Universities South Africa (USAf) announced a significant change to the admissions timeline on Saturday, confirming that public universities will only release application outcomes to prospective first-time-entering students after the official release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results to pupils and schools next week.

“This is happening for the first time in many years,” said Mateboho Green, USAf’s manager of Corporate Communications.

The shift is a direct consequence of USAf being granted access to the 2025 NSC results at 6am on Monday, January 12 — just 24 hours before their public release on January 13.

Ordinarily, universities would have received the NSC results three days before the public release.

This longer timeframe, according to USAf’s Chief Executive Officer, Phethiwe Matutu, previously allowed institutions to “finalise admission decisions and issue acceptance letters on the same day learners received their results”.

“This facilitated a smooth admissions process and reduced anxiety for prospective university students,” Matutu explained.

The delay in providing universities with the results stems from a decision by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to minimise the risk of a leak, similar to the one that occurred with the 2024 results.

USAf cautioned that this shortened timeframe will place significant operational and administrative pressure on universities, particularly in the timely processing and issuance of offers.

Despite the added pressure, Matutu urged students to be patient and strategic. 

“Prospective first-time entrants must therefore await their application outcomes directly from universities,” she advised.

She said this removes the need for students to inundate institutions with enquiries or to arrive on campuses prematurely, exposing themselves to safety and vulnerability risks at a time during which they cannot be attended to.

Students are strictly advised to only arrive on campuses after receiving an application outcome, a confirmation of their accommodation status, and after completing their online registration at the relevant institutions.

Matutu advised successful applicants to act quickly. “Students must accept their placement offers as soon as they have made their choices.”

Similarly, parents, guardians, and fee-paying students are urged to prepare their registration fees and complete registration promptly once dates are announced to secure their places.

“USAf acknowledges that this change to the admissions timeline may cause some uncertainty. However, universities remain committed to ensuring a fair and efficient process for all applicants,” Matutu concluded, urging all stakeholders to exercise patience and cooperate fully with institutions during this critical period.

According to the correspondence received from universities, prospective students can expect to  receive their application outcomes on the dates specified below:

• Cape Peninsula University of Technology  (CPUT) – 15 January from 08:00
• Central University of Technology (CUT)  – 13 January (afternoon) to 16 January
• Durban University of Technology (DUT) – 16 January from 08:00

• Nelson Mandela University – 14 January from 08:00
• Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) – 13 January from 12:00
• North-West University (NWU) – 13 January from 09:00
• Rhodes University (RU)  – From 08:00 on 13 January to 16 January 

• Sefako Makgatho University of Health Sciences  (SMU) – 14 January from 12:00
• Sol Plaatje University (SPU) – 13 January from 08:00
• Stellenbosch University (SU) – 14 January from 16:00

• Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)  –15 January from 16:00
• University of Cape Town (UCT) – 14 January from 16:00
• University of Fort Hare (UFH) – 14 January from 08:00
• University of the Free State (UFS)  –14 January from 08:00

• University of Johannesburg (UJ)  – From 16:00 on 13 January to 14 January 
• University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)  –14 January from 09:00
• University of Limpopo (UL)  – 15 January from 18:00
• University of Mpumalanga (UMP)  – 15 January from 09:00

• University of Pretoria (UP)  – 13 January from 12:00
• University of South Africa (UNISA)  – 19 January from 07:30
• University of the Western Cape (UWC)  – 15 January from 12:00
• University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)  – 14 January from 10:00

• University of Venda (UNIVEN)  – 13 January from 06:00
• University of Zululand (UNIZULU)  – From 09:00 on 13 January to 23 January
• Vaal University of Technology (VUT)  – 15 January from 12:00
• Walter Sisulu University (WSU) – 13 January from 00:00

karen.singh@inl.co.za

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