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Applying to a South African university takes five steps. First, work out your APS or admission score so you know what you qualify for. Second, choose the programmes you meet the entry requirements for, plus one or two backups. Third, apply on the correct official portal: in KwaZulu-Natal you apply through the CAO, which covers UKZN, DUT, MUT and UNIZULU on one application; UNISA uses its own portal; every other university takes applications directly on its own site. Fourth, upload your documents (ID, latest results, proof of payment) and pay the application fee if there is one. Fifth, submit before the closing date and track your status on the portal. AskSmarty helps you find programmes, check if you qualify, and links you to the right official portal - we never take payment.

The APS (Admission Point Score) is the points total most South African universities use to decide admission. To calculate it, take your six best National Senior Certificate (NSC) subjects, leave out Life Orientation, and convert each subject percentage into points on a 1 to 7 scale: 80% or more scores 7, 70 to 79% scores 6, 60 to 69% scores 5, 50 to 59% scores 4, 40 to 49% scores 3, 30 to 39% scores 2, and below 30% scores 1. Add the six point values together for a total out of 42. For example, 82% + 74% + 68% + 61% + 55% + 48% gives an APS of 30. Meeting the minimum APS is necessary but not always enough - competitive programmes take the highest scorers first and may require specific subjects. Use the free AskSmarty calculator to work out your APS as you enter your marks.

Most South African universities open applications around March or April and close between June and September for study the following year, though dates differ by institution and programme. Popular programmes and residences often close earliest. Always confirm the exact closing date on the official source, and check our deadlines page to see what is still open now.

The CAO (Central Applications Office) is a shared application service for KwaZulu-Natal institutions only, covering UKZN, DUT, MUT, UNIZULU and several KZN private colleges. You pay one fee and can list up to six programme choices on a single application. Outside KwaZulu-Natal there is no CAO, so you apply directly to each university or college.

Application fees usually range from about R100 to R800, and many universities and colleges charge no fee at all. In KwaZulu-Natal the CAO charges a single fee that covers up to six choices. Funding to apply is never charged by NSFAS, so be cautious of anyone who asks you to pay to register or to fast-track an application.

NSFAS (the National Student Financial Aid Scheme) is government funding that covers tuition, accommodation and living allowances at public universities and public TVET colleges. You qualify for the full bursary if your combined household income is R350,000 a year or less, or R600,000 a year or less if you are a student with a disability, and SASSA grant recipients qualify automatically. Students whose household earns between R350,000 and R600,000 - the "missing middle" - can apply for a separate loan instead. The bursary covers tuition in full, capped accommodation, and allowances for living, books, transport and incidentals; you do not repay it as long as you pass and meet the academic rules. Applying is free and only happens on the official NSFAS site - NSFAS never charges you and never asks you to pay to be approved or fast-tracked, so treat any such request as a scam.

Sometimes. Some institutions open a late-application window if they still have space, often with a higher fee, so check the official site for the specific programme. You can also look at programmes with a later or mid-year intake, or UNISA distance programmes, which often have a longer window.

No. AskSmarty is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any university, college, the CAO, or NSFAS. We help you find programmes, check if you qualify, and understand deadlines, then send you to the correct official portal to apply. We never charge you and never process or check applications on your behalf.