Are there South African Universities with no application fee? Are you at that time of the year and are you wondering which South African University has an application fee waiver?
Fortunately, some of these South African universities do not charge for application fees, making it easier for lots of people to apply when they reach that phase in their academic ladder.
In this article, we are going to take a closer look at most of the universities in South Africa that do not charge an application fee.
This article further guides you to make the right decision as far as the South African Universities Application fee waiver is concerned.
What Are Application Fees in South Africa?
When applying to schools, especially universities, there is a sum of money that is paid together with your application form. These monies are mostly not refundable. Once it is paid, you cannot get it back even if you are not accepted into the particular school you applied to. The application varies from one university or college to the next. However, some universities and colleges do not charge application fees, and that is the heart of this article.
What Does the Application Fee Cover?
Many universities and colleges have made it a point to charge for application fees. According to these institutions, these monies are not just taken for the sake of it. It is rather used to cover certain costs. Some of these costs are;
- Process and verify documents
- Manage admin systems and databases
- Support selection and admission services
- Fund communication with applicants
Do South African Universities Charge Application Fees?
Application fees are charged by some universities and colleges in South Africa, just like in any other country. The cost of an application may vary concerning the type of university or college it is.
Whereas some universities in South Africa charge for application fees, some of them do not. This means that whether or not an applicant is going to pay for the application fee depends on the type of university or college they are applying to.
How Much Do Application Fees Cost?
Again, how much an applicant is going to pay for an application fee depends on the type of university or college they are applying to.
For public universities, the cost is usually between R100 – R500 on average. This cost may, however, vary if the university is a private one. It would either be more or less. An applicant would have to make enquiries before they apply.
South African Universities With No Application Fees
There is a host of universities in South Africa that do not charge for application fees. If you are looking to apply to any university as a student and wish to scrap off all the application fees, especially when you are applying to multiple universities, take a moment and go through this list- you will find what you are looking for.
- University of the Free State
- Sol Plaatje University
- University of South African
- University of Johannesburg
- Central University of Technology
- Walter Sisulu University
- University of Mpumalanga
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Why Are Universities Waiving Application Fees?
There are so many reasons why universities have now decided to waive application fees. Amongst these reasons are;
- By waiving application fees, universities are promoting and encouraging equal access to education: You will think that everyone can pay an application fee as low as R100 but that is not always the case, people from low income background may find it difficult to get that money just to pick an application form but as it is waived, it levels that playing field, communities who are at a disadvantage can now apply to these universities.
- Encouraging more people to apply to universities: if people know they are not going to pay any sort of an application fee when they apply to universities, they are encouraged to pick up forms and apply. This, by extension, is aimed at reducing illiteracy.
- Waiving application fees boosts enrollments, and this applies mostly to new universities. A lot of people tend to apply to universities if they know they are not going to pay a dime when they pick up the forms.
- Universities that waive application fees align with national efforts like NSFAS funding to support underprivileged students. Youth employment and education strategies and making higher education more accessible in rural areas.
Merits Of Applying To Universities With No Application Fees
Applying to universities with no applications comes with many advantages. Here are some of these advantages or merits;
- You tend to save cost when you apply to universities with no application. In as much as R100 may not come across as such a huge amount, you get to save five times that, especially when you are applying to multiple universities. This movie can be used to cater to other expenses.
- Because you are not paying application fees, you have the opportunity to apply to as many universities as you wish. This will increase your chances of getting into your preferred university, and as many applications as you chances have getting increase.
- You lose close to nothing; maybe you will be a little disappointed that you didn’t get into your desired university or college, but that does not come with the loss of money you probably don’t have. So low risk, high rewards.
- Most of the universities that do not charge for application often allow applicants to apply online. This means that you will be saving yourself the hassle of having to queue up and stressing to process your application. You apply online, which is easy and accessible. You only need the internet, a smart gadge,t and your required documents.
- Because applicants are not going to pay for application fees, they tend to plan early. Get all their documentation together before finally deciding to apply.
- With universities waiving their application fee, everyone can apply, including people who are at a disadvantage financially. Once they get in, they would always apply for financial aid to foot their university bills.
