The University of South Africa (UNISA)[a] is the largest university system in South Africa by enrollment. It attracts a third of all higher education students in South Africa. Through various colleges and affiliates, UNISA has over 400,000 students, including international students from 130 countries worldwide, making it one of the world’s mega universities and the only such university in Africa.
As a comprehensive university, Unisa offers both vocational and academic programs, many of which have received international accreditation, as well as an extensive geographical footprint, giving their students recognition and employability in many countries the world over.
UNISA Admission Requirement
UNISA Undergraduate Admission Requirements:
General admission requirements
Admission
Your admission to Unisa is dependent on you meeting the specific admission requirements for your chosen qualification. If you don’t meet these requirements, you may want to consider alternative qualifications or possibly, if you qualify, an extended program (refer to the college admission requirements), enabling you to register for limited modules in your first year.
Unisa general admission requirements
- Your admission to Unisa is dependent on you meeting the specific admission requirements for your chosen qualification.
- If you don’t meet these requirements, you may want to consider alternative qualifications or possibly, if you qualify, an extended program, enabling you to register for limited modules in your first year.
- Students who completed Grade 12 at the ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) School of Tomorrow may no longer be accepted at Unisa.
- Some Unisa qualifications have limited spaces available. Meeting the general and / or specific admission requirements for a qualification does not guarantee that you will be offered a space for the 2019 academic year.
Undergraduate qualifications
Admission and re-admission rules (academic progression rules)
These academic progression rules apply to all undergraduate Unisa students, irrespective of when you commenced your undergraduate studies at Unisa.
To be re-admitted to Unisa in 2018, please take note of the following:
First year of study
Pass at least 36 credits per year / over 2 consecutive semesters.
Exception: If you are a student following an alternative pathway / extended program, please note that you must pass at least 24 credits per year / over 2 consecutive semesters.
From 2nd year of study
Pass at least 48 credits per year / over 2 consecutive semesters.
Admission declined
Failure to pass the required number of modules will result in you not being able to study further at the undergraduate level. A student wishing to be re-admitted to Unisa after being excluded based on poor performance in qualification may only do so after providing proof of successful completion of a one-year certificate program at NQF level 4, 5 or higher (with 48 credits) at another accredited institution or a Unisa short learning program. To satisfy the requirements of this rule, the student must have completed at least 48 credits before an application for re-admission will be considered.
These progression rules are subject to the following exceptions:
- Students who are at the maximum time allowed and have less than 60 credits outstanding will be given 1 year to complete.
- Students with disabilities may apply to the Registrar for exemption from the above rules.
- Students on extended programs may apply to the Registrar for an additional year to complete the required number of credits.
- Students who decide not to register for a consecutive academic year must apply for a deferment; the academic year will then not be taken into consideration in calculating the number of years.
- Students who are excluded on grounds of poor academic performance have the right to appeal the decision through the Registrar.
University of South Africa UNISA Postgraduate Admission Requirements:
Everyone who wants to start a new honors degree or postgraduate diploma must apply for admission, including first-time Unisa applicants and Unisa students applying for a new qualification.
Unisa is known as a provider of fair and equitable access to higher education opportunities. Flowing from its social responsibility to address past inequalities, Unisa has developed an application and selection process that will more effectively address historical imbalances without sacrificing quality standards.
This process will promote focused attention toward improved student support and the alignment of our new student intake with the available academic capacity and required infrastructure to maximize all students’ chances of success.
What will the new selection process entail?
- Based on Unisa’s application and selection process, you will not automatically be accepted to study through Unisa in 2018 even if you meet the general academic admission requirements for a qualification.
- Unisa will assess your application according to the academic admission requirements for your qualification of choice, your final mark received at the undergraduate level and the number of places available for the qualification for which you have applied.
How will the application process change?
- You may apply for a maximum of two qualifications, ranked in order of preference (although you may only register for one should both of your applications be successful).
- Unisa will inform you of the outcome of your application.
- If you were previously registered with Unisa, Unisa will send the outcome of your application to your myLife e-mail account. Please check this e-mail account regularly for information. If you have forgotten your myUnisa / myLife password, please go to myUnisa (https://my.unisa.ac.za) to update your password. If you are a first-time Unisa applicant and do not have a myLife e-mail address, Unisa will communicate with you via the e-mail address and cellphone number provided during the application period.
Who will be affected?
- All first-time applicants
- Everyone starting a new qualification:
- Unisa students changing to a new qualification
- Applicants completing an undergraduate qualification who wish to continue with postgraduate studies
- Current Unisa students applying for a postgraduate qualification other than the one they are currently registered for
Please note: You must re-apply for admission if you previously applied for admission and were offered a space, but did not register for any reason.
Please note:
- If you were previously registered with Unisa, Unisa will send the outcome of your application to your myLife e-mail account. Please check this e-mail account regularly for information. If you have forgotten your myUnisa / myLife password, please go to myUnisa (https://my.unisa.ac.za) to update your password.
- If you are a first-time Unisa applicant and do not have a myLife e-mail address, Unisa will communicate with you via the e-mail address and cellphone number provided during the application period.