South African Universities 2026 Applications: Opening & Closing Dates + APS Tools

Looking to apply to a public university in South Africa for the 2026 academic year? This quick reference guide lists all application opening and closing dates, APS calculators, course matchers, and prospectus downloads — all in one place!

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 When Do University Applications Open in 2025?

Most public universities in South Africa will open their 2026 undergraduate applications around 1 April 2025. Make sure to apply before the listed deadlines and use the resources provided to improve your application.

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•  Application Timeline (Public Universities)

  University of Cape Town (UCT)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 31 July 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  Stellenbosch University (SU)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 31 July 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of Pretoria (UP)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 June 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Courses by APS: View Courses
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)
  Opens: 1 March 2025
  Closes: 30 June / 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Courses by APS: View Courses
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
  Opens: TBC
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Courses by APS: View Courses
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of Johannesburg (UJ)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Courses by APS: View Courses
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of the Western Cape (UWC)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Courses by APS: View Courses
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  Rhodes University (RU)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  North-West University (NWU)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Courses by APS: View Courses
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of the Free State (UFS)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Courses by APS: View Courses
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of Limpopo (UL)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  Sefako Makgatho University (SMU)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 July 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  Sol Plaatje University (SPU)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Courses by APS: View Courses
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of Mpumalanga (UMP)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of Venda (UNIVEN)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of Fort Hare (UFH)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Courses by APS: View Courses
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of Zululand (UNIZULU)
  Opens: 1 April 2025
  Closes: 30 September 2025
  APS Calculator: Calculate
  Courses by APS: View Courses
  Prospectus: View Prospectus

  University of South Africa (UNISA)
  Opens: 1 September 2025
  Closes: TBC
  Prospectus: View Prospectus