If you are still working on university applications 2027 entry, some doors have already closed. The University of Pretoria closed on 30 June 2026 and the University of Cape Town on 31 July 2026, and UCT states plainly that it will not consider late applications. Wits and the University of the Western Cape close on 30 September 2026, and the University of Johannesburg closes at 12:00 on 31 October 2026. UWC’s Dentistry and Oral Health programmes close on 31 August 2026.
Confirmed dates
| Institution | 2027 undergraduate closing date | Status today |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pretoria | 30 June 2026, and 31 May 2026 for Veterinary Science | Closed |
| University of Cape Town | 31 July 2026, with no late applications considered | Closed |
| University of the Witwatersrand | 30 September 2026 for general programmes | Open |
| University of the Western Cape | 30 September 2026, and 31 August 2026 for Dentistry and Oral Health | Open |
| University of Johannesburg | 31 October 2026 at 12:00 | Open |
This table covers institutions whose dates were confirmed on their own application pages. Every other university sets its own deadlines, and several run through the CAO system in KwaZulu-Natal. Check the institution’s own applications page rather than relying on a third-party list, because published summaries currently disagree with each other on several of these dates.
Faculty deadlines close earlier than the general one
The single most expensive mistake is assuming the headline closing date applies to your programme.
At Wits, the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology and BA Film and Television all closed on 30 June 2026, three months ahead of everything else. At UP, Veterinary Science closed a month before the rest. At UWC, Dentistry and Oral Health close a month before the general deadline.
The pattern holds across the sector. Medicine, health sciences, veterinary science, architecture and some creative programmes routinely close first, because selection involves portfolios, tests or interviews.
If your first choice has closed
You still have options, but they narrow every week.
- Apply where the window is open. Wits, UWC and UJ are still accepting applications for 2027.
- Check the institutions not listed above. Several universities run to later dates than the ones confirmed here.
- Consider a TVET college or a distance institution. Unisa runs on a later cycle than the contact universities.
- Watch for late or clearing rounds in January, which some institutions open after the matric results are released. UCT and UP have historically not offered these.
- Do not wait for your final results. Applications are made now, on the strength of earlier marks.
Applying with Grade 11 results
Current Grade 12 learners apply using their final Grade 11 results or their most recent Grade 12 interim marks. Universities issue a provisional or conditional offer on that basis, and the offer firms up once the National Senior Certificate results are released in January 2027.
That is why the deadline sits months before your final exams. Waiting until you have your NSC results means applying for 2028.
Work out your admission point score before you choose programmes, because applying for something you do not qualify for wastes an application. Southafriworld sets out how to calculate your APS score step by step.
Fees and how many choices
Application fees differ by institution and are generally non-refundable. Wits charges R100 for South African applicants. UCT requires a fee for every application submitted, and states clearly that paying it does not mean a place will be offered.
Wits allows a maximum of three programme choices, and the order of choice does not matter. Other institutions set their own limits. Several universities charge no application fee at all for online submissions, which matters if cost is a constraint.
Residence is often a separate application with its own deadline. At Wits, residence applications also close on 30 September 2026.
Applicants under 18 at UWC must submit a POPIA consent form.
Funding runs on a separate clock
An offer of admission is not funding. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme runs its own application cycle for the following academic year, typically opening in the second half of the preceding year and closing some months later. Confirm the current dates directly with NSFAS, and read Southafriworld’s guide to NSFAS applications before the window opens.
Missing the funding deadline while holding a valid offer is a common and avoidable outcome.
Common mistakes
Relying on an aggregator list. Published summaries currently disagree on Wits, UCT and UP dates. The university’s own page is the only source that counts.
Applying to one institution. Apply to several, across different levels of competitiveness.
Ignoring National Benchmark Test requirements. Some institutions and programmes require NBT results, and test sittings have their own registration deadlines.
Submitting without documents. An incomplete application can be cancelled without the applicant being told separately.
Forgetting to check your status. Universities communicate by email and through their own portals. Monitor both.
Frequently asked questions
Are 2027 university applications still open?
Yes at Wits, UWC and UJ. UCT and UP have closed.
When does UJ close?
At 12:00 on 31 October 2026.
Can I apply late to UCT?
No. UCT states it will not consider applications received after 31 July 2026.
Do I need my matric results to apply?
No. You apply with Grade 11 final results or Grade 12 interim marks, and the offer is confirmed in January.
How many universities should I apply to?
Apply to several. Wits allows up to three programme choices, and other institutions set their own limits.
Is residence included in my application?
Usually not. Residence is a separate application with its own deadline.
What to watch
The immediate dates to watch are 31 August for UWC Dentistry and Oral Health, 30 September for Wits and UWC general programmes and Wits residence, and 12:00 on 31 October for UJ. After that, watch for the NSFAS application window for the 2027 academic year and for any late application rounds announced in January once the National Senior Certificate results are published. Institutions occasionally extend deadlines, but no extension should be assumed until the university publishes it on its own site.
