Universities with no application fee

All of SA’s universities have released their application dates and fees for 2025!

To help you out, here’s some application info for 2025 that we hope will help you plan for the brilliant future you’ve always imagined!

University of Pretoria

✅ Applications opened on 1 April 2024
📆 Applications for Veterinary Science closed on 31 May 2024
📆 All other faculties closed on 30th June 2024
💰 There is a R300 application fee for all students whose household income exceeds R150 000 per annum
💰 Application fees are waived for students whose household income is lower than R150 000 per annum
- But you will have to submit a proof of income which will serve as your proof of payment. For more information see the University of Pretoria Website
✍🏾 To apply online at the University of Pretoria click here
📑 For more info on the courses that University of Pretoria offers, check out the faculty brochures

Stellenbosch University

✅ Applications opened 1 April 2024 and closed 31 July 2024
💰 Application fees are waived for students from Quintile 1-4 schools and international students
💰 There is a R100 application fee for SA applicants from Quintile 5 or higher schools
✍🏾 To apply online at Stellenbosch University click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out this prospectus

Nelson Mandela University

✅ Applications opened in April 2024
📆 30 June 2024 was the closing for all applications for these degrees:
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
- Bachelor of Radiography (BRad)
📆 Early applications closed on 02 August 2024
📆 Late applications and international student applications close on 30 September 2024
💰 There is no application fee for SA applicants
💰 There is a R500 application fee for international students
✍🏾 To apply online at Nelson Mandela University click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out their website

Walter Sisulu University

✅ Applications opened on 2 April 2024
📆 30 September 2024 is the closing for all applications for:
- All programs in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Applications from international students
📆 31 October 2024 is the closing date for SA applicants
💰 There is no application fee for all applications
✍🏾 To apply online at the Walter Sisulu University click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out these prospectuses

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

✅ Applications are now open at CPUT
📆 Applications close on 30 August 2024 for international students
📆 Applications close on 30 September 2024 for SA applicants
💰 There is no application fee for online applications
💰 There is a R100 application fee for paper applications
✍🏾 To apply online at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out this prospectus

University of Venda

✅ Applications are now open at UNIVEN and will close on 24 September 2024
💰 There is no application fee for all applications
✍🏾 To apply online at the University of Venda click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, use this prospectus

University of Johannesburg

✅ Applications opened 01 April and close on 31 October 2024
💰 There is no application fee for online applications
💰 There is a R200 application fee for paper applications
✍🏾 To apply online at University of Johannesburg the click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out this prospectus

North-West University

✅ Application dates for selection courses open 2 April and closed 30 June 2024
✅ Applications for all other programmes open 2 April and close on 31 August 2024
💰 There is no application fee for SA applicants
💰 There is a R600 application fee for international students
✍🏾 To apply online at the North-West University click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out this prospectus

University of Western Cape

✅ Applications opened on 2 April 2024
📆 31 August 2024 is the closing date for applications for:
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- Bachelor of Oral Health
📆 30 September 2024 is the closing date for applications for all other programmes
💰 There is no application fee for all applications
✍🏾 To apply online at the University of Western Cape click here
📑 For more info on the courses they offer, check out their website

University of Free State

✅ Applications opened on 1 April 2024
📆 31 May 2024 was the closing date for applications for these programs:
- MBChB
- Occupational Therapy
- Optometry
- Physiotherapy
- Radiation Sciences
📆 31 July 2024 was the closing date for these applications for these programs:
- Architecture
- Biokinetics
- Dietetics
- Nursing
- Social Work
- Sports Coaching
📆 31 August 2024 is the closing date for:
- International applicants
- All Access Programmes on the South Campus and the sub-regions
- All non-selection programmes
- Community Development (Qwaqwa Campus only)
- Construction Economics and Management (Full-time)
- Construction Management (Compact Learning)
📆 30 September 2024 is the closing date for:
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Forensic Sciences
- Geology
- Music
- Physics with Engineering Sciences
- Quantity Surveying (Compact Learning)
- Fine Arts
💰 There is no application fee for UFS
✍🏾 To apply online at the University of Free State click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out this prospectus

Sol Plaatje University

📆 Applications opened on 1 April and will close 30 November
💰 There is no application fee for all applications
✍🏾 If you want to apply online at the Sol Plaatje University click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, use this prospectus

Central University of Technology

📆 Applications opened on 13 May and will close 30 September
💰 There is no application fee for all applications
✍🏾 If you want to apply online at the Central University of Technology click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out their website

Other South African universities

It’s always a good idea to keep your options open, so take a look at these other SA universities which have application fees.

