Which Universities Are Still Open for 2027? Late Application Status

Most of South Africa’s 26 public universities have closed applications for the 2027 academic year. Most of them, but not all. On 3 October 2026 we checked every university’s own website, along with the Central Applications Office (CAO) and DHET. We then sorted the universities into four groups: those still taking applications, those with a documented late or space-available process, those that state plainly that they accept no late applications, and those that have published nothing about January. A few universities appear in two groups, for example when they are still open now and also run a January process.

Every date below comes from the university or the CAO. Where only last January’s arrangement exists, we label it as last year’s. If you need the full opening and closing calendar instead, see our 2027 university closing dates.

Still accepting 2027 applications

• UNISA: until 9 October 2026 for undergraduate qualifications. UNISA takes no late applications, as our UNISA late application page explains.
• University of Johannesburg: until 31 October 2026 at 12:00, with no application fee.
• University of Fort Hare: until 31 October 2026. Fort Hare has published no late application policy.
• Walter Sisulu University: general applications until 31 October 2026. International applications closed on 30 September.
• Sol Plaatje University: until 31 October 2026. After that, SPU offers late registration for admitted students only, not late applications.
• University of Zululand: on-time CAO applications until 31 October 2026. After that, applications go through the CAO’s late process.
• Durban University of Technology: seven Applied Sciences programmes, moved to 31 October 2026 by a CAO notice of 29 September 2026.
• Tshwane University of Technology: a short list of engineering, science and credit management qualifications “still open as of 1 October 2026”, with no closing date given.
• Mangosuthu University of Technology: late applications through the CAO until 30 November 2026.
• University of Mpumalanga: until 30 November 2026, the latest main deadline of any public university.

Universities with a documented late or space-available process

These universities have described, in their own words, a way to apply after the main deadline or to be placed in leftover seats. Each has its own page with the details.

• UJ: an online Late Enquiry system runs after the matric results, for qualifications with space only. UJ says there will be no walk-ins in January 2027, and the start date is still to be confirmed. See UJ late applications.
• UKZN: its own late application form with a non-refundable R420 fee, for selected programmes only. It excludes Health Sciences and the School of Law, and UKZN’s late page said “currently closed” on 3 October 2026. See UKZN late applications.
• DUT: CAO late status for selected programmes since 1 October 2026. Last January DUT reopened a list of programmes online, with a R470 late fee. See DUT late applications.
• MUT: late submissions through the CAO until 30 November 2026, at the CAO’s fee. MUT does not accept walk-ins. See MUT late applications.
• TUT: the only university with a 2027 January date already published. Its core calendar sets 14 to 22 January 2027 for online late applications, with no walk-ins. See TUT late applications.
• University of Limpopo: last cycle, a four-day email round in February 2026 for eight science and agriculture degrees. Nothing has been announced for 2027 yet. See University of Limpopo late applications.
• VUT: a 2025 circular mentions a late applications period in early 2025, and there is no newer notice. See VUT late applications.
• CAO (DUT, MUT, UKZN, UniZulu): you can still apply after a programme’s closing date, but each institution decides whether to consider your application, and the fee rises from R250 to R470 on 1 November 2026. See CAO late applications.

Universities that rule out late applications

• UCT closed on 31 July 2026. Its key dates page says it does not consider late application requests.
• North-West University closed on 31 August 2026. Its FAQ answers “No” to late applications and points to DHET’s Central Application Service.
• Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University closed on 31 July 2026. It allows neither late applications nor walk-ins.
• Central University of Technology closed on 30 September 2026. Its FAQ says it does not accept late or walk-in applications.
• UNISA closes on 9 October 2026. Anyone who misses that date must apply in the next application period.
• University of the Free State closed in stages, with the last stage on 30 September 2026. Its 2027 prospectus says it will not consider applications received after those dates.
• University of the Western Cape closed on 30 September 2026. It says no late applications will be accepted, although the same page still refers learners to the defunct CACH.

Closed, with nothing published about January

These universities have closed and have said nothing official about late or space-available applications. Silence is not a promise of a second round. Assume there will be none unless the university announces one.

• Wits: closed on 30 June 2026 for Health Sciences and some other programmes, and on 30 September 2026 for everything else.
• University of Pretoria: Vet Science shut on 31 May 2026, with the remaining programmes following on 30 June 2026.
• Stellenbosch: closed on 31 July 2026. Its 2027 guide considers only applications that were complete by the closing date.
• Rhodes: closed on 30 September 2026. Only an old, undated application form mentions late applications at the Registrar’s discretion.
• Nelson Mandela University: took late applications on merit only until 30 September 2026. Last January it told applicants without a firm offer not to travel to campus.
• Univen: closed on 30 September 2026, and none of its admission notices are currently online.
• CPUT: closed on 30 September 2026 for South African applicants. Its FAQ says any spaces that open will be published on its website. Last January it used waiting lists and asked applicants not to report to campus.

Some of the still-open universities also say nothing about life after their deadline. Fort Hare, WSU and SPU fall into that category. The University of Mpumalanga allowed walk-ins with an APS of 40 back in January 2024, but we found no such notice for later intakes, so do not rely on it.

CACH is gone and CAS is “under review”

The government clearing house that used to match unplaced learners with empty seats did not run for 2026. As of 3 October 2026, the website of its replacement, the Central Application Service, says only that the project is under review. No clearing dates exist for 2027. Our CACH and CAS update sets out what each official source says.

What to do if you missed every deadline

Missing your first-choice deadline is not the end of the road, but the next steps depend on timing. Work through them in this order.

1. Apply this month to anything still open that you qualify for. UJ, Fort Hare, WSU, SPU and the on-time CAO window all close on 31 October 2026. UMP closes on 30 November. Apply for a course you meet the requirements for, not just the one you dreamed of. The prospectus pages list each university’s APS and subject minimums.
2. Apply for NSFAS before 31 October 2026. You do not need a university offer to apply, and a funding decision in December will make January far easier. If you are past that date, read our NSFAS closing date page.
3. Use the CAO’s late status if you are in KwaZulu-Natal. A late CAO application costs R470 from 1 November 2026, and it is considered only after on-time applicants and only where seats remain.
4. Put January’s dates on your calendar now. TUT’s late window runs from 14 to 22 January 2027. UJ’s Late Enquiry opens after the results, on a date UJ has yet to set (last time it opened on the evening of 13 January 2026). Check DUT, UKZN, MUT and the University of Limpopo during the second half of January.
5. Stay at home and apply online. UJ, TUT, DUT, MUT, VUT, CUT and SMU have all banned walk-ins. No legitimate official sells university places, so report anyone who asks for money to “secure” one.
6. Look beyond universities, carefully. The Minister’s statement of 10 September 2026 set 30 September 2026 as the TVET deadline for 2027, and no official January intake has been announced. Ask your nearest public college directly. Before you pay a private college, check that it appears on DHET’s register of private institutions.
7. Plan for 2028 if nothing works out. Most universities open applications between April and June each year. TUT’s calendar, for example, opens its 2028 application system on 1 April 2027. Applying early with your final matric results puts you first in line.

We will review this page after 31 October 2026, again in early December, and again in the week the matric results are released in January 2027. We will move each university into the right group as new notices appear.