Applications for the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) 2027 academic year are an important opportunity for prospective students who want to study at one of South Africa’s leading public universities.
If you are planning to start your undergraduate studies at Wits University in 2027, it is important not only to submit an application, but also to understand the closing dates, programme requirements, APS requirements, supporting documents, application status process, NSFAS funding and bursary opportunities.
As of 2 September 2026, applications for most undergraduate programmes are still within the Wits application period, but applicants should pay close attention to programme-specific closing dates. Some programmes already closed on 30 June 2026, while most remaining undergraduate applications close on 30 September 2026.
Edupstairs has also created a dedicated Wits University 2027 Courses and APS Requirements Explorer, where prospective students can search undergraduate programmes by faculty and see available APS, programme codes, duration and admission information.
Explore Wits University Courses, APS Requirements and 2027 Application Information on Edupstairs
Wits University 2027 Application Closing Dates
Wits does not use exactly the same application deadline for every undergraduate programme.
For the 2027 academic intake, applications closed on 30 June 2026 for all programmes in the Faculty of Health Sciences, as well as Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Audiology, Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology and BA Film and Television.
Applications for all other undergraduate programmes close on 30 September 2026.
Residence applications also close on 30 September 2026.
This means applicants interested in programmes that fall under the 30 September deadline should avoid waiting until the final days of September to submit their applications.
Importantly, Wits states that applications must be completed before the applicable closing date. Applicants should therefore submit the online application, pay the required application fee and provide the necessary supporting documents as early as possible.
Who Can Apply to Wits University for 2027?
Prospective first-year students completing Grade 12 in 2026 may apply for admission for the 2027 academic year.
Students who have already completed matric, applicants who have studied at another tertiary institution, international students and some students wishing to transfer may also apply, subject to the relevant admission requirements.
However, simply meeting the minimum published admission requirements does not guarantee admission.
Wits has a limited number of places available in its undergraduate programmes. Final selection can depend on academic performance, programme capacity and additional requirements such as NBT results, portfolios, auditions or other selection criteria.
Wits University Programmes Offered for 2027
Wits offers undergraduate study opportunities across five major faculties:
- Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management
- Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Science
These faculties cover study areas including Accounting, Commerce, Economics, Law, Engineering, Architecture, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Education, Arts, Humanities, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Actuarial Science and many others.
Rather than trying to list every programme and its admission requirements in one article, Edupstairs has organised the programmes into a searchable Wits University explorer.
Prospective students can search available programmes, compare faculties and inspect available programme information including APS requirements.
View Wits University Programmes and APS Requirements on Edupstairs
The Edupstairs Wits University database currently contains dozens of structured study options across the five faculties.
Wits University APS Requirements for 2027
There is no single Wits APS requirement that applies to every qualification.
The APS required depends on the particular programme.
For example, programmes in Commerce, Engineering, Science, Humanities and other faculties can have different APS thresholds as well as different Mathematics, English, Physical Sciences or other subject requirements.
Applicants should therefore avoid searching only for “Wits APS requirements” without checking the qualification they actually intend to study.
Use the programme-specific information available through the Edupstairs Wits University explorer:
Check Wits University APS Requirements
Remember that reaching the minimum APS does not automatically mean that Wits will offer you a place.
Some programmes are highly competitive and admission remains subject to available places and applicable selection requirements.
How to Apply to Wits University for 2027
Applications are completed through the official Wits University application system.
Before applying, decide which programmes you want to pursue and check their academic requirements carefully.
Wits allows applicants to select a maximum of three programmes, and the university states that the order in which the choices are entered does not affect how they are considered. Each degree choice is effectively assessed separately.
Start by opening the official Wits application platform:
Apply Online at Wits University
Complete your application using your names exactly as they appear on your South African ID document or passport. Do not use initials or nicknames.
Select your intended programmes and provide the requested personal, academic and contact information.
After submitting the application, pay the application fee and upload the required supporting documents.
Wits will then send an acknowledgement confirming that your application has been received. This acknowledgement includes your person number, which eventually becomes your student number, as well as details of the Admissions Consultant assigned to your application.
Wits University Application Fee for 2027
Wits currently states that an application fee of R100 is required.
Payment must be made before the applicable application closing date.
Applicants can make the payment using the Student Self-Service Portal through the Campus Finances section or follow the university’s other authorised payment methods.
Applicants should use their person/student number as the payment reference when paying.
Always verify payment instructions on the official Wits website before making a bank payment.
Documents Needed for a Wits Application
The supporting documentation required depends on the applicant’s circumstances.
