Which Universities Don’t Charge Application Fees in SA?

Applications can be pricey, but some universities won’t charge you a cent. Here’s a quick list of fee-free options and where you’ll need to budget.

University application fees can add up fast, especially if you’re applying to multiple universities. But did you know that not all South African universities charge an application fee? Let’s take a look at which ones don’t, so you can save a bit of money while you apply.

When applying to universities, you should always double-check whether they charge an application fee. Some universities keep things simple by waiving this fee, which can be a real lifesaver.

Universities that Don’t Charge Application Fees:

Central University of Technology (CUT): No application fee for undergraduate programs.
Rhodes University (RU): No application fee.
Sol Plaatje University (SPU): No application fee.
University of the Western Cape (UWC): Free online application.
University of Pretoria: Free application, unless household income exceeds R150 000, in which case a R300 fee applies.
Nelson Mandela University: Free application.
University of the Free State (UFS): No application fee.
University of Johannesburg (UJ): Free online application.
Walter Sisulu University (WSU): Free online application.
UJ (University of Johannesburg): Only charges for on-campus applications.
DUT (Durban University of Technology): No application fee for online applications.

Universities that Do Charge Application Fees (Non-refundable):

TUT (Tshwane University of Technology): R240 application fee. This fee applies to all first-time applications to TUT.
Stellenbosch University: R100 application fee for undergraduate and postgraduate international applicants, with higher fees for Stellenbosch Business School applicants.
University of Cape Town (UCT): An application fee is required, but UCT students and graduates, as well as Semester Study Abroad (SSA) applicants, are exempt unless applying to a Graduate School of Business (GSB) programme.
University of Limpopo (UL): R200 handling fee for online applications for South African applicants and R750 for international applicants.
Unisa: R140 online application fee.

If you’re applying to Durban University of Technology (DUT), Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), University of Zululand (UNIZULU), and most private colleges in KwaZulu-Natal, you’ll need to apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Central Applications Office (CAO) charges an administration fee of R250 for South African citizens and R300 for international applicants if the application and fee are received on or before the stipulated deadline. This fee applies to the entire CAO system, not individual universities.

Note

Check for changes in fees, universities can sometimes change their fee policies, so make sure you confirm everything on the official website. Always do your research before applying, and consider applying to at least one fee-free university to cut costs.