Applications for Unisa (University of South Africa) are officially open for undergraduates and are set to close on 11 October 2024. This is great news for candidates who missed the initial closing date for late applications.
If you’re eager to send in your application, then read on to find out everything you need to know about sending your Unisa application for 2025.
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Unisa Application Process
Before you send in your 2025 Unisa application, it’s important to understand the application process at the university, as well as what’s to be expected when you apply.
Students who would like to apply to Unisa in 2025 will need to take note of the following before sending in their applications:
Unisa Qualification Selection
You can apply for up to two qualifications, and you should rank them based on your preferences. However, even if both are successful, you can only register for one qualification.
It’s a good idea to choose a course you are interested in as your second qualification, as this will be your backup for when you’re not accepted into your first choice.
Struggling to choose the right course for you? Taking a psychometric test could help you make an informed decision about your academic future. You can learn all about psychometric tests in our Ultimate Guide to Psychometric Tests in South Africa.
Unisa Acceptance
Unisa will let you know the outcome of your application. If you’re accepted, they’ll specify which qualification you got into and offer you a spot for the requested period.
Note that you must respond to Unisa’s offer within the given time frame. If you miss the deadline, Unisa will withdraw the offer, and the spot will go to someone else.
If you’re applying to Unisa for the first time, you need to complete the First-Year Experience MOOC (massive open online course) before accepting the offer.
You can only accept one offer; so, if you accept an offer for one qualification, whether it’s your first or second choice, the other offer will be automatically cancelled.
If you accept Unisa’s offer, you must register for the specified study period. If you don’t register for that semester, you’ll have to reapply during the next application period.
Who Should Be Applying to Study at Unisa
Anyone who is looking to start a new qualification can apply to Unisa. This includes those who are applying to Unisa for the first time, as well as current Unisa students who would like to switch to a different course.
Other individuals who should apply to Unisa include those who have applied and been accepted in the past but didn’t complete the registration process.
Additionally, if you are currently enrolled in a higher certificate or another programme and plan to pursue another undergraduate course next year, you should also apply to Unisa.
What You’ll Need for Your 2025 Unisa Application
Students looking to apply to Unisa will need to ensure that they qualify for admission. Here’s a list of things you’ll need before sending in your 2025 Unisa application:
- The minimum academic points score (APS) for the qualification of your choice.
- A valid e-mail address and cellphone number (be sure to use only one email address and number as this is how Unisa will be contacting you)
- South African applicants will need a valid ID number, while foreign applicants will need their passport number.
- Valid copy of your latest school qualifications (for example, your matric certificate)
- Valid copy of your tertiary academic record (if applicable)
- Application fee of R140, which should be paid once you receive your student number
Once you’ve gathered everything you need from the list above, you’ll be ready to apply to Unisa!
2025 Unisa Application: How to Apply Online
To apply to Unisa online for the first time, you’ll need to go to the ‘Apply for Admission’ page and then follow these steps:
- Navigate to your qualification (e.g. undergraduate) and choose “First-time Unisa applications”.
- When the new page opens, select ‘Start the process’ at the bottom of the page.
- Accept the Terms and Conditions and click ‘Proceed to ODeL and Unisa’.
- If you haven’t already selected a qualification, click on ‘Choose a qualification’ and follow the instructions on the page. Once you have selected your chosen qualification, follow steps 1 to 3 again, skip step 4 and then move on to step 5.
- If you have already chosen a qualification, select ‘Apply now’.
- Follow the prompts in order to complete your application.
- Once you are done, you will be able to upload your supporting documents.
Submitting relevant documentation is the last step you need to take when applying to Unisa. Let’s take a look at what documents you’ll need to prepare before sending your application.
Supporting Documents Needed for Your 2025 Unisa Application
After you’ve finished your online application, you should be ready to submit your supporting documents to Unisa. The supporting documents include the following:
- Copy of your school qualifications (for example, your Senior Certificate or National Senior Certificate)
- Copy of your official tertiary academic record(s) (Internet copies will not be accepted)
- Copy of your ID document (RSA students) or ID/passport (international students)
- Copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable) or divorce decree (if applicable)
- Sworn translations of documents if they are not in English or Afrikaans
*Remember, even after you’ve met the requirements and applied, there’s still no guarantee that you will be accepted into Unisa. That’s why it’s important to ensure that you submit all the correct documentation and apply as early as possible.
Unisa Application Fee
Unisa has a non-refundable application fee of R140, which needs to be paid by all applicants regardless of whether your application is accepted or not. To pay your application fee, you need to follow the below steps:
- Use the student number provided by Unisa and the application fee reference number (e.g. STUDENTNUMBER 5370810030).
- Send the proof of payment to susdepid@Unisa.ac.za.
- Carefully review Unisa’s payment methods and banking details before making a payment.
- Remember, Unisa doesn’t take cash at its offices. But if you have cash, you can deposit it into the university’s FNB account.
How to Check Your Unisa Application Status in 2025
After you’ve finished your online application for Unisa, you may be wondering about the status of your application.
To track your Unisa application status, all you have to do is:
- Visit the ‘Apply for admission: application tool’ page.
- Swipe down until you reach the bottom and select ‘Status’ in the bottom left corner of the page.
- Fill in your details and wait for your current status to load.
- If you have been accepted, you can accept your offer by visiting the ‘Apply for admission: application tool’ page once again. Once there, you can select ‘Offer’ at the bottom right corner of the page.
- After accepting, you will now be able to register with Unisa and become a student.
If you have not been accepted to Unisa, don’t lose hope. There are still plenty of other online distance-learning institutions that you can apply to in the new year. You can check out the full list of 12 Accredited Distance Learning Institutions in South Africa in our blog.
What to Do if Your Unisa Application is Pending
If your 2025 Unisa application status says ‘pending’ and you’re unsure of what to do, don’t worry, we have got you covered.
First things first, it’s important to be patient, as the application process can take a bit of time—especially when a lot of people are applying.
However, if it’s been taking longer than usual and you’re starting to wonder what’s going on, then be sure to reach out to the Unisa admissions office for an update. They can fill you in on where things stand with your application and let you know if there are any unexpected delays.
Contacting the Unisa admissions office is key, especially if you feel things may have gone amiss with your application. You can contact the admissions office by sending an email to study-info@unisa.ac.za.
Unisa Application Delays and How to Handle Them
Your 2025 Unisa application has been delayed for a while and you’re feeling frustrated. We totally get it! A delayed application means it’s time to investigate what’s going on behind closed doors.
There are a few reasons why your Unisa application could be delayed. One reason could be missing or incomplete documentation. It’s crucial to make sure you’ve submitted all the necessary documents accurately for a smoother admission process. If you discover any omissions or errors, it’s a good idea to contact the admissions office promptly to address the issue.
As we stated earlier, a common factor causing delays is the high volume of applications, particularly during peak periods like the start of a new semester. The admissions office might be swamped with applications, leading to extended processing times. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about this other than being patient while waiting for your application to be thoroughly reviewed.
While you’re waiting for a status update, it might be a good idea to check out the other institutions accepting applications for 2025. That way, you’ll have a backup in case you do not get accepted into Unisa.
Fund Your Studies with Fundi
If you’ve been accepted to study at your chosen tertiary institution—whether it’s a private college, university, university of technology or TVET—you’ll need to acquire funding for your studies. Luckily, Fundi offers funding to students looking to study in 2025. The allowances covered by Fundi include textbooks, tuition, electronics and more.
Try out our Fundi student loan calculator to see what your estimated instalments will be, and how we can make your dream of studying at a tertiary institution into a reality.
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