Application process
Who must apply for admission?
Everyone wanting to start a new qualification must apply for admission.
When may I apply?
- For the application dates for undergraduate qualifications (higher certificates, advanced certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas & degrees), click here.
- For the application dates for honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas, click here.
- For the application dates for master's and doctoral degrees, click here.
How do I apply for admission?
All applications for admission must be submitted online during the prescribed application period. Visit www.unisa.ac.za/apply for more information.
I completed my schooling or undergraduate studies outside South Africa. Do I qualify?
For a list of acceptable school qualifications for admission per country, visit http://mb.usaf.ac.za/.
If you qualify for admission to an undergraduate qualification on the basis of a conditional exemption certificate, Unisa will facilitate this during the application processing stage. A separate fee is applicable for the Matriculation Board to issue the conditional exemption certificate.
You do not need an exemption certificate if you are applying for admission to a master's or doctoral qualification. Click here for more information on master's and doctoral qualifications.
How do I pay the application fee?
The non-refundable online application fee is R135,00.
* If you already have a Unisa student number for a formal qualification, you do not need to pay the application fee, as it is a once-off fee.
You can make payment via Flywire or by means of a SWIFT transfer (see bank account details below). Please note that any payments other than those made via the Unisa website might take a few days to reflect on the Unisa account. Please send proof of payment to susdepid@unisa.ac.za
Flywire payments
- Click here for more information about using Flywire’s global payment network.
- Click here to make a payment via Flywire.
SWIFT transfers can be made
- once you have a Unisa student number
- in respect of fees, for example: study fees, examination fees (supplementary, sick or special exam fees), exemption fees and library charges
- provided that the details are filled in as follows:
- Bank: First National Bank
- Beneficiary: Unisa income account
- Account type: Cheque
- Branch code: 250645
- Swift code: FIRNZAJJ
- Account number: 62799625200
- Deposit reference: first eight (8) blocks are for the student number (if the student number consists of only 7 digits, then a "0" must be filled in as the first digit of the student number). Leave one block open, then fill in the following code: 5370810030 for the application fee.
Undergraduate applications
If you are applying for admission to an undergraduate qualification, please ensure that you submit the following documents as part of your application:
Honours and postgraduate diploma applications
If you are applying for admission to an honours degree or postgraduate diploma, please ensure that you submit the following documents as part of your application:
- Copies of all official academic records, including all papers / modules passed, percentages obtained and the ledger/grading scale. You do not need to submit Unisa academic records. If your official records are not in English, you must also submit an original translation by a sworn translator.
- Copy of your valid passport.
- Marriage / divorce documents (if applicable and if the names on your academic record do not correspond with the names on your passport).
- A SAQA certificate of evaluation (you can apply for it here: https://www.saqa.org.za).
* If you have not heard from SAQA within three months of submitting your request, please complete the Unisa CGS21 form and submit it to PG-International@unisa.ac.za By completing and submitting this form, you give Unisa permission to contact the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) on your behalf with regard to your application for a Certificate of Evaluation.
Master's & doctoral applications
If you are applying for admission to a master's or doctoral qualification, please ensure that you submit the following documents as part of your application:
- Copies of all official academic records, including all papers / modules passed, percentages obtained and the ledger. You do not need to submit Unisa academic records. If your official records are not in English, you must also submit translations by a sworn translator.
- A copy of your ID or valid passport.
- A research outline, CV and any additional documents as indicated in the admission requirements for the specific qualification under the departmental focus area requirements (applicants applying for the MBA, MBL, DBL, coursework LLMs and the Coursework MCom in Industrial Psychology do not need to submit a research outline).
- If you intend applying for admission to a qualification offered by the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, please contact the college before submitting your application, as you require a letter of permission from the college / department to be uploaded as part of your application.
- If you intend applying for admission to a qualification offered by the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, you also need to complete the relevant departmental forms (available under the college's research focus areas).
