University application fees run about R100 to R500 - and some are free to apply to.
Most South African universities charge a one-off application fee when you apply. It is usually R100 to R500, but 10 institutions on AskSmarty are free to apply to. Below is the free list, the fees by institution, and how the CAO fee works.
Checked 12 Jun 2026. Application fees, free windows and the CAO rate change each cycle. The figures below are guideline amounts - always confirm the current fee on the official application portal for each institution before you pay.
A free application is the cheapest way to keep your options open, so it is worth applying to one or two of these even if they are not your first choice. Free to apply does not mean free to study - tuition, registration, and other fees still apply once you accept a place.
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Application fees by institution
One-off application fees, cheapest first. KwaZulu-Natal institutions marked R250 share a single CAO fee that covers up to six choices.
These are the standard on-time fees. Late and walk-in applications usually cost more (see below), and tuition and registration fees are separate from the application fee. Tap any institution to see its programmes, deadlines, and how to apply.
How application fees actually work
The CAO fee covers up to six choices
For KwaZulu-Natal universities and several colleges you apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO), not to each institution separately. You pay one CAO application fee, around R250 for the standard on-time period, and that single fee covers up to six programme choices across the CAO institutions. So if you are only applying to KZN universities, you pay once, not once per university.
Direct-apply universities each charge their own fee
Universities outside the CAO system take applications on their own portals and each charges its own application fee, from free up to around R500. If you apply directly to several universities, you pay each of them separately. The distance university UNISA also runs its own portal with its own application fee. Plan your shortlist so you are not paying for places you will not take.
When fees are waived or reduced
Some universities waive the application fee entirely (the free list above), and some run fee-free application windows early in the cycle. NSFAS-funded students and students from low-income households can sometimes get application fee relief or a waiver - check each institution's admissions page for a fee-waiver or financial-need option before you pay. NSFAS funds your studies, but you still apply to the university and to NSFAS separately.
Late and walk-in applications cost more
Once the on-time window closes, many institutions and the CAO charge a higher late or walk-in fee. The CAO late fee from about 1 November is roughly double the standard fee (around R470). Applying on time is cheaper and gives you a far better chance of a place, especially for programmes that fill up early.
Never pay an application fee into a personal bank account. Pay only on the official university or CAO portal, using the payment options shown there. No legitimate institution asks you to pay a fee to a personal account, and nobody can guarantee you a place for a fee. If a payment request looks unofficial, stop and confirm directly with the institution before paying anything.
Application fee questions
Most public universities charge an application fee of roughly R100 to R500, paid once on the official application portal. Several universities are free to apply to and charge no application fee at all. For KwaZulu-Natal institutions you pay one CAO fee (around R250) that covers up to six programme choices, rather than a separate fee per university.
Several public universities and a few private colleges are currently free to apply to and charge no application fee. On AskSmarty the free-to-apply institutions include CUT, MANCOSA, Regent Business School, SPU, STADIO (Embury), UJ, UFS, UWC, Univen, WSU. Always confirm on the official application portal before you apply, because fee policies change each cycle and free windows can close.
The CAO (Central Applications Office) handles applications for KwaZulu-Natal universities and several colleges, and you pay one fee, around R250 for the standard on-time period, that covers up to six programme choices across those institutions. Late applications from about 1 November cost roughly double (around R470). Always check the current rate on the official CAO site.
It depends on how you apply. Through the CAO you pay one fee that covers up to six programme choices, so you do not pay per programme. When you apply directly to a university you pay that university its own application fee, so applying to several direct-apply universities means several separate fees.
No. An application fee is a processing fee, not a deposit, so it is generally not refundable whether you are accepted, rejected, or change your mind. It is also separate from registration and tuition fees, which you only pay once you accept a place. This is why it is worth checking your requirements and deadlines before you pay.
Often yes. Many institutions and the CAO charge a higher late or walk-in application fee once the on-time window closes. The CAO late fee from about 1 November is roughly double the standard fee. Applying on time is cheaper and gives you a better chance of a place, so apply as early as you can.
Pay your application fee only on the official university or CAO portal, using the payment options shown there. Never pay an application fee into a personal bank account, and never pay anyone who promises to guarantee you a place, fast-track your application, or apply on your behalf for a fee. If a payment request looks unofficial, stop and confirm directly with the institution before paying.
Ready to apply?
Compare institutions, their fees, and their deadlines, then follow the step-by-step apply guide. A free application is a low-risk way to secure a backup choice while you wait on your first pick.
AskSmarty is an independent national guide - not the CAO, NSFAS, or any university or college, and not affiliated with them. This page explains how university application fees work; fees and free windows change each cycle, so always confirm the current amount on the official application portal before you pay. We never take payment and we never process your application or your fee.