University of South Africa
South Africa's distance-learning university, which reports more than 370,000 students studying online and part-time from 110+ countries.
- Students
- 370,000
- Tuition
- ZAR 16,320
- From · 2026
- Founded
- 1873
- QS World Ranking
- 951-1000
- 2027 edition
About Unisa
The University of South Africa (Unisa) traces its roots to 1873, when the University of the Cape of Good Hope was founded as an examining body. It took its current name in 1916, moved to Pretoria in 1918 and in 1946 became one of the first public universities in the world to teach only by distance education. Unisa's own Fast Facts brochure (February 2025) calls it the largest university in South Africa and on the African continent, with more than 370,000 students (headcount as counted by Unisa; THE's 2026 data counts 207,954) and more than 54,000 graduates a year.
Teaching is organised in eight colleges (Accounting Sciences; Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; Economic and Management Sciences; Education; Human Sciences; Law; Science, Engineering and Technology; and Graduate Studies) plus the Graduate School of Business Leadership. Students study through printed and online material on myUnisa rather than daily lectures, supported by e-tutors, regional centres and a Science Campus with laboratories in Florida, Johannesburg.
Unisa suits self-disciplined students who need to study while working, live far from a campus, or want a low-cost route to a recognised South African qualification: 62% of students are aged 25 to 39 and about 70% are women. You choose how many modules to take each year, and a qualification can be spread over several years, but you must manage your own time without a timetable of classes.
Pro Gentibus Sapientia
“In the service of humanity” — university motto
Why students choose Unisa
Fees are charged per module (a standard 12-credit undergraduate module cost R2,130 to R2,290 in 2026, depending on subject group), so you can study part-time and pay only for what you take.
Qualifications run from higher certificates to doctorates, and the College of Accounting Sciences says it enrols about 40% of all accounting students in South Africa.
You can study from anywhere: Unisa reports students living in 110 countries other than South Africa, with regional hubs across the country and a service centre in Addis Ababa.
Alumni include Nelson Mandela, Cyril Ramaphosa (President of South Africa since 2018) and Lesetja Kganyago (Governor of the South African Reserve Bank since 2014), who all studied by correspondence.
Admissions
2027 academic year (semester 1 intake)
Selectivity
Unisa does not publish an acceptance rate. Applicants must meet the statutory and qualification-specific requirements and minimum Admission Point Score (APS), but places per qualification are limited, so meeting the requirements does not guarantee an offer. Selection uses an individual points score that takes into account Grade 12 marks and factors such as the school attended, gender, socio-economic group and race.
Typical entry requirements
| South African NSC (degree endorsement) | Qualification-specific minimum APS and subjects, e.g. APS 20 with at least 50% in the language of teaching and learning for the LLB; APS 21 with 50% in Mathematics (or 60% in Mathematical Literacy) for the Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in Financial Accounting |
|---|---|
| Foreign school qualifications | Must be acceptable to the Matriculation Board (list per country at mb.usaf.ac.za); applicants for bachelor's degrees may need a conditional exemption certificate (R1,070), which Unisa facilitates during application |
| English language | Unisa sets a minimum school mark in the language of teaching and learning (e.g. 50% for the LLB) rather than an IELTS or TOEFL score; documents not in English or Afrikaans need sworn translations. |
Deadlines
- Undergraduate qualifications (2027 academic year) Non-binding Next deadline · In 3 days9 October 2026
Applications open 17 August 2026. Up to three qualifications can be ranked.
- Honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas (2027) Non-binding In 3 days9 October 2026
Applications open 17 August 2026.
- Master's and doctoral qualifications (2027) Non-binding In 45 days20 November 2026
Applications open 1 September 2026; selection degrees and some other qualifications have different periods.
Dates are from Unisa's 'Apply for admission' page for the 2027 academic year. Offers for semester 1 are finalised only after all applications received by the closing date have been processed.
How to apply
Apply online during the application period (R160 non-refundable fee), choosing up to three qualifications in order of preference. First-time applicants who receive an offer must complete the free First-Year Experience MOOC before they can accept, then accept within 10 working days and register for semester 1. International applicants upload their school certificates, passport and, for degree study, the Matriculation Board exemption form (M30).
What admissions looks for
- Meeting the statutory requirement for the level of study (e.g. an NSC with degree endorsement for a bachelor's degree).
- The minimum APS and subject marks for the chosen qualification, such as 50% in Mathematics for accounting degrees.
- Available capacity: places are allocated per qualification using an individual points score.
- Readiness for distance learning: Unisa asks applicants to consider whether they can plan their own studies, read extensively and work online.
Tips for applying to Unisa
- 1 Apply for up to three qualifications and rank them, because places in popular qualifications are limited.
- 2 Complete the free First-Year Experience MOOC quickly once you get an offer: you cannot accept until you have finished it, and offers lapse after 10 working days.
- 3 Budget for books and levies: prescribed books are not included in module fees, and students with an address outside South Africa pay an extra levy on every module.
- 4 Make sure you have your own computer and reliable internet, since myUnisa is the main study platform.
- 5 If you studied outside South Africa, check the Matriculation Board's country list and apply for a conditional exemption with your application.