Which Universities Have No Application Fees For 2025
There is a host of universities in South Africa that do not charge for application fees. If you are looking to apply to any university as a student and wish to scrap off all the application fees, especially when you are applying to multiple universities, take a moment and go through this list- you will find what you are looking for.
- University of the Free State
- Sol Plaatje University
- University of South African
- University of Johannesburg
- Central University of Technology
- Walter Sisulu University
- University of Mpumalanga
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
- University of Venda (UNIVEN)
- University of Pretoria (UP)
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
- Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
How To Apply To Universities Without Application Fees
Applying to universities with no application fee is not any different from applying to the ones with an application fee. You follow the same process. The only difference here is that, while you pay a designated amount when submitting your application for universities that charge application fees, you don’t pay any money when submitting to universities that do not charge for application fees. Here is how to go about the application process.
- The first step here is choosing the right university. One thing you don’t have to forget about is that you are applying to a university that does not charge for an application fee, so your selection of universities has to include only such. You can choose from the schools below;
University of the Free State
Sol Plaatje University
University of South African
University of Johannesburg
Central University of Technology
Walter Sisulu University
University of Mpumalanga
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
University of Venda (UNIVEN)
University of Pretoria (UP)
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
- The next thing to do is to check the admission requirements. One cannot wake up one day and decide they want to go to a university without what is required of them as an applicant. You need to make a thorough search of the requirements and know whether you meet them. This must be done earlier so that should there be a requirement you don’t meet, you work on it before admissions are opened. The requirements range from your academic credentials to your place of residence, amongst other personal details.
- Once that is done, you need to create an account for free on your preferred university portal. Go to the official university portal. Click on register to create an account with your details.
- Now you can go ahead to start your application process. Fill in the blank spaces with all of your correct details, after which you upload all of your supporting documents.
- Go ahead to check your form after completing it, and then go ahead and submit it.
- You can track your application to see if you have been accepted into a university or not.
FAQs
What Are The Application Fees In South Africa?
When applying to schools, especially universities, there is a sum of money that is paid together with your application form. These monies are mostly not refundable. Once it is paid, you cannot get it back even if you are not accepted into the particular school you applied to. The application varies from one university or college to the next. However, some universities and colleges do not charge application fees
Does South Africa Charge An Application Fee?
Application fees are charged by some universities and colleges in South Africa, just like in any other country. The cost of an application may vary concerning the type of university or college it is. Whereas some universities in South Africa charge for application fees, some of them do not. This means that whether or not an applicant is going to pay for the application fee depends on the type of university or college they are applying to.
How Much Do Application Fees Cost?
Again, how much an applicant is going to pay for an application fee depends on the type of university or college they are applying to. For public universities, the cost is usually between R100 – R500 on average. This cost may, however, vary if the university is a private one. It would either be more or less. An applicant would have to make enquiries before they apply.
Why Are Universities Waiving Application Fees?
There are so many reasons why universities have now decided to waive application fees. Amongst these reasons are;
By waiving application fees, universities are promoting and encouraging equal access to education: You will think that everyone can pay an application fee as low as R100 but that is not always the case, people from low income background may find it difficult to get that money just to pick an application form but as it is waived, it levels that playing field, communities who are at a disadvantage can now apply to these universities.
South African Universities With No Application Fees
University of the Free State
Sol Plaatje University
University of South African
University of Johannesburg
Central University of Technology
Walter Sisulu University
University of Mpumalanga
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Advantages Of Applying To Universities With No Application Fee
You tend to save cost when you apply to universities with no application. In as much as R100 may not come across as such a huge amount, you get to save five times that, especially when you are applying to multiple universities. This movie can be used to cater to other expenses.
Because you are not paying application fees, you have the opportunity to apply to as many universities as you wish. This will increase your chances of getting into your preferred university, and as many applications as you chances have getting increase.
Does The University Of South Africa Require An Application Fee
It depends on the type of university one is applying to. If you choose a university that does not charge for application fee, it means that you are not going to pay any application fee.
Conclusion
It is always an exciting time when the time comes for one to apply to a university. It is one of the hugest milestones as far as education is concerned. That notwithstanding, the application fees can make the whole process quite cumbersome, especially if you apply to multiple universities. Fortunately, some of these South African universities do not charge for application fees, making it easier for lots of people to apply when they reach that phase in their academic ladder.