So you want to study in 2018?

Here’s your guide to application closing dates and other vital information!

Finding application closing dates and other life-altering info on an University website is almost freakin impossible! Seems like nobody got time for basic web design. *raises my one I-am-sceptical brow*

That’s why we’ve created this cosy little corner on the internet where you can find all the important deets in one spot on every major university or university of technology (technikon) in South Africa.

If you need more help to figure out your future, check out our FREE FUTURE ISSUE. You’ll find dope infographics like this career infographic; tons of interviews with celebs like Locnville, Courtnall Skosan and Lorna Maseko on how they figured out their post-school decisions; and so much more.

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTES IF YOU WANT TO STUDY IN 2018

  • If you are worried about getting the money to study, check out some SA bursaries here.
  • International or Non South African residents usually have earlier deadlines that the dates stated below.
  • NSFAS and bursary holders also usually have earlier deadlines.

HOW TO PICK THE BEST UNIVERSITY TO STUDY AT IN 2018

This is by no means a complete or a recommendations list. It’s rather a list of the most common Universities and Technikons (Universities of Technology) in South Africa.

Therefore make sure you do your research on any other varsities and all the colleges and private institutions that aren’t listed here. You need to find the best fit for you, your budget or your career goals.

A LIST OF ALL THE MAJOR UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA (AND THEIR APPLICATION CLOSING DATES)

GAUTENG

University of Pretoria (Tukkies)

uniofpretoriajpg

Where: Pretoria

Website: www.up.ac.za 

Phone: 012 420 3111

Can I apply now? Go ahead, because applications are open!

When is the earliest Application Deadline:  31 May 2017

Distance Learning: Well, not for kids fresh out of high, because they only offer Post Graduate Distance Programmes in Education for working teachers.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking  HERE):

31 May: 

  • BSc (Architecture)
  • BSc (Interior Architecture)
  • BSc (Landscape Architecture)
  • All Faculty of Health Sciences Programmes (excluding Higher Certificate in Sports Science, which is due on the 30 September)
  • All Faculty of Veterinary Science Programmes

30 June:

  • BTRP – Bachelor of Town and Regional Planning BSc (Construction Management)
  • BSc (Quantity Surveying)
  • BSc (Real Estate)
  • BA (Audiology)
  • BA (Speech-Language Pathology)
  • BA (Fine Arts) BA (Information Design)
  • BMus
  • BDram – Bachelor of Drama

30 September:

  • All Programmes,in all Faculties, not due on earlier dates
University of Witwatersrand (Wits)

Where: Johannesburg

Can I apply now? Yup, because applications are open!

Website: www.wits.ac.za 

Phone: 011 717 1888

Soonest Application Closing Deadline? 30 June 2017

Distance Learning? No.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

30 June 2017:

  • Faculty of Health Sciences (All programmes)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Therapy
  • Bachelor of Architecture

30 September 2017:

  • All other University programmes

The above-mentioned closing dates are also applicable to International applicants.

University of Johannesburg (UJ)

Where: Johannesburg

Can I apply already? Go ahead, because applications are wide open!

Website: www.uj.ac.za 

Phone: 011 559 4555

Soonest Application Closing Deadline? 29 September 2017

Distance Learning? Yes. Diploma in Transport and Supply Chain Management.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

29 September 2017:

  • All Degrees

 

WESTERN CAPE

University of Stellenbosch (Maties)

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Where: Stellenbosch

Website: www.sun.ac.za

Phone: 021 808 9111

Can I apply already? Applications are open right now, therefore yes!

Soonest Application Closing Deadline? 31 May 2017

Distance Learning? No.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

31 May 2017:

  • MB,ChB in the Faculty Medicine
  • Health Sciences

30 June 2017: 

  • Applications close for all other undergraduate programmes

31 October 2017:

  • Diploma in Public Accountability (Telematic Education)

 

University of the Western Cape

uct

Where: Bellville

Website: www.uwc.ac.za

Phone: 021 959 2911

Can I apply already?  Yaaaas! Go ahead, because you can. *flexes my right arm’s medium-sized muscle, because I write with that hand, m’kay.*

Soonest Application Closing Deadline? 31 August 2017

Distance Learning? No.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

31 August 2017:

  • Dentistry

30 September 2017:

  • All other Degrees / Courses

 

University of Cape Town (Ikeys)

uct

Where: Cape Town

Website: www.uct.ac.za

Phone: 021 650 9111

When can I start Applying? You can apply right now. : )

Soonest Application Closing Deadline? 30 September 2017

Distance Learning? No.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

30 September 2017: 

  • All degrees.

 

Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) *

* This is not a traditional University; it’s a University of Technology, meaning it has limited degrees to offer, but a wide range of diplomas.

Where: Bellville

Website: www.cput.ac.za 

Phone: 021 959 6767

Can I apply already? Go ahead, because you can apply already!

When is the soonest closing date? 31 July 2017

Distance Learning? Yes, but only a Diploma in Real Estate.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE): 31 July 2017:

  • Architectural Technology

31 August 2017:

  • All degrees, including Design
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University *

* This is not a traditional University; it’s a University of Technology, meaning it has limited degrees to offer, but a wide range of diplomas.

Where: Port Elizabeth and George

When is the earliest Application Closing Deadline? 1 August 2017

Website: www.nmmu.ac.za

Phone: 041 504 3364

Distance Learning? No.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

1 August 2017:

  • All Courses.

NORTHERN CAPE

University of SOL PLAATJIE

Where: Kimberley

Website: www.spu.ac.za

Phone: 053 491 0000

When can I start Applying?  They’re open!

