Dlamini BlessingYou’ve decided to join Africa’s leading distance learning institution. The University of South Africa (UNISA) is the largest university on the continent and one of the most respected distance education providers in the world, offering over 1,500 qualifications to more than 350,000 students . Whether you’re a school leaver, a working professional seeking advancement, or someone looking to change careers entirely, UNISA’s flexible, open distance learning model makes higher education accessible from anywhere .
But navigating the admissions landscape for a university of this size requires clear, accurate information. With application periods that have already passed for 2026, understanding the requirements, the courses on offer, and the steps you should have taken is essential. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of UNISA courses and requirements for the 2026 academic year, based on the latest official information.
UNISA Courses and Requirements (2026)
Overview: A University Without Walls
The University of South Africa (UNISA) is a comprehensive, open distance learning university that provides students with the flexibility to study from anywhere, at their own pace . Its academic offerings span the full spectrum of higher education, from one-year Higher Certificates to Doctoral degrees. UNISA is organised into several colleges, each offering a range of qualifications tailored to specific career fields.
The university’s admissions for 2026 were structured into specific application windows, most of which are now closed. However, understanding the full scope of courses and their associated requirements is valuable for future planning and for those who have already applied and are awaiting outcomes .
Understanding UNISA Admissions: Key Principles
Before exploring specific programmes, it’s essential to understand the general admissions framework.
Application and Registration Dates for 2026
All application and registration dates for the 2026 academic year are strictly enforced. Late applications are not accepted . The key dates were as follows:
Undergraduate Qualifications (Bachelor’s, Diplomas, Higher Certificates): Applications opened 18 August 2025 and closed 10 October 2025.
Master’s & Doctoral Degrees:** Applications opened 2 September 2025 and closed 21 November 2025. Some exceptions applied.
Registration (All Qualifications):
– Semester modules (Undergraduate, Honours, Postgraduate Diplomas, CTA): 7 January – 20 February 2026.
– Year modules (Undergraduate): 7 January – 20 March 2026.
– Year modules (Honours, Postgraduate Diplomas): 7 January – 31 March 2026.
– Master’s & Doctoral: 7 January – 31 March 2026.
– MBA & MBL: 7 January – 21 February 2026.
Application Fees
First-time applicants: A non-refundable application fee of R150.00 was required .
Returning students: Did not need to pay the application fee again .
Supporting Documents
Applicants were required to upload certified copies of the following documents as part of their online application :
– School qualifications (e.g., National Senior Certificate)
– Official tertiary academic record(s) (if applicable)
– South African ID document or passport (for international students)
– Marriage certificate or divorce decree (if applicable)
– Sworn translations of documents not in English or Afrikaans
– For master’s and doctoral applicants: a research outline, CV, and any additional documents specified by the college or department .
Higher Certificate Programmes (One-Year Courses)
Higher Certificates are one-year programmes (NQF Level 5) designed to provide foundational knowledge and skills in a specific field, or to serve as a stepping stone into a diploma or degree. They are an excellent entry point for students who may not meet the direct requirements for a degree.
UNISA Higher Certificates Offered for 2026:
| Qualification | Code |
|---|---|
| Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences | 98201 |
| Higher Certificate in Animal Welfare | 90098 |
| Higher Certificate in Archives and Records Management | 98577 |
| Higher Certificate in Banking | 98225 |
| Higher Certificate in Criminal Justice | 90006 |
| Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences | 98237 |
| Higher Certificate in Education | 90093 |
| Higher Certificate in Law | 98751 |
| Higher Certificate in Life and Environmental Sciences | 98366 |
| Higher Certificate in Marketing | 98229 |
| Higher Certificate in Mathematics and Statistics | 90129 |
| Higher Certificate in Physical Sciences | 90101 |
| Higher Certificate in Retailing | 90014 |
| Higher Certificate in Social Auxiliary Work | 90011 |
| Higher Certificate in Supervisory Management | 90015 |
| Higher Certificate in Tourism Management | 98226 |
Diploma Programmes
Diplomas are three-year programmes (NQF Level 6) that provide focused, career-oriented training. UNISA offers a wide range of diplomas across various fields, including engineering, business, and law.
