University application deadlines South Africa wide are not one single date. Each public university sets its own closing date, and most fall between June and October of the year before you start studying. The national deadline that matters now is NSFAS funding: applications for the 2027 academic year close on Saturday 31 October 2026.
NSFAS 2027 applications close on 31 October
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| NSFAS applications opened | 18 September 2026 |
| NSFAS applications close | Saturday 31 October 2026, end of the day |
NSFAS says late applications cannot be accepted. Applying is free and done online at my.nsfas.org.za or on the official NSFAS app. NSFAS can be reached on WhatsApp at 0800 067 327, by USSD on *134*67327# and on its toll-free line, 08000 67327.
Applying to a university and applying for NSFAS are separate processes, and you need to do both if you want funding. Do not wait for a university offer before you apply to NSFAS. If NSFAS turns you down, our guide to the NSFAS appeal process explains what to do next.
When university applications open and close
Universities open applications for the following academic year around March to May, based on your Grade 11 final marks and your Grade 12 June results. That is why schools push learners to apply in the middle of matric year, not after the final exams.
Most institutions close new applications around September or October, but that is a pattern, not a rule. Competitive programmes such as medicine, engineering or actuarial science often close much earlier, sometimes by June or July, because applicants far outnumber places.
Why deadlines differ by university and programme
Every public university runs its own admissions office and sets its own dates. A degree that has closed at one university may still be open at another for the same intake. Programme popularity, campus capacity and whether a course needs a portfolio, audition or entrance test all affect when it closes.
KwaZulu-Natal is a partial exception. Some universities there use the Central Applications Office (CAO), so check whether you apply through the CAO portal rather than the university’s own site.
UNISA, the distance-learning university, usually keeps registration open later than contact universities, sometimes into January for many undergraduate qualifications.
Application fees differ between universities and are usually not refundable. Check the fee on the university’s own application page before you pay.
If you miss out: CACH
If you applied on time but received no offer, or decided late that you want to study, the Central Application Clearing House (CACH) is the next route. Applicants who applied through the Central Application System (CAS) and received no offer are loaded onto CACH automatically. Anyone who did not apply through CAS can sign up at cach.cas.ac.za.
CACH usually opens in January, once universities know which offered places were not taken up. Public and private institutions with open places use it to make offers. It is worth registering as a backup even if you already have one offer.
Registration is a separate step
An offer is not enrolment. You still need to register, usually in January, which means confirming your programme, paying an initial fee and submitting certified documents. Registration dates have been extended in the past, so confirm your date with the university once you have an offer.
If you need to improve your marks first, our guide to matric rewrite options explains the second chance programme.
Where to check
- Each university’s admissions page has the firm date for your programme.
- The NSFAS 2027 applications page has the funding dates.
- The CACH portal handles late applications after results are out.
HOW WE REPORTED THIS
- Read the NSFAS 2027 applications page for the 18 September and 31 October 2026 application dates, free online applications through myNSFAS, the no-late-applications rule and the NSFAS WhatsApp, USSD and toll-free contacts
- Carried over the CACH process for applicants without an offer and the KZN Central Applications Office route from the earlier version of this guide
- Carried over the general university cycle, from Grade 11 and June results to January registration, from the earlier version of this guide
