Missed the university application deadline for 2027? Where you can still apply
Short answer, as of Sunday 1 November 2026: you still have a few real options. The University of Mpumalanga takes undergraduate applications until 30 November 2026 (UMP). In KwaZulu-Natal, the CAO still accepts applications after programme closing dates, flagged as late, for a R470 fee from 1 November (CAO), and Mangosuthu University of Technology says it accepts late applications until 30 November (MUT). After the matric results in January, some universities, such as UJ, open a short late enquiry window for programmes that still have space (UJ). Most other universities closed on 30 September or 31 October 2026.
If you missed the deadline, the worst move now is to do nothing until January, and the second worst is paying someone who promises you a "guaranteed space". Below is what is still open, what each route costs, and a week by week plan from now to registration.
What is still open right now
Checked on 1 November 2026 against each institution's own website.
| Where | Status for 2027 first-year entry | Cost to apply | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mpumalanga (UMP) | Open for undergraduate programmes and advanced diplomas until 30 November 2026 | See UMP's apply page | Online at ump.ac.za/Apply |
| CAO (DUT, MUT, UKZN, UNIZULU and others in KZN) | Late applications accepted for programmes that don't say "No late applications" | R470 from 1 November 2026 (R580 international) | Online at cao.ac.za |
| Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) | Closed 30 September, late applications until 30 November | CAO late fee | Through the CAO only |
| University of Johannesburg (UJ) | Closed 31 October 2026 at 12:00, "no late applications will be accepted" | Free | Late enquiry system after results, dates still to be confirmed |
| Walter Sisulu University (WSU) | General applications closed 31 October 2026 | R100 (when open) | Watch wsu.ac.za for any late process |
| UKZN Medicine | Closed 30 June 2026, no late applications | Plan for 2028 or a different route |
Sources: UMP, CAO 2027 handbook, MUT, UJ undergraduate, WSU, UKZN.
If a university isn't in this table, assume it has closed for 2027 first-year entry and check its own admissions page before you rule it out. Dates on third party lists are often a year old.
How late applications through the CAO actually work
The CAO is the most useful door still open, so it's worth understanding exactly what "late" means there. These rules come from the CAO handbook for 2027 entry and the CAO website.
- Each programme has its own closing date. Most DUT, MUT and UKZN programmes closed on 30 September 2026. UNIZULU's on-time applications closed on 31 October.
- You can still apply after a programme closes. Your application gets the status "Late Application" and is considered after all on-time applications, only if places are left.
- Some programmes don't take late applications at all. These are marked "No late applications will be considered" and show "Programme Close". Medicine, some health sciences and some education programmes are examples.
- The late fee started on 1 November. From 1 November 2026 the administration fee for January 2027 entry is R470 for South Africans (on time was R250). One application can hold up to six programme choices.
- First choice matters at MUT. MUT says it prefers applicants who meet the requirements and put MUT first. It gets over 80,000 first-year applications for about 3,500 places (MUT).
Is R470 worth it? It can be, if you choose carefully. A late application to a programme that is already full is R470 for nothing. Before you pay, check each programme still shows as open for late applications, and that your marks (or your predicted marks) meet its minimum points. Six realistic choices beat six dream choices.
Your plan from now to registration
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| This week | Decide on one or two realistic routes from the table above. Check the minimum points for each programme against your Grade 11 and trial marks. |
| By 30 November 2026 | Submit any UMP application. Submit CAO late choices, including MUT, before MUT's 30 November cut-off. Save every reference number. |
| December 2026 | Look for bursaries that are still open (see below). Keep your phone number and email active: offers and requests arrive by SMS and email. |
| Results day, January 2027 | Get your results. The Department of Basic Education hasn't announced the 2026 results date yet; last year's results came out on 13 January (DBE). |
| The days after results | Watch for late enquiry windows such as UJ's, which lists only programmes with space and gives an outcome after five working days. Contact the Central Application Service (below). |
| Registration | Only travel to a campus once you have a written offer. UJ has already said there will be no walk-ins for late enquiries in January 2027. |
After results: UJ's late enquiry and the Central Application Service
UJ late enquiries. UJ runs a late enquiry system after the final Grade 12 results. It only shows qualifications where UJ still has space and where you meet the minimum requirements. Only South African residents can use it, and transfer students and returning UJ applicants aren't considered. The dates haven't been confirmed yet, so check the UJ late enquiries page in January, or call UJ on 011 559 4555.
The old CACH is gone. Many guides still tell you to wait for the Central Application Clearing House. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) stopped CACH from the 2026 academic year and replaced it with the Central Application Service (CAS), which helps people who haven't found a place and shows openings at universities, colleges and other routes (DHET statement, 19 January 2026). When we checked on 1 November 2026 there were no published CAS dates for January 2027, so message the official CAS WhatsApp line on 081 308 4196 after your results (gov.za). Don't make it your only plan.