UNISA Diplomas Offered for 2026:
| Qualification | Code |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Accounting Sciences | 98200 |
| Diploma in Administrative Management | 98216 |
| Diploma in Agricultural Management | 90097 |
| Diploma in Animal Health | 98026 – AHE |
| Diploma in Chemical Engineering | 90130 |
| Diploma in Civil Engineering | 90137 |
| Diploma in Corrections Management | 98218 |
| Diploma in Electrical Engineering | 90138 |
| Diploma in Explosives Management | 98222 |
| Diploma in Human Resource Management | 98211 |
| Diploma in Industrial Engineering | 90136 |
| Diploma in Information Technology | 98806 – ITE |
| Diploma in Law | 98750 |
| Diploma in Local Government Finance | 90083 |
| Diploma in Marketing Management | 98202 |
| Diploma in Mechanical Engineering | 90132 |
| Diploma in Mining Engineering | 90140 |
| Diploma in Nature Conservation | 98024 – NCO |
| Diploma in Ornamental Horticulture | 98025 – HOR |
| Diploma in Policing | 98220 |
| Diploma in Public Administration and Management | 98203 |
| Diploma in Public Relations | 90077 |
| Diploma in Pulp and Paper Technology | 90141 |
| Diploma in Safety Management | 90107 |
| Diploma in Security Management | 98221 |
| Diploma in Small Business Management | 90073 |
| Diploma in Tourism Management | 98223 |
Advanced Diploma Programmes
Advanced Diplomas are NQF Level 7 qualifications designed for graduates who hold a relevant diploma and wish to deepen their expertise and specialise.
UNISA Advanced Diplomas Offered for 2026:
| Qualification | Code |
|---|---|
| Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences (various streams) | 98230 |
| Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Management | 98027 |
| Advanced Diploma in Animal Health | 90112 |
| Advanced Diploma in Chemical Engineering | 90128 |
| Advanced Diploma in Computer Integrated Education | 90165 |
| Advanced Diploma in Education in Intermediate Phase Mathematics Teaching | 90113 |
| Advanced Diploma in Electrical Engineering (various streams) | 90126 / 90127 |
| Advanced Diploma in Engineering Technology in Civil Engineering | 90142 |
| Advanced Diploma in Industrial Engineering | 90134 |
| Advanced Diploma in Information Resource Management | 90007 |
| Advanced Diploma in Intermediate Phase Natural Science and Technology Education | 90162 |
| Advanced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering | 90133 |
| Advanced Diploma in Mining Engineering | 90131 |
| Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation | 98028 |
| Advanced Diploma in Ornamental and Landscape Horticulture | 90094 |
| Advanced Diploma in Security Management | 98235 |
| Advanced Diploma in Senior Phase Natural Science Education | 90166 |
| Advanced Diploma in Tourism Management | 90118 |
Bachelor’s Degree Programmes
Bachelor’s degrees are typically three or four-year qualifications (NQF Level 7) that provide comprehensive, in-depth knowledge in a specific field of study.
UNISA Bachelor’s Degrees Offered for 2026:
| Qualification | Code |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Accounting Sciences (various streams) | 98302 – FA1 / 98303 – AUI / 98304 – MA1 / 98318 – TAX |
| Bachelor of Administration | 98315 – BAD |
| Bachelor of Administration in Human Settlements Management | 90016 – HSM |
| Bachelor of Arts | 99311 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science | 98051 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Community Development | 98618 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing | 99313 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Criminology | 98681 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies | 99312 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Management | 98055 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Science and Technology | 90002 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Government, Administration and Development | 99301 |
| Bachelor of Arts in International Relations | 99302 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Police Science | 98683 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Policy Studies | 99303 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Political Leadership and Citizenship | 99304 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy and Economics | 90079 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Visual Multimedia Arts | 90091 |
| Bachelor of Business Administration | 98316 – BBA |
| Bachelor of Commerce | 98314 – GEN |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Business Informatics | 98300 – BIS |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management | 98310 – BSM |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Economics | 98305 – ECS |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurship | 90106 – ENT |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Management | 98306 – FMN |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management | 98307 – HRM |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Industrial and Organisational Psychology | 98308 – IOP |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Law | 90123 – LAW |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management | 98301 – MKT |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Public Procurement Management | 98767 – PPM |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Quantitative Management | 98311 – QMA |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Supply Chain and Operations Management | 98766 – SCM |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Management | 98312 – TRT |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Transport and Logistics | 98313 – TRL |
| Bachelor of Consumer Science (various streams) | 98005 |
| Bachelor of Education (various phases and subject combinations) | 90102 / 90103 / 90104 |
| Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science (Animal/Plant Science) | 90082 – ANS / 90082 – PLS |
| Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management (Botany/Chemistry) | 98052 – EBO / 98052 – ECH |
Postgraduate Programmes
UNISA offers a wide range of postgraduate qualifications, including Postgraduate Certificates, Honours degrees, Master’s degrees, and Doctoral degrees.
