Universities begin releasing 2026 admission decisions after matric results
Thousands of South African matriculants will start receiving long-awaited university admission decisions from Monday, 13 January, following the release of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results.
The Department of Higher Education and Training has published a revised admissions timeline confirming when public universities will open their online portals to update application outcomes for the 2026 academic year. The staggered release means applicants must closely monitor their application portals to avoid missing crucial acceptance deadlines.
With many high-demand programmes filling within hours, universities have warned that failure to respond on time could result in an offer being forfeited and given to another candidate.
Admissions released in phases
Institutions will not release outcomes at the same time. Universities such as the University of Venda, Walter Sisulu University and North-West University began publishing results from early on 13 January, while others, including the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and Tshwane University of Technology, will only release outcomes from the afternoon of 14 January.
The University of South Africa, which serves the largest student population in the country, will only publish admission results on 19 January from 07:30.
According to the Department, this phased approach allows universities to finalise decisions based on confirmed NSC results, ensuring applicants meet the final subject and admission requirements for their chosen qualifications.
Critical days for applicants
The period between 13 and 19 January is considered the most critical window for applicants. During this time, students must log into their university portals to confirm whether they have been admitted, placed on a waiting list, or declined.
Many universities provide limited time to accept an offer — sometimes as little as 48 hours — after which the space may be allocated to another student.
Applicants who receive multiple offers are advised to accept one to secure a place while waiting for responses from other institutions.
University Application Outcome Release Dates
Below is the official 2025 NSC revised admission timeline for the 2026 intake.
| University | Application Outcome Release |
|---|---|
| Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) | 15 January from 08:00 |
| Central University of Technology (CUT) | 13 January (afternoon) – 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 | 13 January 08:00 – 16 January |
| Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University | 14 January from 12:00 |
| Sol Plaatje University (SPU) | 13 January from 08:00 |
| Stellenbosch University | 14 January from 16:00 |
| Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) | 14 January from 16:00 |
| University of Cape Town (UCT) | 14 January from 16:00 |
| University of Fort Hare | 14 January from 08:00 |
| University of the Free State (UFS) | 14 January from 08:00 |
| University of Johannesburg (UJ) | 13 January 16:00 – 14 January |
| University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) | 14 January from 09:00 |
| University of Limpopo (UL) | 15 January from 18:00 |
| University of Mpumalanga | 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) | 13 January 09:00 – 23 January |
| Vaal University of Technology (VUT) | 15 January from 12:00 |
| Walter Sisulu University (WSU) | 13 January from 00:00 |
NSFAS delays may affect registration
For students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), the admissions process also depends on the transfer of funding data from NSFAS to universities.
NSFAS sends lists of approved students to institutions, after which universities remove financial blocks and allow students to register. In previous years, delays in this process have resulted in some funded students being temporarily unable to register even after being admitted.
Universities have encouraged NSFAS-funded students to be patient but to regularly check their portals and emails for updates.
Demand for places remains high
Although the national matric pass rate reached a record high this year, the number of available university spaces remains limited. This means thousands of qualified applicants will not receive offers in high-demand programmes such as medicine, law, engineering and commerce.
Students who are not admitted are encouraged to consider alternative qualifications, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, or late application opportunities that may be announced by universities in the coming weeks.
What applicants should do now
Prospective students are urged to:
- Log into university portals daily
- Monitor their email and SMS notifications
- Accept offers as soon as they are made availabl
- Ensure personal details and documents are up to date
The Department of Higher Education has warned that the next few days will determine the academic futures of thousands of young South Africans, making it essential for applicants to act quickly and carefully.
