Unisa is the largest open distance learning institution in Africa, the longest standing dedicated distance education university in the world. We enrol nearly one-third of South African students.
Registered students
Annual graduates
Annual graduates
Students outside South Africa
Unisa Alumni
Browse all qualifications.
Unisa's second African Music Festival brought musicians, scholars, students and audiences together to celebrate indigenous African music while highlighting the university's efforts to expand and decolonise music education.
As Unisa Press celebrates 70 years of publishing excellence and Library and Information Services marks 80 years of advancing access to knowledge, Prof Puleng LenkaBula reflects on a 150-year legacy and challenges the university to ensure these institutions remain influential in the digital knowledge economy.
Unisa has secured a prestigious €6.07 million (approximately R114 million) European Union Horizon research grant as part of an international consortium of 15 institutions from nine Atlantic Ocean countries.
Unisa is investing in South Africa's next generation of veterinarians through a fully funded partnership with the University of Namibia, allowing 10 aspiring veterinary professionals to help shape the university's future School of Veterinary Science.
Can land unlock South Africa's rural economy? At the fourth Annual Simiso Nkwanyana Memorial Lecture, Unisa brought together leading voices in academia, government and civil society to examine one of the country's most pressing challenges. The keynote address was delivered by Thoko Didiza, Speaker of the National Assembly and former Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs.
African Council for Distance Education Conference 2027
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)
Event dates: 12 - 16 April 2027
Full day
International Conference on Coastal, Marine, and Maritime Research (COMMRE 2026)
Venue: Durban International Conference Centre (Durban ICC)
Event dates: 27 - 30 October 2026
Full day