Current Grade 12 learners are required to upload their final Grade 11 results.
Applicants who have already completed matric should upload certified copies of their matric or relevant school-leaving certificates.
Students who have previously registered at another tertiary institution must submit official academic records covering their tertiary registrations and may also need a statement or certificate of good conduct.
Documents can also be uploaded after the initial application through the Wits Student Self-Service Portal.
An application may remain incomplete if the required documentation has not been received, so applicants should regularly check the Manage Documents section of Student Self-Service.
How to Check Your Wits University Application Status
Submitting an application is only the beginning of the admissions process.
Applicants should regularly monitor their Wits application status through the official Student Self-Service Portal.
Wits University Student Self-Service Portal
According to Wits, applicants can navigate through Student Self-Service to:
Student Centre → Admissions → View Academic Application Status
The portal is also used to access university correspondence, upload outstanding documents and update contact information.
Do not rely exclusively on SMS messages or emails. Checking your Student Self-Service account regularly is important because requests for documents and admissions correspondence can appear there.
What Happens After You Apply?
After Wits receives an application, the university sends an acknowledgement containing the applicant’s person number.
Applications are then assessed according to the requirements of the selected programmes.
For current matric learners, Wits states that the initial assessment may use self-reported final Grade 11 results, while final admission decisions depend on official matric results.
A student may therefore receive a provisional offer before completing Grade 12.
A firm offer can only be confirmed once the university has the necessary final results.
If you receive a firm offer, you must follow the instructions supplied by Wits to accept the offer, complete the required student contract and register before the deadline stated in your offer communication.
Because spaces are limited, applicants must act within the deadlines attached to their offers.
National Benchmark Tests: Does Wits Require the NBT?
Some Wits applicants must write the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs).
The requirements depend on the programme and faculty.
For the 2027 intake, applicants to the Faculty of Health Sciences are required to write the relevant NBTs. For South African-based Health Sciences applicants, Wits specifies an in-person, pencil-and-paper NBT rather than the online version. Applicants were advised to write by approximately mid-August for early application feedback.
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology applicants also have NBT requirements.
Applicants to Bachelor of Science programmes must write the NBT, with Wits indicating that Science applicants should complete the required tests by the end of October.
Some programmes also require portfolios, questionnaires, auditions, architectural exercises or job-shadowing documentation.
Applicants must therefore check the requirements of the specific programme, not only the general university requirements.
Wits University NSFAS Funding for 2027
Wits University is a public university, and qualifying undergraduate students can be funded through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) subject to NSFAS eligibility requirements and approval.
However, students need to understand an important distinction:
Applying to Wits University does not automatically mean that you have applied for NSFAS.
The university application and NSFAS funding application are separate processes.
Likewise, receiving NSFAS funding does not automatically mean that Wits has admitted you.
Applicants who need financial assistance should submit their university application and independently complete the NSFAS application when the relevant NSFAS funding cycle opens.
As of 2 September 2026, NSFAS had not yet published confirmed dates for the national 2027 application cycle on the official information retrieved for this article. The NSFAS website specifically indicates that 2027 national-cycle dates are to follow. Applicants should therefore avoid social-media posters claiming unofficial 2027 opening or closing dates and monitor NSFAS directly.
Visit the Official NSFAS Website
Students can also use their myNSFAS accounts to monitor funding progress and respond when additional documents or actions are requested.
Wits University Scholarships and Bursaries
NSFAS is not the only possible source of funding.
Wits University’s Financial Aid and Scholarships Administration also provides information about university scholarships, bursaries and external funding opportunities.
One example is the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship, which Wits states is awarded to the top twenty first-time undergraduate entrants. It can cover tuition, capped accommodation and allowances and is automatically awarded after registration to qualifying students, meaning there is no separate application for that particular scholarship.
Wits also provides University Entrance Scholarships, which are awarded to first-time undergraduate students based on matric academic performance, subject to the university’s applicable rules.
In addition, the university publishes external bursary opportunities from companies and organisations. These external funding opportunities have their own qualification criteria and application deadlines.
View Wits University Scholarships and Bursaries Information
Students should not wait for university admission before beginning bursary research. Many external bursaries close months before university registration begins.
Wits University Residence Applications for 2027
Students who need university accommodation must also complete a residence application.
The Wits undergraduate application information indicates a 30 September 2026 residence application closing date for the 2027 admissions cycle.
Accommodation is not automatically guaranteed simply because a student receives an academic offer.
Students who intend to live in university residence should therefore complete the residence application before the deadline and continue monitoring their Student Self-Service account.
