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)
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)
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
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)
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
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)
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):
- 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!