Soonest Application Closing Deadline: 30 September 2017

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

30 September 2017:

  • All Courses

 

EASTERN CAPE

Rhodes University

Where: Grahamstown

When can I start Applying? Open!

Soonest Application Closing Deadline? 30 September 2017

Distance Learning? No.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

30 September 2017: 

  • All courses.

Website: www.ru.ac.za

Phone: 046 603 8111

THE FREE STATE

University of the Free State (Kovsies)

UFS-Cover-Photo

Where: Bloemfontein and Phuthaditjhaba (formerly known as QwaQwa)

When can I start Applying?  You can apply! They’re open already.

Soonest Application Closing Deadline:  31 May 2017

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, because they have two campuses with different deadlines. Click HERE for the Bloemfontein campus and HERE for the QwaQwa Campus):

Distance Learning: Yes. In both LLB Law Qualifications and Quantity Surveying Qualifications.

Website: www.ufs.ac.za 

Phone: 051 401 3000

31 May 2017:

  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree (MBChB)
  • All degrees in the School for Allied Health Professions (so degrees relating to Health)
  • Architecture

31 July 2017:

  • All Bachelor of Sciences (BSc)
  • BSocSci (Nursing)
  • BSc majoring in Quantity Surveying
  • BSc majoring in Construction Management

30 September 2017:

  • BSc majoring in Geology
  • BSc majoring in Forensic Sciences
  • Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degrees
  • All other programmes.
Central University of Technology *

* This is not a traditional University; it’s a University of Technology, meaning it has limited degrees to offer, but a wide range of diplomas.

Where: Bloemfontein and Welkom

Website: www.cut.ac.za

Phone: (0)51 507 3786 | (0)51 507 3785

When can I start Applying? Open!

Soonest Application Closing Deadline? 31 Augustus 2017

Distance Learning? No.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE): 

31 Augustus 2017:

  • All programmes.

KWAZULU-NATAL

University of Kwazulu-Natal

Where: Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Pinetown and Westville

Website: www.ukzn.ac.za 

Phone: 031 260 1111

When can I start Applying? They’re open!

Soonest Application Closing Deadline? 30 June 2017

Distance Learning? Yes, but only in LLB.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

30 June 2017:
  • Medicine

30 September 2017: 

  • All degrees.

 

NORTH WEST

Tswane University of Technology (TUT) *

* This is not a traditional University; it’s a University of Technology, meaning it has limited degrees to offer, but a wide range of diplomas.

Where: Tshwane (Pretoria, Soshanguve and Ga-Rankuwa)) , Mbombela (previously called Nelspruit), eMalahleni (previously called Witbank) and Polokwane

Website: www.tut.ac.za

Phone: 086 110 2421

When can I start Applying? They’re open!

Distance Learning? Yes. In Policing and Road Traffic Management.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE): 

15 June 2017:

  • Biomedical Technology
  • Correctional Services Management
  • Dental Technology
  • Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics
  • Nursing
  • Policing
  • Pharmacy and Radiography
  • Road Traffic and Municipal Police Management: Municipal and Traffic Policing

31 July 2017:

  • Agriculture: Animal Production; Commercial Mixed Farming; Crop Production; Development and Extension
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Architecture
  • Dental Assisting
  • Biokinetics
  • Biotechnology
  • Business Communication
  • Clinical Technology
  • Economic Management Analysis
  • Engineering: Civil, (B Tech); Chemical; Metallurgical
  • Environmental Health
  • Fire Technology
  • Geology
  • International Communication
  • Journalism
  • Legal Assistance
  • Nature Conservation
  • Officiating and Coaching Science
  • Project Management
  • Public Relations Management
  • Quality
  • Sport and Exercise Technology
  • Somatology
  • Three-Dimensional Design
  • Veterinary Technology
  • All qualifications in the Arts Faculty and Education

30 September 2017:

  • For all other programmes.
North-West University (Pukke)

Where: Potchefstroom, Mafikeng & Vanderbijlpark

When can I start Applying? The applications are already open!

Soonest Application Closing Deadline? 31 May 2017 (for distance learning) and 30 June 2017 (in terms of normal degrees)

Distance Learning? Yes. They offer distance learning in the following fields: Education, Nursing, Theology and Public Governance.

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

30 June 2017: 

  • Graphic Design
  • Diploma in Music
  • Diploma in Sport
  • Pharmacy
  • Dietetics
  • Consumer Studies
  • Social Work
  • Nursing
  • City and Town Planning
  • All Law degrees at Potch campus
  • Engineering

28 September 2017:

  • All other degrees and qualifications

Website: www.nwu.ac.za 

Phone: 018 299 1111 (Potch), 018 389 2111 (Mafikeng) or 016 910 3111 (Vaal Triangle Campus)

LIMPOPO

University of Limpopo

Where: Mankweng, close to Polokwane

Website: www.ul.ac.za

Phone: 015 268 3332

When can I start Applying?  You can start applying today!

Soonest Application Closing Deadline? 31 July 2017

Application Closing Dates for SA Residents (please make sure what your specific Programme’s closing date is, by clicking HERE):

31 July 2017:

  • MBChB Medicine

29 September 2017:

  • All other courses

 

University of South Africa (UNISA)

Where: South Africa (UNISA makes use of distance learning, because they do not use location-based lecturing. You can study at UNISA from anywhere in SA)

Website: www.unisa.ac.za 

Phone: 012 441 5888 / 012 429 4982

Distance Learning? That’s all they do!

When can I start Applying? They don’t seem to be open yet, because we can’t get hold of them or hold of any online info on 2018!