Some students may have missed the initial application deadline or not received acceptance letters from the tertiary institutions they applied to. If you’re in this position, don’t worry. There’s still a chance for you to apply and study at some of South Africa’s best universities and TVET colleges.
There are quite a few institutions accepting late applications for 2024. This article will provide you with all the information you need to know to apply successfully.
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Universities that Accept Late Applications in 2024
Universities are fairly strict when it comes to deadlines, so you already missed out on late applications for 2024 to institutions such as the University of Cape Town (UCT), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) and Stellenbosch University (Maties).
Luckily, there are universities in South Africa that are more forgiving and are still allowing students to apply to study for the year 2024.
University of Johannesburg (UJ) Late Applications
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) will officially close its doors for late applications on 25 January 2024 at 2 pm.
Prospective students wanting to apply to the University of Johannesburg still have time left to send their applications—for free!
*Note: Only qualifications where UJ still has space available will be offered to students applying for late applications in 2024.
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Late Applications
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) closed its applications for undergraduates on 30 September 2023. However, applications for various programmes are still open for certain faculties and are set to close as soon as the programmes are full (so be sure to apply as soon as possible!).
The following faculties are still open for late applications at UKZN:
- College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (all undergraduate programmes)
- College of Humanities (all undergraduate programmes, excluding BEd, Social Work, Visual Arts and Art PPL)
- College of Law and Management Studies for BCom (Foundation), BCom (Accounting) and Bachelor of Administration
*The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) will not be accepting late applications for the College of Health Sciences in 2024.
University of South Africa (UNISA) Late Applications
Although late applications for the University of South Africa (UNISA) closed on 17 November 2023, a few undergraduate programmes within certain faculties of UNISA are still open and are set to close on 31 January 2024.
Programmes can be found within each one of the following faculties:
- College of Accounting Sciences
- College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Universities of Technology that Accept Late Applications for 2024
A majority of late applications have already closed for the universities of technology in South Africa. Most closing dates occurred between the end of August and September 2023.
With that said, there are certain universities of technology that are still open for late applications, but not for long. For more detailed information about applications that are still open, read more below and be sure to get your documentation ready before the closing dates arrive.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Late Applications
Late applications for the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) are open on Monday, 15 January and will close on 19 January 2024.
According to CPUT, only a few spaces are available and you need to fall into one of the following categories of applicants to apply:
- Applicants who have not already applied during the regular application times
- Applicants who have exhausted 1 or 2 options out of the total of 3 for applications during the regular application period
- Students who are transferring from other tertiary institutions
- Previous CPUT students who took a gap year and would like to continue with their studies
- Students partaking in the phasing out programmes
- Students applying for Advanced Diplomas or Postgraduate studies
Durban University of Technology (DUT) Late Applications
Late applications for the Durban University of Technology (DUT) are still open via the CAO portal. However, it’s important to note that acceptance into the university is not guaranteed, as admissions will be reviewed on a first come first serve basis.
The following faculties at DUT have select programmes that are still open for late applications:
- Faculty of Accounting and Informatics
- Faculty of Applied Sciences
- Faculty of Management Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering and The Built Environment
- Faculty of Health Sciences
View the full list of programmes available for late applications at DUT.
Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) Late Applications
Students who are eager to apply to Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) can still send late applications through the CAO portal. Remember, the sooner you apply, the more likely it is that you’ll be accepted into a programme before it’s too late!
Wondering how to send late application forms through CAO? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Discover everything you need to know about 2024 CAO applications in our article, 2024 CAO Application: How to Apply.
TVET Colleges Open for Late Applications 2024
There are a multitude of TVET colleges located throughout South Africa, and each one has various closing dates that are dependent on the courses and programmes on offer.
Central Johannesburg TVET College
Late applications for the Central Johannesburg TVET College are set to close on 5 February 2024.
The Central Johannesburg TVET College offers a range of qualifications with four schools to choose from.
Prospective students can choose to study part-time or on a full-time basis in selected programmes and are able to apply to the college online.
Start the application process for Central Johannesburg TVET College.
College of Cape Town Late Applications
Applications for the College of Cape Town are still open for 2024!
Holding the title of the oldest TVET College in South Africa, the College of Cape Town boasts the latest technology and facilities for students to use.
Students are not liable for any registration fee (meaning you can apply for free) and general tuition ranges from +-R2 000 to +-R42 000.
TVET Colleges Open for Applications Year-round
There are courses available at several TVET colleges that are open for applications throughout the year, so prospective students can apply at any point.
This includes, but is not limited to, the following institutions:
- Capricorn TVET College
- Coastal TVET College
- Ekurhuleni East TVET College
- Ekurhuleni West TVET College
- Elangeni TVET College
- Esayidi TVET College
- False Bay TVET College
- Flavius Mareka TVET College
- Gert Sibande TVET College
- Goldfields TVET College
View the complete list of TVET Colleges and their closing dates.
Fund Your Tertiary Education with Fundi
Once you’ve applied to your chosen tertiary institution—whether that’s a university, university of technology or TVET college—it’s time to look at your funding options. Fundi covers a range of educational costs, including everything from accommodation, learning devices and tuition fees.
Want to find out if you qualify? Then be sure to check out the Fundi loan calculator and start your educational journey today!