- Click here for the departmental application form for the coursework MCom in Industrial Psychology (professional qualification).
- RPL approval letter if you applied for admission via RPL.
- A SAQA certificate of evaluation (you can apply for it here: https://www.saqa.org.za).
* If you have not heard from SAQA within three months of submitting your request, please complete the Unisa CGS21 form and submit it to PG-International@unisa.ac.za By completing and submitting this form, you give Unisa permission to contact the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) on your behalf with regard to your application for a Certificate of Evaluation.
** Students may apply for admission without the SAQA certificate of evaluation. If your application is approved, you will be allowed to register for the academic year, but you must submit the certificate of evaluation to mandd@unisa.ac.za by 15 December in order to be allowed to re-register for the next academic year.
- Please also note students outside the borders of Africa are required to pay a foreign levy with registration.
* Please note that some qualifications may require additional documents. Unisa reserves the right to request original documents and / or to verify the correctness of submitted documents at any time.
Rules for uploading supporting documents on the master's and doctoral application platform
- Files cannot be 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).
- The maximum number of files allowed is 5.
- Unisa does not provide scanners or electronic devices. Please ensure that your documents are in an electronic format before starting the application process.
- Upload each document separately.
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
Information about South African Qualifications Authority is available on the SAQA website: https://www.saqa.org.za
- The purpose of the evaluation function is the recognition of foreign qualifications in terms of the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
- SAQA performs the function as an integral part of a national recognition value chain. The focus of SAQA's role is on the location of foreign qualifications within the NQF. For admission to study, professional licensing and employment, the specific internal criteria and requirements of other relevant institutions must be met.
- Evaluation is a two-phased process by SAQA:
- Verify foreign qualifications by ensuring that issuing bodies are accredited/recognised in the national systems in which they operate, qualifications are legitimately issued by those issuing bodies and part of the national qualifications of that country, and that qualification documents are in order and awards claimed by individuals are genuine.
- Compare foreign qualifications with South African qualifications, considering the structure and outcomes of the foreign qualifications, to locate them within the South African NQF.
- Please note that Unisa only accepts certificates of evaluations from SAQA.
SAQA application steps
The application steps for the SAQA certificate of evaluation are explained on the YouTube video.
- You are advised to apply as soon as you have decided to apply for admission to postgraduate studies at Unisa.
- You only need to apply for a SAQA certificate of evaluation for the qualification that will give you admission to your postgraduate qualification, for example: If you completed a 4-year undergraduate degree and a master’s degree at a university outside the borders of South Africa and you now want to apply for admission to a PhD, you only need to have the master’s degree evaluated by SAQA. In other words, you need to have the qualification evaluated that meets the minimum admission requirement to be considered for the higher qualification,
- If you have not heard from SAQA within three weeks of submitting your request, please complete the Unisa CGS21 form and submit it to PG-International@unisa.ac.za By completing and submitting this form, you give Unisa permission to contact the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) on your behalf with regard to your application for a Certificate of Evaluation.
- Click here for more information on the documents you will need to submit/upload to SAQA.
- Click here for the SAQA payment methods.
I want to study towards a PhD. I have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Must they all be evaluated by SAQA?
You only need to have the master’s degree evaluated, as it is the minimum qualification required according to the admission requirements for the PhD degree. Please note that you must submit your complete academic records to SAQA.
I have applied at SAQA, but have not received a response from them. Time is running out to apply. What must I do?
You may apply for admission without the SAQA certificate of evaluation. If your application is approved, you will be allowed to register for the academic year, but you must submit the certificate of evaluation to mandd@unisa.ac.za by 15 December in order to be allowed to reregister for the next academic year.
If you have not heard from SAQA within three months of submitting your request, please complete the Unisa CGS21 form and submit it to PG-International@unisa.ac.za By completing and submitting this form, you give Unisa permission to contact the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) on your behalf with regard to your application for a Certificate of Evaluation.
Can I pay the SAQA fees at Unisa?
