University Application Fees South Africa (2025): No Fees

Application Fee Showdown: What’s the Real Cost to Apply to SA Universities in 2025?

Let’s be honest, figuring out university applications can feel like a full-time job. Between deadlines and document uploads, the last thing you need is a surprise fee. So, what’s the deal with application fees? Are they all the same? More importantly, can you get out of paying them?

We’ve been in the trenches and gathered all the info for you. Here’s the inside scoop on what you can expect to pay at some of South Africa’s top universities for the 2025 intake.

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University of Pretoria (UP)

Standard Fee: R300 for South African applicants.

THE BIG SAVER: UP completely waives the application fee if your total household income is R150,000 per year or less. You’ll need to provide proof of income during the online application to get this waiver.

Apply Here: Official UP Application Portal

University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)

Standard Fee: R100 for South African citizens.

Heads Up: The fee for international applicants is R700. Make sure you use your student number as the payment reference so your application is processed smoothly!

Apply Here: Official Wits Application Portal

University of Cape Town (UCT)

Standard Fee: R100 for applicants from South Africa and the SADC region.

Heads Up: The fee is R300 if you’re applying from outside the SADC countries. Current UCT students applying for further study are usually exempt (unless applying to the Business School).

Apply Here: Official UCT Application Portal

Stellenbosch University (SU)

Standard Fee: R100 for South African citizens.

THE BIG SAVER: Stellenbosch also offers a great waiver. If you are an undergraduate applicant from a Quintile 1-4 school in South Africa, your application fee will automatically show as R0.00. No need to do anything extra!

Apply Here: Official SU Application Portal

Amazing News: Universities With NO Application Fee!

To make education more accessible, several fantastic universities have completely dropped their online application fees for South African undergraduates. This is your chance to apply to multiple places without spending a cent!

  • University of Johannesburg (UJ)
  • North-West University (NWU)
  • University of the Free State (UFS)
  • Central University of Technology (CUT)
  • Rhodes University (RU)
  • Sol Plaatje University (SPU)

Our Advice: Start with these no-fee universities. It’s the smartest way to keep your options open without breaking the bank.