Tuition Fees and the First Fee Payment
The exact cost of studying at Wits depends on the programme and courses for which the student ultimately registers.
Wits explains that tuition is charged according to registered courses, while students must also budget for expenses such as books, stationery, transport and other academic costs.
Prospective 2027 students should be cautious about treating the university’s currently published 2026 fee amounts as final 2027 fees. Fees can change from one academic year to another.
For NSFAS-funded students, bursary recipients and certain other sponsored students, different arrangements can apply regarding the upfront/first fee payment. Applicants should confirm the rules applicable to the 2027 registration cycle once Wits publishes them.
International Students Applying to Wits
International applicants should follow the international admissions requirements in addition to the general Wits application process.
Foreign qualifications may need to satisfy additional requirements, and students must also comply with immigration, study visa and financial requirements.
Wits advises international students who receive offers to follow guidance from its International Students Office.
International students should therefore begin preparations well before registration, particularly where visas, foreign academic documentation and fee clearance are concerned.
Important Advice for Grade 12 Learners Applying to Wits
Do not choose a university programme simply because your APS appears to meet the minimum requirement.
Look at the entire admission profile.
Check your APS, Mathematics requirement, English requirement, Physical Sciences or Life Sciences requirement where applicable, NBT requirement, selection process and application deadline.
It is also sensible to use more than one programme choice.
Wits allows applicants to select up to three programmes and specifically encourages students applying for highly restricted programmes to keep alternative study options open.
Applicants can use the Edupstairs Wits University explorer to compare available programmes before finalising their applications:
Explore Wits University 2027 Courses and Requirements
Tools you may find useful:
- SETA Platform
- RDP / BNG Housing Eligibility Checker
- SASSA Grant Eligibility Checker
- SAPS / Metro / Traffic / DCS Eligibility Checker
- Youth Employment Eligibility Checker
- SA Bursary & NSFAS Eligibility Checker
- UIF Benefits Eligibility Checker and Payment Estimator
View Other Employment Opportunities here
Need Help?
Edupstairs Advice
If you are applying for Wits University in 2027 and your programme falls under the 30 September 2026 deadline, do not treat 30 September as the day you should apply.
Submit your application as soon as possible.
After applying, log into Student Self-Service regularly, check whether Wits is requesting documents, make sure your contact details remain correct and monitor each programme choice separately.
At the same time, prepare your funding applications. University admission, NSFAS funding, external bursaries and accommodation are separate processes and students can lose opportunities by concentrating on only one of them.
Most importantly, choose programmes based on their actual academic and subject requirements, not simply the name of the degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are Wits University applications for 2027 still open?
For most undergraduate programmes, yes as of 2 September 2026. Most remaining undergraduate applications close on 30 September 2026. However, Health Sciences and specified programmes including Architectural Studies, Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology and BA Film and Television closed on 30 June 2026.
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When do Wits University applications close for 2027?
Most undergraduate programmes close on 30 September 2026. Certain programmes closed on 30 June 2026.
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How much is the Wits University application fee?
The current Wits application instructions state that the application fee is R100.
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How many courses can I apply for at Wits?
Wits allows an applicant to select up to three programmes. The order of preference does not affect how the individual choices are assessed.
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How do I check my Wits application status?
Log into Wits Student Self-Service and navigate to the Admissions section to view your academic application status.
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Can NSFAS fund me at Wits University?
Qualifying undergraduate students at Wits may receive NSFAS funding, subject to NSFAS eligibility criteria and approval.
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Has NSFAS opened 2027 applications?
Applicants should check the official NSFAS website for the confirmed 2027 national-cycle dates. At the time this guide was updated on 2 September 2026, the official NSFAS information retrieved stated that dates for the 2027 national application cycle would follow.
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Does meeting the minimum Wits APS guarantee admission?
No. Wits specifically notes that satisfying minimum requirements does not guarantee admission because programme capacity, academic results and additional selection requirements can affect the final decision.
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Where can I find Wits courses and APS requirements?
Use the Edupstairs Wits University explorer to search programmes by faculty and check available APS and admission information.
Wits University Courses and APS Requirements – Edupstairs
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Disclaimer
Edupstairs provides this guide to simplify university admissions information for prospective students. Edupstairs is not the University of the Witwatersrand and does not make admission or funding decisions.
Application dates, programme requirements, selection rules, fees, bursaries and NSFAS arrangements can change. Applicants should always confirm important information through Wits University, NSFAS and the official sources linked in this article before taking action.
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