d like to schedule a training session, please remember to call the library first.
Remember that to access the library you must use your student card with your ID book or an electronic student card. If you are a first-time registering student, watch the library video on your my Studies @ Unisa DVD to familiarise yourself with the library. Re-registering students can download this DVD from the myUnisa website. Click here to view the student orientation videos. For more information on the library, click here.
Connect on Facebook & Twitter
There is a growing community of students on Facebook and Twitter. It’s a great way to share ideas, find students who live close to you, ask questions and stay informed.
If you aren’t already on Facebook, it’s easy to join – visit the Facebook website, create your profile and join the Unisa group (search for University of South Africa). If you haven’t already joined Twitter, go to the Twitter website and sign up.
Unisa posts important information and reminders on Facebook and Twitter.
Join a study group
Joining a study group is extremely beneficial, as it allows you to connect in a group where you can share ideas and problems, and find support.
You can join a study group in the following ways:
Find students studying the same modules via myUnisa.
Find fellow students in a similar location via Facebook – these could be students studying the same modules or a study group that will help you enforce discipline around study times.
Join tutorials or discussion classes – this way you can make contact with students in your region who are studying the same modules.
Join a Peer Collaborative Learning Programme – this is a more structured study group led by a senior student. Unisa will help you to find a group.
Participate in student organisations
The Student Representative Council
The Student Representative Council is a committee of student leaders elected by students for students. This means that they are committed to serving students and represent the student voice and viewpoint in the university’s governance structures. They give input into institutional meetings to ensure that the student voice is always considered when important decisions are made. There are SRCs at many of the regional centres.
If there is anything that you wish to bring to the attention of the SRC, you should make contact with them via the regional centres or find more information on myUnisa.
The student organisations and structures
Unisa aims to connect students other than just academically. For this reason, the student organisations and structures facilitate students in creating recreational groups that will be recognised and shared with other students in the region.
The following categories will be considered:
College student structures
Student political organisations
Religious student organisations
Other cultural and recreational groups
Get financial assistance
By now you will have paid the first minimum payment to register. Have you made provision for the remainder of the payments, prescribed books and travel expenses to get to exam centres? Does your company offer you enough study leave or will you need to take unpaid leave? Financial worries can place great stress on a person and it is best to resolve all financial aspects of your studies now before studying gets underway.
If you need financial assistance, Unisa offers a number of ways in which they can assist:
NSFAS loans – these are loans funded primarily by the South African National Department of Education which provides funds to academically able, but financially needy students. This loan will need to be repaid. It is, however, possible to get 40% of the loan converted to a bursary by passing 100% of your subjects. Therefore if you borrowed R50 000 and passed 100% of your subjects and achieved your qualification, you will only need to pay back R30 000. For more information, click here.
Students with disabilities – the Department of Labour offers bursaries to South African students with disabilities who show the potential to succeed academically. For more information, click here.
Step 2 - Connect
Register on myUnisa – your self-service portal
Get an electronic student card
Learn more about regional centres and services
Find out about counselling, career and academic development
Use the Unisa library
Connect on Facebook & Twitter
Join a study group
Participate in student organisations
Get financial assistance
