🇿🇦 How to apply to university in South Africa

There is no central application system: you apply to each institution directly. Programmes usually start: February (the academic year runs February–November).

Checked on 20 October 2026 against the official sources listed below.

The essentials

Application system: None — apply to each institution on its own website.
When programmes start: February (the academic year runs February–November).
International applicants: International students apply to each university directly (or through the CAO in KwaZulu-Natal); foreign school-leavers usually need a Matriculation Board exemption certificate for degree study.
Language: English for most programmes; universities set any proficiency requirement.

Key dates

Each university sets its own closing dates for the following year, usually in the middle of the year before — CAO programme closing dates for 2027 entry fell in August–September 2026, with late applications (where accepted) from 1 November. Check each university for 2028 entry.

The dates for the next intake haven't been published yet. We add them once the official source does.

Your checklist

The usual steps for an international student applying to a bachelor's in South Africa, in order. Tick them off as you go — your ticks stay in this browser, with no account.

1.Choose universities and check their admission requirements for your school-leaving qualification.
2.Check whether your qualification needs a foreign exemption certificate from the Matriculation Board (USAf) for bachelor's study; universities can apply on your behalf, or you apply online.
3.Apply to each university directly — or through the Central Applications Office (CAO) for participating KwaZulu-Natal institutions — before its closing date.
4.Receive an offer and accept it.
5.Apply for a study visa with the university's letter of acceptance stating the course length.
6.Arrange accommodation and register at the university when you arrive.

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Next steps

Sources

Written by CollegeMatcher in our own words from these official pages, checked on 20 October 2026. Dates change every year.

Universities South Africa — Matriculation Board