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
The PGCE is a one-year qualification for graduates who wish to become educators. It offers specialisations in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching across various subjects, including Art, Business Studies, Economics, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and many more .
Master of Arts in International Politics
This is a full research master’s degree (NQF Level 9). The curriculum consists of a dissertation that incorporates a research proposal to be completed within the first year of study. The purpose is to enable graduates to become specialists in international politics, capable of synthesising information autonomously and handling complex problems independently .
Other Postgraduate Qualifications
UNISA offers numerous other postgraduate diplomas, Honours degrees, and coursework master’s degrees across all its colleges. For the 2026 academic year, master’s and doctoral applications closed on 21 November 2025 .
Undergraduate Admission Requirements
Admission to UNISA undergraduate qualifications is competitive and based on a combination of factors:
Meeting Statutory Requirements: Applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements for their chosen qualification (e.g., a National Senior Certificate with appropriate endorsement for degree study).
Minimum Points Score: UNISA uses a points scoring system to evaluate applicants’ academic performance.
Available Spaces: Admission is not guaranteed, even if the minimum requirements are met. It depends on the number of spaces available for each qualification. The “first come, first served” principle does not apply .
How to Apply (Process for Future Reference)
While applications for 2026 are closed, understanding the process is valuable for future intakes :
1. Visit the official UNISA website at www.unisa.ac.za.
2. Navigate to the “Apply for admission” section (www.unisa.ac.za/apply).
3. Choose your preferred qualification(s) (a maximum of three choices) .
4. Fill out the online application form with your personal information.
5. Upload all required and certified supporting documents.
6. Pay the non-refundable application fee (if a first-time applicant).
7. Review your application and submit before the closing date.
8. Track your application status online.
Summary of Key 2026 Admission Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | University of South Africa (UNISA) |
| Application System | Online via www.unisa.ac.za/apply |
| Undergraduate Application Period | 18 August – 10 October 2025 |
| Master’s & Doctoral Application Period | 2 September – 21 November 2025 |
| Application Fee | R150.00 (non‑refundable, first‑time applicants only) |
| Maximum Qualification Choices | Three |
| Key Documents | NSC, ID, academic transcripts, research outline (for master’s/doctoral) |
| Outcome Notification | 4–6 weeks after closing date |
| Contact | 0800 00 1870 |
Frequently Asked Questions About UNISA Applications
When do applications for UNISA 2026 close?
All undergraduate applications closed on 10 October 2025. All master’s and doctoral applications closed on 21 November 2025 . Late applications are not accepted .
Can I still apply for UNISA for 2026?
No, the application periods for the 2026 academic year have closed.
What is the application fee for UNISA?
The application fee is R150.00 for first-time applicants. This fee is non-refundable .
How many qualifications can I apply for?
You can apply for a maximum of three qualifications. The order of your choices matters, as you may be offered a space based on availability and your meeting the requirements .
Does meeting the minimum requirements guarantee admission?
No. Admission depends on meeting the statutory and academic requirements, your minimum points score, and the number of spaces available for the qualification. It is a competitive selection process .
How will I know if my application was successful?
UNISA will inform applicants of the outcome of their application. This typically happens four to six weeks after the closing date for applications .
What if I accept UNISA’s offer?
You must register for the period for which you have been granted admission (semester 1 of 2026). If you do not register, you will need to re-apply for a future academic year .
Who must pay the application fee?
Only first-time applicants at UNISA have to pay the application fee. Returning students do not need to pay it again .
—
With this comprehensive guide, you are now equipped with a complete overview of UNISA courses and requirements for the 2026 academic year. While the application windows for 2026 have closed, this information serves as an invaluable resource for future planning. Whether you’re aiming for a Higher Certificate, a comprehensive degree, or a specialised postgraduate qualification, UNISA offers a pathway to achieve your educational goals. For the most up-to-date information on future intakes, always consult the official UNISA website.