University of Witwatersrand

✅ Applications for 2025 at Wits opened in March
📆 30 June was the closing for all applications for these degrees:
- All programs in the Faculty of Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Architectural Studies
- Bachelor of Audiology
- Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology
- BA in Film and TV
📆 30 September 2024 is the closing date for all the other programs
💰 There is a R100 application fee for SA applicants
💰 There is a R700 application fee for international students
✍🏾 To apply online at the University of Witwatersrand click here
📑 For more info on the courses that Wits offers, check out the website

Rhodes University

📆 Applications opened in April and will close on 30 September
💰 There is a R100 application fee for all applications
✍🏾 To apply online at the Rhodes University click here
📑 For more info on the mark requirements for each course, click here

University of Cape Town

✅ Applications opened 1 April and closed 31 July 2024
💰 There is a R100 application fee for all SA applicants and students from the SADC region
💰 There is a R300 application fee for international students from countries outside the SADC region
✍🏾 To apply online at the University of Cape Town click here
📑 For more info on the courses that UCT offers, check out this prospectus

Mangosuthu University of Technology

✅ Applications open in January and will close on 30 September
📆 Late applications are accepted until 30 November
💰 There is a R250 application fee for SA applicants
💰 There is a R300 application fee for international students
✍🏾 To apply to MUT for your first-year, you will have to apply through the CAO website
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out this prospectus

Tshwane University of Technology

✅ Applications opened 1 March
📆 You can take a look at this brochure to get the closing dates for each program
💡 Some programs may close for applications before the closing date if they are full, so the earlier you apply the better
💰 There is a R240 application fee for all applications
✍🏾 To apply online at the Tshwane University of Technology click here
📑 For more info on the first year enrolment, check out this brochure

University of Limpopo

✅ Applications opened on 2 April 2024
📆 Applications for MBChB closed on 31 July
📆 Applications for all other programs will close on 30 September
💰 There is a R200 application fee for SA applicants
💰 There is a R750 application fee for international students
✍🏾 If you want to apply online at the University of Limpopo click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, use this prospectus

Vaal University of Technology

✅ Applications are now open at VUT and will close on 30 September 2024
💰 There is a R100 application fee for all applications
✍🏾 To apply online at the Vaal University of Technology click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check this prospectus

University of KwaZulu-Natal

📆 Applications for MBChB open 1 March and closed on 30 June
📆 Applications for all other programmes open 1 March and will close on 30 September
💰 There is a R210 application fee for SA applicants
💰 There is a R420 application fee for SA applicants who submit their application late
💰 There is a R490 application fee for students from African countries
💰 There is a $153 application fee for international students from outside of Africa
✍🏾 To apply online at the University of KwaZulu-Natal click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out this prospectus

Durban University of Technology

📆 Applications open from February and close on 30 September
💰 There is a R250 application fee for SA applicants
💰 There is a R300 application fee for international students
✍🏾 To apply to DUT for your first-year, you will have to apply through the CAO website
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out this prospectus

Sefako Makgato Health Science University

✅ Applications open 2 April and closed on 31 July 2024
💰 There is a R300 application fee for all applications
✍🏾 If you want to apply online at Sefako Makgato Health Science University click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check this page to get the prospectus

University of Mpumalanga

📆 Applications opened 1 June and will close 30 November
💰 There is a R200 application fee for SA applicants
💰 There is a R400 application fee for international students from SADC countries
💰 There is a R550 application fee for international from other countries
✍🏾 If you want to apply online at the University of Mpumalanga click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out their website

University of South Africa

📆 Applications open between 1 September and 13 October and will close on 17 November
💰 There is a R140 application fee for all applications
✍🏾 To apply online at the University of South Africa click here
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, check out this prospectus

University of Fort Hare

📆 Applications opened in March and will close on 29 November
💰 There is a R120 application fee for all applications
✍🏾 To apply online at the University of Fort Hare click here
📑 For more info on the first year enrolment click here

University of Zululand

📆 Applications opened 1 April and will close 30 September
💰 There is a R250 application fee for SA applicants
💰 There is a R300 application fee for international students
✍🏾 To apply to UNIZULU for your first-year, you will have to apply through the CAO website
📑 For more info on the courses that they offer, use this prospectus

Need help qualifying for your dream course?

If you’re stressing about meeting the requirements for university, you can start using FoondaMate to help you out.

FoondaMate is an AI study buddy that you can chat with on WhatsApp to help you download past papers and answer any questions from your schoolwork, homework or assignments.

You can also get the FoondaMate University Bound Plan to get info on the university application dates, mark requirements for each course, and funding opportunities all on WhatsApp.

Universities with no application fee – 2025