Unfortunately not. You must make an online application at SAQA and pay their fees before they will consider your application for a certificate of evaluation.
I have been approved for the 2024 academic year. When and where must I submit the outstanding SAQA certificate of evaluation?
You must submit the certificate of evaluation to mandd@unisa.ac.za as soon as you receive it. Please note that if you are registered for the academic year and do not submit the certificate of evaluation by 15 December of that year, you will not be allowed to re-register for the next academic year.
I received my SAQA certificate of evaluation. Where must I upload or submit it?
You must forward your SAQA certificate of evaluation to mandd@unisa.ac.za. The Master’s and Doctoral Administration Support Section will verify the NQF level on the certificate. Please take note that if you are registered for the academic year and do not submit the certificate of evaluation by 15 December of the year you will not be allowed to reregister for the next academic year.
How do the NQF levels work?
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Qualification type and credits NQF level
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Qualification type and credits NQF level
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Doctoral degree
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NQF level 10
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Master’s degree
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NQF level 9
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Postgraduate diploma
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NQF level 8 |
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Professional bachelor’s degree
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NQF level 8
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Bachelor honours degree
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NQF level 8
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Advanced diploma
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NQF level 7
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If you, for example, applied for a doctoral degree at Unisa, your qualification obtained at the international university must be evaluated on NQF level 9 in order to meet the minimum admission requirement for the doctoral degree.
What will happen to my registration if the NQF level on my SAQA certificate does not meet the required NQF level?
On receipt of the SAQA certificate, the M&D section will establish whether the NQF level meets the minimum admission requirements. If it is on a lower level, the section will refer your academic records back to the department to do their own assessment. Once the department has done their evaluation you will be informed of the outcome. You will either be allowed to continue with your studies, or your registration will be cancelled and your student account will be credited with the full fees paid.
2024 registration: Extension of temporary concession
The South African Department of Home Affairs is still experiencing severe visa application backlogs. The temporary concession, effective December 2023, allows universities to register foreign students with pending study visa applications. Click here for more information.
Funding for international students
The government is currently investigating the subsidy for international students, which means that prescribed student fees for this category of students could increase substantially in the future. Unisa reserves the right to charge fees in certain countries in the currency of that country. The levy for students in foreign countries must be paid in addition to the minimum initial payment at the time of registration. A student must be in possession of a student number before registration can be processed, or fees paid or deposited into the First National Bank, South African account.
Bursaries are available for international students, but only from their second year of study. For more information refer to student funding
Accreditation
Accreditation of Unisa as an institution
Unisa operates in accordance with the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997, as amended. It is recognised by the South African Department of Education (DoE), accredited by the South African Council on Higher Education (CHE) and all its qualifications are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Since Unisa operates in accordance with the Higher Education Act, 1997, it does not have a registration number at the Department of Education.
International accreditation of Unisa’s qualifications
One way for the accreditation of Unisa’s qualifications in foreign countries with an established Qualifications Authority, is for the two qualification authorities involved to negotiate the mutual recognition and accreditation of each other’s qualifications.
In other cases the publication of an institutions name in specific authoritative publications, forms the basis of accreditation. Unisa is inter alia listed in the International Handbook of Universities published by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and officially verified by the International Association of Universities.
Students must, however, enquire from the specific foreign country/university whether Unisa’s qualifications are accredited / recognised.
Contact Unisa
Please remember to indicate your student number in the subject line of your e-mail. You must use your myLife e-mail account when corresponding with the university. E-mails sent from personal e-mail accounts will not be attended to.
- For enquiries related to undergraduate higher certificates, diplomas and degrees, please send an e-mail to international@unisa.ac.za.
- For enquiries related to honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas. Please use the e-mail address of the college under which your qualification resides:
- For enquiries related to master's and doctoral degrees, please contact the College of Graduate Studies, Master's & Doctoral Administration Support Section (mandd@unisa.ac.za).