Every year thousands of South African students apply to universities and tertiary institutions to pursue higher learning. With such a wide range of universities and programmes available, sometimes it can be overwhelming to decide which university to apply to and what the most suitable programme for you is.
Fortunately, there are many quality universities in South Africa to choose from and the application process is relatively straightforward. The following guide outlines the general application process for the eight leading universities in South Africa, including University of Johannesburg (UJ), University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), University of South Africa (UNISA), University of Kwazulu Natal, University of Pretoria, North West University, University of the Western Cape, and University of Cape Town.
University of Johannesburg (UJ)
UJ is a highly regarded educational institution located in Gauteng. It offers wide range of programmes focussing on health, arts, business, law, education and engineering. Admission requirements vary depending on a student’s previous qualifications and chosen programme. To apply for a programme at UJ, you will need to register online on their site University of Johannesburg (UJ): Apply here fill out their application form and pay the relevant fee.
University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)
WITS is one of South Africa’s leading research institutions. It offers a range of degree, diploma, and certificate courses in disciplines such as science, engineering, humanities, and commerce. To apply to WITS, you’ll need to complete an online application form, submit certified copies of your identity document and academic transcripts, and pay the specified application fee.
University of South Africa (UNISA)
UNISA is a distance-learning institution that allows students to study at their own pace in a particular field of study. It offers over 500 short courses, as well as diplomas, degrees, and honours programmes. Applicants must complete an online application form and provide certified copies of certificates, identification documents, and other evidence of prior qualifications.
University of Kwazulu Natal
The University of Kwazulu Natal offers diplomas, degrees, and honours programmes in sciences, engineering, humanities, and law. To apply to UKZN, you must complete an online application form, submit all the necessary documents, and pay the application fee. These documents include certified copies of identity documents, qualifications, and other relevant academic records. To apply at UKZN click here
University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria offers a range of diplomas, degrees, honours, and postgraduate programmes in diverse disciplines such as finance, law, engineering, and health sciences. To apply to the university, interested applicants must submit certified copies of identity documents, academic transcripts, and any other evidence of prior qualifications. To apply: https://www.up.ac.za/academic-admission
North West University
North West University is one of South Africa’s most prestigious institutions and offers a range of degrees, diplomas, and postgraduate programmes in the fields of humanities, sciences, engineering, and medicine. To apply to NWU, you must complete an online application form on the university’s website: https://www.nwu.ac.za/general-applications and submit all the required documents, including certified copies of your identity document, academic records, and other relevant qualifications.
University of the Western Cape
The University of the Western Cape offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in a wide variety of disciplines. To apply to UWC, applicants must complete an online application form: http://www.uwc.ac.za/Pages/How-to-apply.aspx, submit relevant documents, and pay the application fee. These documents include certified copies of identity documents, academic transcripts, and any other relevant qualifications.
University of Cape Town
UCT is one of the leading research universities in the world and offers a range of degrees, diplomas, and postgraduate programmes in an array of disciplines. To apply to the university, applicants must submit certified copies of identity documents, academic transcripts, and any other evidence of prior qualifications. After this, applicants will need to complete the online application form and pay any associated fees. To apply, click here
In summary, the application process for South African universities is not overly complicated. By following the above guidelines, you should have no difficulty completing the applications for UJ, WITS, UNISA, UKZN, UWC, UP, NWU, and UCT.
Good luck with your application!