South Africa has some of the best schools on the continent. The country is renowned for diversity, inclusion, and quality education for both national and international students. Some schools allow prospective students to apply throughout the year for different programs, while others have a specific closing date per program.
Application dates differ from one school to another and from one program to another in different schools. Prospective students are urged to apply before the closing date because these institutions have the right to change the closing date without prior notice. Applying early also increases your chance of acceptance, especially for schools that accept a specific number of students. Such schools admit qualified students on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, some schools offer scholarship opportunities, grants, and NSFAS aid. Go through the school website to which you want to apply to find out more information on financial assistance.
The government of South Africa has closed down schools that were not properly registered. The schools discussed in this article are currently functional and provide accredited certification and degree programs into the available departments.
This article shows the closing date for ongoing applications to universities, colleges, and schools of technology in South Africa and their closing date.
2025 University Application Dates
| University | Application date | |
| 1 | Nelson Mandela University | Early applications 05/08/2025 Late applications 30/09/2024 Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 2 | University of Fort Hare | Early closing date 29/10/2025 Late closing date 01 – 30/11/2025 |
| 3 | North-West University | Selection courses close on 31/07/2024. Non-selection courses are closed on 30/09/2025. Music and graphic design closes on 31/08/2025 |
| 4 | University of the Free State | Early closing date 29/10/2025. Late closing date 01 – 30/11/2025 |
| 5 | University of South Africa | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 6 | Rhodes University | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 7 | University of Johannesburg | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 8 | University of Western Cape | Closes before 30/09/2025 |
| 9 | University of KwaZulu-Natal | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 10 | University of Cape Town | Closes on 30/08/2025 |
| 11 | University of Pretoria | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 12 | University of Witwatersrand | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 13 | University of Limpopo | Closes between 31/05/2025 and 30/09/2025 for different courses |
| 14 | Walter Sisulu University | Closes on 30/11/2025 |
| 15 | University of Zululand | Closes between 30/09/2024 to 31/10/2024 for different programs |
| 16 | University of Venda | Closes 27/09/2025 |
| 17 | Stellenbosch University | Closes on 15/12/2025 |
| 18 | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 19 | University of Mpumalanga | Closes between 30/09/2025 to 15/01/2025 for different programs |
| 20 | Monash University | Closes on 12/11/2025 |
2025 University Of Technology University Application Dates
| University of Technology | Application date | |
| 1 | Durban University of Technology | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 2 | Vaal University of Technology | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 3 | Central University of Technology, Free State | Closes on 29/10/2025 for International applicants Closes on 30/11/2025 for South African nationals |
| 4 | Tshwane University of Technology | Undergraduate programs are closed. Others close between 31/08/2025 to 15/03/2025 |
| 5 | Cape Peninsula University of Technology | Undergraduate programs are closed. Others close between 31/08/2025 to 15/03/2025 |
| 6 | Mangosuthu University of Technology | Closes on 30/11/2025 |
| 7 | Sol Plaatje University | Closes on 30/11/2025 |
2024 Private College Application Dates
| Private College | Application Date | |
| 1 | The South African School for Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance (AFDA) | Open all year round |
| 2 | Brooklyn City College | Closes on 30/11/2025 |
| 3 | Thekwini City College | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 4 | Damelin | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 5 | Regent Business School | Ongoing |
| 6 | Varsity College | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 7 | Eta College | Open at different times all year round |
| 8 | MasterStart | Open at different times all year round |
| 9 | ICESA Education | Open all year round for the January and July intakes |
| 10 | Oxbridge Academy | Open all year round for various intakes |
| 11 | Pearson Institute of Higher Education | Open all year round for various intakes |
| 12 | Rosebank College | Open all year round |
| 13 | Dermatech | Open all year round for various intakes |
| 14 | Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology | Open all year round |
| 15 | Intec College | Open all year round |
| 16 | Vega College | Closes on 30/11/2025 |
| 17 | Boston City Campus | Closes on 30/11/2025 |
2024 TVET College Application Dates
| TVET College | Application Date | |
| 1 | Buffalo City TVET College | Open all year-round |
| 2 | Eastern Midlands TVET College | Open all year round |
| 3 | Ikhala TVET College | Open all year round |
| 4 | Ingwe TVET College | Open all year round |
| 5 | King Hintsa TVET College | Open all year round |
| 6 | King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College | Open all year round |
| 7 | Lovedale TVET College | Open all year round |
| 8 | Port Elizabeth TVET College | Open all year round |
| 9 | Flavius Mareka TVET College | Open all year round |
| 10 | Goldfields TVET College | Open all year round |
| 11 | Maluti TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 12 | Motheo TVET College | Closed on 31/07/25 for undergraduates. Closes on 31/10/25 for postgraduates |
| 13 | Central Johannesburg TVET College | Open from 01/04/25 to 30/11/25 |
| 14 | Ekurhuleni East TVET College | Closed on 31/07/25 for undergraduates. Closes on 31/10/25 for postgraduates |
| 15 | Ekurhuleni West TVET College | Closed on 31/07/25 for undergraduates. Closes on 31/10/25 for postgraduates |
| 16 | Sedibeng TVET College | Closes in November 2025 |
| 17 | South West Gauteng TVET College | Closed on 31/07/25 for undergraduates. Closes on 31/10/25 for postgraduates |
| 18 | Tshwane North TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 19 | Tshwane South TVET College | Closes at the end of November 2025 |
| 20 | Western TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 21 | Coastal TVET College | Closed on 31/07/25 for undergraduates. Closes on 31/10/22 for postgraduates |
| 22 | Elangeni TVET College | Closed on 31/07/25 for undergraduates. Closes on 31/10/25 for postgraduates |
| 23 | Esayidi TVET College | Closes in November 2025 |
| 24 | Majuba TVET College | Closes in November 2025 |
| 25 | Mnambithi TVET College | Closes in November 2025 |
| 26 | Mthashana Tvet College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 27 | Umfolozi TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 28 | Umgungundlovu TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 29 | Capricorn TVET College | Closes in November 2025 |
| 30 | Lephalale TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 31 | Letaba TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 32 | Mopani South East TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 33 | Sekhukhune TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 34 | Vhembe TVET College | Closes on 21/11/2025 |
| 35 | Waterberg TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 36 | Ehlanzeni TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 37 | Gert Sibande TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 38 | The Nkangala TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 39 | Northern Cape Rural TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 40 | Northern Cape Urban TVET College | Closed on 31/07/25 for undergraduates. Closes on 31/10/25 for postgraduates |
| 41 | Orbit TVET College | Closed on 31/07/25 for undergraduates. Closes on 31/10/25 for postgraduates |
| 42 | Taletso TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 43 | Vuselela TVET College | Some programs close on 30/09/25. All programs close on 30/10/25 |
| 44 | Boland TVET College | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 45 | College of Cape Town for TVET | Closes on 30/09/2025 |
| 46 | False Bay TVET College | Closes on 30/11/2025 |
| 48 | South Cape TVET College | Closes in November 2025 |
| 49 | West Coast TVET College | Closes in November 2025 |