Don't forget TVET colleges
A TVET college is a full route, not a consolation prize. DHET's application window for 2027 TVET entry closed on 30 September 2026, and the Minister warned against waiting until January, when many places are already taken (SAnews, 10 September 2026). Some colleges may still have space in particular programmes, so contact the colleges near you directly and ask what's open for January. You'll find official college information on the DHET website.
The money problem: NSFAS has closed
This is the part people miss. NSFAS 2027 applications closed on 31 October 2026, and late applications can't be accepted (NSFAS). Getting a late university offer does not reopen NSFAS.
- If you did apply to NSFAS, track your application on myNSFAS and answer any document requests within the time given. If you end up at a different institution from the one you listed, ask NSFAS through its official channels how to update it. Our NSFAS 2027 guide covers status checks and appeals.
- If you didn't apply, look at bursaries with later deadlines. For example, the Funza Lushaka teaching bursary closes on 31 January 2027 for new applicants, once you have a BEd offer. See our Funza Lushaka 2027 guide.
- Ask the university's financial aid office what it has for first-years who missed NSFAS. Ask by email so you have the answer in writing.
Example scenarios
These are illustrations with stated assumptions, not real applicants.
- Thabo, Grade 12 in Durban, never applied anywhere. His trial marks give him enough points for some MUT diplomas. Best move: a CAO late application before 30 November, with MUT programmes he qualifies for as first choice, plus a UMP application as a second route. Cost: R470 for the CAO, plus UMP's fee if one applies.
- Lerato, applied only to Wits for a health sciences degree and was rejected. Late health sciences applications are rare and some programmes forbid them. Best move: a related programme that still takes late applications, or a TVET or UMP route, and reapplying for her first choice for 2028 in April.
- Sipho, missed UJ by a day. UJ took no late applications on its normal system. Best move: apply elsewhere now (UMP or CAO), then use UJ's late enquiry system after results, in case his programme still has space.
Watch out: deadline season scams
November to February is peak season for fake colleges and "placement agents". UJ warns applicants not to trust anyone who promises a space in return for a fee, because admission is based on academic merit alone (UJ). WSU tells applicants never to pay the application fee into an individual's bank account (WSU). One of the reasons DHET set up CAS was to cut out bogus institutions at this time of year.
- Pay application fees only through the official university or CAO payment instructions.
- Never give anyone your password, OTP or ID documents to "apply for you".
- If a college you haven't heard of offers you a place, check it on the DHET website before you pay anything.
Read our full guide to spotting application scams.
Your next step
Tonight, open ump.ac.za/Apply and cao.ac.za, find two or three programmes you meet the minimum points for, and check they're still accepting applications. Then set a reminder for 25 November, so you aren't racing the 30 November cut-off.
Sources
Checked on 1 November 2026.
- University of Mpumalanga, Online applications: applications for 2027 admissions
- Central Applications Office, home page and late applications explainer and CAO handbook for 2027 entry
- Mangosuthu University of Technology, Where and when to apply
- University of Johannesburg, Undergraduate applications and Late enquiries
- Walter Sisulu University, How to apply: the process
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2027 applications
- Department of Higher Education and Training, Transition of CACH to the Central Application Service (19 January 2026) and Central Application Service
- SAnews, Manamela urges youth to apply early for TVET colleges (10 September 2026)
- Department of Basic Education, Release of NSC examination results
- NSFAS, How to apply for 2027
Quick answers
Which universities are still open for 2027 applications?
As of 1 November 2026, the University of Mpumalanga accepts undergraduate applications until 30 November 2026. Through the CAO in KwaZulu-Natal you can still submit late applications for many programmes, and Mangosuthu University of Technology accepts late applications until 30 November. Most other universities closed on 30 September or 31 October 2026.
How much is the CAO late application fee for 2027?
R470 for South African applicants from 1 November 2026, up from the on-time fee of R250. International applicants pay R580. Late applications are only considered after on-time applications, and some programmes, such as medicine, accept no late applications at all.
Is CACH open for 2027?
No. The Department of Higher Education and Training stopped the Central Application Clearing House from the 2026 academic year and replaced it with the Central Application Service (CAS), which you can reach on WhatsApp at 081 308 4196.
Can I still apply for NSFAS if I apply to a university late?
No. NSFAS 2027 applications closed on 31 October 2026 and late applications can't be accepted. A late university offer doesn't reopen NSFAS, so look at bursaries and other funding instead.
Naledi Sithole is the pen name of The Application Coach editorial team. Rules, dates and figures come from the official sources linked above and were checked on the date shown; they change every year, so confirm on the official NSFAS, institution or bursary website. Example scenarios are illustrations, not real applicants. We never charge for applications or ask for your login details, OTPs or ID documents.