• UNISA has extended the deadline for applications and registrations of all its qualifications.
• The closing dates for undergraduate qualifications and honour’s degrees are now set at 14th November 2023.
• Master’s and doctoral qualifications are now extended to 10th November 2023.

The University of South Africa (UNISA) has extended the deadlines to apply for its qualifications further into the year, with one college specifically now taking in applications until early next year.

Unisa made the announcement in a post on X, highlighting its opportunities to study undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. The university has not said why it has decided to extend its application and registration deadlines.

Now, applications for undergraduate qualifications including higher certificates, diplomas and degrees have had their deadlines extended to 17th November 2023. This applies to all colleges, except the College of Accounting Sciences, and the College of Science, Engineering and Technology which have had their closing dates extended and will remain open for applicants until 31st January 2024.

Postgraduate programmes have also had their closing dates extended with those interested now able to apply for honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas for 2024 until 17th November 2023.

Applications for UNISA Master’s degrees and doctoral qualifications (PhDs) are now also extended from the initial date of 14th September 2023 to 10th November 2023. Meanwhile applications and registrations for UNISA’s short learning programmes will open in November 2023.

Those interested in applying can do so via this page.

As the deadlines for next year’s students to apply have been extended, UNISA is now preparing for its Spring graduations ceremony held today in Pretoria. This year’s graduation ceremony coincides with the 150th anniversary of UNISA and the South African government will be in attendance.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is slated to attend the ceremony at the invitation of the UNISA vice-chancellor. Further, Bishop Dr Engenas Joseph Lekganyane will receive an honorary PhD from the university for his contributions to “peace, social cohesion, as well as successful and resilient African-initiated institutions in the 21st century.”

While celebrations are occurring to see off the class of 2023, the university has been embroiled in legal troubles over the intention of Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande to place Unisa under administration, effectively removing the university’s leadership from executive power and replacing it with government officials.

This comes after the minister received a report detailing alleged financial maladministration at the institution.

This has been postponed for now, according to Times Live, as the latest saw the North Gauteng High Court order Nzimande to withdraw his intention to place Unisa under administration after Unisa’s council urgently petitioned the court to do so. The reason for the intervention is that there are pending applications that are underway to challenge the initial report received by the minister.