The Central Applications Office (CAO) has announced that prospective students can now start submitting their 2027 applications through their portal. The CAO portal remains open between 01 March to 31 October 2026. If you are currently in Grade 12 or have already finished school and want to start studying next year, this is your signal to get moving.
In South Africa’s competitive education world, timing is everything. While it might feel like 2027 is a long way away, the race for a seat at a university or college has already begun.
The Reality Check: Why You Must Act Now
You might be thinking, "I’ll wait until I see my June results," or "I'll apply after my final exams." According to recent education reports, that is a very risky move.
Last year, South African universities faced a massive "space crisis." Even though over 245,000 learners achieved a Bachelor’s pass in their Matric exams, there were only enough first-year spots for about 235,000 students. That left 10,000 qualified students without a place to study.
The competition is even tighter for "High Demand" careers. For 2027, the most crowded courses are expected to be:
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Medicine and Nursing: Some institutions receive over 20,000 applications for fewer than 100 spots.
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Engineering and IT: With the world becoming more digital, these seats fill up almost instantly.
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Education: Especially for those wanting to teach Foundation Phase or Science.
"A late application is often a wasted application," says a senior admissions officer. "By the time October hits, many of the most popular courses are already full of students who applied in March and April."
One Form, Many Opportunities
The best thing about the CAO is that it makes life easy for you. Instead of applying to four or five different places and paying five different fees, the CAO lets you use one single application to apply for up to six different courses.
Through the CAO, you can apply to major institutions in KwaZulu-Natal, including:
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UKZN (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
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DUT (Durban University of Technology)
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UNIZULU (University of Zululand)
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MUT (Mangosuthu University of Technology)
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Various Colleges and private institutions.
The "Golden Rules" for 2027 Applicants
To make sure your application is successful, keep these three things in mind:
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Use Your Grade 11 Results if currently in matric: You don't need your Matric results to apply. The CAO uses your Final Grade 11 report to give you a "conditional offer." This means the university saves a spot for you as long as your final Matric marks are good. If you have completed grade 12 then you will use your final grade 12 results.
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Watch the Calendar: Some high-stakes courses, like those in the Health Sciences, have very early closing dates—some as early as June 30, 2026.
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Pay the Fee Promptly: Your application will not be processed until you pay the administration fee. For 2027, the standard fee is R250. If you wait until after October 31, the price jumps to R470 for late applications.
A Message to the Class of 2026
The Department of Higher Education has been working hard to create more spaces, especially in TVET Colleges. These colleges are great for students who want to learn practical skills like coding, electrical engineering, or hospitality. Many of these courses are fully funded by NSFAS, meaning you can study for free if you qualify
A Final Warning: Always make sure you are using the official website: www.cao.ac.za. Never give your money or personal details to anyone claiming they can "guarantee" you a spot for a fee. Only the CAO and the universities themselves have that power.
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