Costs & financial aid
2026 · figures in ZAR
Unisa's Directorate of Student Funding administers donor bursaries and loans, with criteria set by each donor; South African students can also apply for NSFAS funding. Unisa says its fees are generally lower than at other higher education institutions because students pay per module.
- R160 (non-refundable, once-off)
- Application fee
- R3,905 (Africa) / R7,470 (rest of world)
- Foreign levy per year module (2026)
- R1,470, balance by 31 March, 15 May and 15 August 2026
- Minimum payment at registration, e.g. R4,455 module
Academics
Academic calendar: Semester and year modules (semester 1 starts in the new year)
Bachelor of Accounting Sciences
Offered by a college that says it enrols about 40% of South Africa's accounting students and produces 20% of its accounting graduates; APS 21 with 50% in Mathematics.
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
A 480-credit NQF level 8 degree (APS 20) from the College of Law, which reports more than 82,000 students.
Bachelor of Commerce degrees
Unisa says one in four BCom degrees awarded by South African universities goes to a Unisa graduate.
Education degrees and PGCE
The College of Education, Unisa's largest with close to 95,000 students, says it trains more than half of South Africa's teachers.
BA in Forensic Science and Technology
One of the College of Law's criminal justice qualifications alongside policing, criminology and corrections management.
BSc in Agricultural Science
Offered in three streams by the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, based at the Science Campus with 25 laboratories.
Research
- Unisa reports 235 NRF-rated researchers and seven endowed research chairs, including the UNESCO-Unisa Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology.
- Research institutes include the Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability and the Institute for Global Dialogue foreign policy think tank.
- Unisa has been involved in the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope project since 2012 and houses the Thabo Mbeki Presidential Library.
Schools & faculties
- College of Accounting Sciences
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
- College of Economic and Management Sciences
- College of Education
- College of Human Sciences
- College of Law
- College of Science, Engineering and Technology
- College of Graduate Studies
- Graduate School of Business Leadership
- Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs
Unisa reports more than 54,000 graduates a year (certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate qualifications). Many students already work while studying.
Student life
There is no residential student life at Unisa: students study from home or work and connect through myUnisa, their official myLife email account, social media and the internet-based Unisa Radio. Regional centres offer advice, counselling, academic literacy support and a limited number of computers, and Digital Access Centres give students in rural areas computer and internet access. The Dean of Students and Student Affairs department supports student governance, leadership development and students with disabilities. Unisa's library, which it describes as the largest academic library in Africa, serves students remotely and in person.
- myUnisa online campus for study material, assignments, lecturers and discussion forums.
- Six regional hubs, 20 service centres across South Africa and a service centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Counselling services offer career, academic and personal support online, by phone and in person.
- Library of almost 3 million items, plus e-books and e-journals.
Housing. Unisa is a distance-learning university and does not provide student accommodation.
Location
Unisa's main campus is in Pretoria (Tshwane), with a student campus in the city, a Science Campus in Florida, Johannesburg, and six regional hubs in East London, Tshwane, Durban, Rustenburg, Polokwane and Parow. Most students never need to relocate: they study where they live and visit a regional centre for services or exams as needed.
Nearest airport: O. R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg (JNB)
Notable alumni
- NM Nelson MandelaFirst president of democratic South Africa; worked on his bachelor's degree through a Unisa correspondence course
- CR Cyril RamaphosaPresident of South Africa; BProc law degree by correspondence (1981)
- DT Desmond TutuArchbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; took Unisa correspondence courses in the 1950s
- LK Lesetja KganyagoGovernor of the South African Reserve Bank; BCom in Accounting and Economics (1991)
- RZ Raymond ZondoFormer Chief Justice of South Africa; LLM degrees in commercial, labour and patent law
- YC Yvonne Chaka ChakaSinger, businesswoman and humanitarian; degree in adult education and diploma in local government management
Frequently asked questions
When do Unisa applications for 2027 close?
Undergraduate, honours and postgraduate diploma applications are open from 17 August to 9 October 2026. Master's and doctoral applications run from 1 September to 20 November 2026.
How much does it cost to study at Unisa?
Unisa charges per module: in 2026 a standard 12-credit undergraduate module costs R2,130 to R2,290 depending on the subject group (larger modules cost about double), and Unisa says the average student takes 4 to 6 modules a year. That gives an estimated R8,520 to R13,740 a year in tuition for South African students; this is our estimate, not a published annual fee. Books are extra, and students with an address outside South Africa pay a foreign levy per module.
What APS do I need for Unisa?
It depends on the qualification: for example APS 20 for the LLB and APS 21 (with 50% in Mathematics) for the Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in Financial Accounting. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place, because spaces are limited.
Can international students study at Unisa?
Yes. Unisa reports students in 110 countries other than South Africa. You need a school qualification accepted by the Matriculation Board, and you pay an extra foreign levy of R1,950 to R7,470 per module depending on region and module length.
Is Unisa fully online?
Unisa is an open distance e-learning university: there are no daily lectures, and you study through written material and the myUnisa online platform. Regional centres offer support, and you should have your own computer and internet access.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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