South African Universities with Application Closing Dates in October 2026: Apply for 2027 Admission

Are you planning to study at a South African university in 2027? If you have not yet submitted your application, there are still opportunities to investigate at universities with October 2026 closing dates.

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Several institutions have published deadlines at the end of October for the 2027 academic year, including the University of Johannesburg, Walter Sisulu University, the University of Fort Hare and Sol Plaatje University. The Vaal University of Technology also lists 30 October 2026 as the closing date for national applicants on its application information page.

University of Johannesburg

Important: Application deadlines differ by qualification, faculty and applicant category. The list below highlights institutions with published October deadlines; it does not mean that every course at each university remains open.

Universities with October 2026 application deadlines

1. University of Johannesburg (UJ)

Closes 31 October 2026

UJ is accepting applications for the 2027 academic year. Undergraduate applications and many postgraduate applications close at 12:00 on 31 October 2026.

Apply: UJ official admissions page. 

2. Walter Sisulu University (WSU)

Closes 31 October 2026

WSU invites undergraduate, postgraduate and other eligible applicants to apply for 2027. International applications have a separate closing date of 30 September 2026.

Application fee: R100 for the listed application process.

Apply: WSU official application page.

Walter Sisulu University

3. University of Fort Hare (UFH)

Closes 31 October 2026

UFH has opened applications for undergraduate and postgraduate studies for the 2027 academic year. The university publishes 31 October 2026 as the undergraduate closing date and also lists that date for master's and honours applications.

Apply: UFH official admissions page.

Together in Excellence

4. Sol Plaatje University (SPU)

Closes 31 October 2026

SPU has confirmed that undergraduate and postgraduate applications for the 2027 academic year are open until 31 October 2026. Applicants can explore programmes in education, humanities, economic and management sciences, and natural and applied sciences.

Apply: SPU official application page.

Sol Plaatje University

5. Vaal University of Technology (VUT)

National applicants: 30 October 2026

VUT's application information lists 30 October 2026 as the closing date for national applicants for the 2027 academic year. International applicants have an earlier deadline of 30 September 2026. Some qualifications may have earlier closing dates, so check your selected programme before applying.

Apply: VUT official application page.

Vaal University of Technology

Quick summary of closing dates

Universities whose general application deadlines have already passed

As of 16 October 2026, many other universities have already closed their main application periods for 2027 undergraduate admission. These include:

• University of Cape Town (UCT) — undergraduate applications closed 31 July 2026.

• University of Pretoria (UP) — applications closed 30 June 2026.

• North-West University (NWU) — applications closed 31 August 2026.

• University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) — most undergraduate applications closed 30 September 2026.

• University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) — most applications closed 30 September 2026.

• Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) — the general application period closed earlier in 2026.

• Durban University of Technology (DUT) — most applications closed 30 September 2026.

• University of South Africa (UNISA) — undergraduate applications for 2027 closed 9 October 2026.

  

  Applicants & Students

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Some postgraduate programmes, late application opportunities or specific qualifications may follow different deadlines. Contact the institution directly to confirm whether any additional application window is available.

Documents to prepare before applying

Before submitting an application, make sure you have the following documents ready, as required by your chosen institution:

• Certified copy of your South African ID or passport.

• Grade 11 results or latest Grade 12 results, where applicable.

• Matric certificate, if you have already completed matric.

• Academic transcripts for applicants who have studied at another institution.

• Proof of payment of the application fee, if required.

• Any additional documents required for your chosen qualification.

Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee admission. Universities consider academic performance, programme-specific requirements and available spaces.

Final advice for 2027 university applicants

If you still need to apply for university in 2027, prioritise UJ, WSU, UFH, SPU and VUT, as these institutions have published October closing dates. Check the official admissions pages immediately, confirm that your intended course is still open and submit a complete application before the deadline.

For more South African university application updates, bursaries, NSFAS information, learnerships, internships and skills development opportunities, visit www.skillsdaily.co.za.

Disclaimer: Application dates may change, and deadlines can differ between qualifications, faculties and applicant categories. Always confirm the closing date on the university's official website before submitting your application.