Unisa Online Application 2026 Postgraduate

Unisa Online Application 2025 Postgraduate: An Ultimate Guide to Unisa Application for Admission to the 2026 Academic year

Applications for admission to Unisa postgraduate programmes for the 2026 academic year will be open from 21 August 2025 to 11 October 2025. If you are planning to further your studies at the University of South Africa, it is important to submit your application within this period. The application window applies to all prospective postgraduate students who want to begin a new qualification in 2026. This includes honours degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees across a range of fields such as Education, Law, Science, Engineering, and Business.

To apply, visit the Unisa official website at www.unisa.ac.za and access the online application portal. All applicants must apply for admission before they can register for a qualification. This includes first-time applicants to Unisa, current students who wish to change to a new qualification or specialisation, and final-year undergraduate students who plan to continue with postgraduate studies.

The online application process is straightforward, but you should prepare your supporting documents in advance to avoid delays. You will need to upload certified copies of your academic records, ID or passport, and any other required documents. Make sure your documents are clear, in black and white, and in the correct file format and size as specified by Unisa. In this guide, we will take you through everything you need to know about the Unisa online application for postgraduate studies in 2026, including important dates, eligibility, required documents, and step-by-step instructions.

Unisa Postgraduate Application Dates for 2026

All those applying to study postgraduate programmes at Unisa for the 2026 academic year must take note of the following dates:

Applications for honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas will be open from 21 August to 11 October.
Master’s and doctoral applications will be open from 2 September to 22 November (note that some exceptions may apply).
Applications and registrations for short learning programmes for the 2026 academic year will open in November.
Applications for the College of Accounting Sciences and the College of Science, Engineering and Technology will remain open until 31 January.

Applicants must ensure that they submit their completed applications and supporting documents before the closing date, as late applications are not considered by the University of South Africa. Prospective students must visit the official university website to confirm the up-to-date application date.

UNISA 2026 Postgraduate Courses

UNISA offers a broad selection of postgraduate programmes for the 2026 academic year. These include Master’s degrees, Doctoral degrees, and Postgraduate Diplomas across a variety of fields such as Education, Law, Science, Engineering and Technology, and others. Prospective students can explore the full list of courses and submit their applications online through the official UNISA website.

Master’s Degrees: 

UNISA offers Master’s programmes in several disciplines, including:

Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Education (MEd)
Master of Engineering (Qualification Code: 90121)
Master of Law (LLM)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Master of Science (MSc)
Master of Research (MRes)

Doctoral Degrees: 

Detailed information about UNISA’s doctoral qualifications is available on the university’s website.

Postgraduate Diplomas: 

UNISA also provides a wide range of Postgraduate Diplomas in fields such as Accounting Sciences, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Education, and Law. Examples include:

Postgraduate Diploma in Disability Studies
Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive Education
Postgraduate Diploma in Language Education

Unisa Postgraduate 2026 Application Fee| Unisa Online Application 2026 Postgraduate

An application fee of R140 is required from all applicants. The application fee only applies to students who do not already have a formal Unisa student number.

When making payment, use the student number you received from Unisa along with the application fee allocation number as your reference.

Documents Needed for Unisa Postgraduate Application 2026

If you are applying for a new qualification, you must upload all the required documents when you apply:

A copy of your official academic record from any tertiary institution you attended (if applicable). This should include all periods of registration, the modules you passed, and the percentages obtained. Please note that internet printouts are not accepted.
If you are an international student, you must also upload a copy of your university’s grading scale (ledger).
If you earned your qualifications outside of South Africa, you must have them evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). While you can apply without a SAQA certificate, you must submit the certificate by 15 December if your application is successful. You can apply for evaluation at www.saqa.org.za.
If you are a final-year student (excluding Unisa students) and your academic record does not yet reflect the completion of your qualification, you must upload your official academic record or send it to the correct college email address before the application deadline. For example, if you are applying for the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences, email it to cashons@unisa.ac.za. Late submissions may delay your application.
A copy of your South African ID (for local students) or a valid passport (for international students)
A copy of your marriage certificate or divorce decree, if applicable
Certified translations of any documents not in English or Afrikaans

Please note that some qualifications may need additional documents. Unisa may request original documents or verify any documents submitted. Submitting false documents is a serious offence under the Student Disciplinary Code. Make sure to upload each required document as a separate file, not as one combined file. Each file must be no larger than 2MB (2048KB). Only black and white documents will be accepted. The accepted file formats are: PDF (Adobe Acrobat), DOC (Microsoft Word), and JPEG (image format).

How To Apply Online For UNISA Postgraduate 2026

Unisa Online Application for 2026 is very simple and easy. Please follow the steps below to complete your application.

Go to Unisa website: www.unisa.ac.za
Click the “Admission” tab at the top menu
Click on the “Apply for Admission” link
Choose your qualification level (Undergraduate/Postgraduate)
Select your option (first-time applicant/returning student)
Click on “Start the process” to begin your application
Carefully read all the information as seen on the screen
Click on “Proceed to ODeL and Unisa” Link for the next step
After that, click on “Apply Now” link on the right side of the page
Make your selection from the list of qualifications as seen on the screen
Fill out the online application form with your details
Upload all the required supporting documents
Pay the online application fee of R140 and keep proof of payment
Complete and submit your application for assessment.

Unisa will assess your application according to the academic admission requirements for your qualification of choice and your final mark received at undergraduate level. Applications follow a formal selection and approval process, which may take up to three months to be finalised. Unisa will inform you that your application for the 2026 academic year was successful and the qualification for which you have been accepted. If your application for admission to study through Unisa is incomplete, you will have to reapply during the next application period.

Visit the official website of the University of South Africa for more information. I hope the provided information is helpdul. Share your thoughts below in the comment section.

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