For the first time in many years, public universities will release application outcomes to prospective first-time-entering students only after the official release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results to the learners/schools next week, Universities South Africa (USAF) announced this morning.
This change arises from USAF being granted access to the 2025 NSC results at 06:00 on Monday, 12 January - 24 hours before their public release on 13 January.
According to USAF’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Phethwe Matutu, the delay in providing USAF, and by extension, universities, with the 2025 NSC results follows a decision by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to minimise the risk of a leak similar to that which occurred with the 2024 results.
Ordinarily, universities would have received the NSC results 72 hours (three days) before their public release. This timeframe enabled institutions to finalise admission decisions and issue acceptance letters on the same day learners received their results. “This facilitated a smooth admissions process and reduced anxiety among prospective university students,” Dr Matutu explained.
This shortened time frame will place significant operational and administrative pressure on universities, particularly in relation to timely and efficient processing, and issuance of offers to prospective students.
Implications for students
“Prospective first-time entrants must therefore await their application outcomes directly from universities,” Dr Matutu explained. “This removes the need for students to inundate institutions with enquiries, or to arrive on campuses prematurely, exposing themselves to safety and vulnerability risks at a time during which they cannot be attended to. Students must only arrive on campuses after receiving an application outcome, a confirmation of their accommodation status, and after completing their online registration at some institutions.”
Dr Matutu has further urged students to accept their placement offers as soon as they have made their choices. Likewise, parents, guardians and fee-paying students are encouraged to prepare their registration fee and complete registration as soon as dates are announced, thereby securing their places and ensuring the smooth completion of related administrative processes.
According to the correspondence received from universities, prospective students can expect to receive their application outcomes on the dates specified below:
| Institution | Date and time of release of application outcomes |
|---|---|
| Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) | 15 January from 08:00 |
| Central University of Technology (CUT) | 13 January (afternoon) to 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 |
| Institution | Date and time of release of application outcomes |
|---|---|
| North-West University (NWU) | 13 January from 09:00 |
| Rhodes University (RU) | From 08:00 on 13 January to 16 January |
| Sefako Makgatho University of Health Sciences (SMU) | 14 January from 12:00 |
| Sol Plaatje University (SPU) | 13 January from 08:00 |
| Stellenbosch University (SU) | 14 January from 16:00 |
| Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) | 15 January from 16:00 |
| University of Cape Town (UCT) | 14 January from 16:00 |
| University of Fort Hare (UFH) | 14 January from 08:00 |
| University of the Free State (UFS) | 14 January from 08:00 |
| University of Johannesburg (UJ) | From 16:00 on 13 January to 14 January |
| University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) | 14 January from 09:00 |
| University of Limpopo (UL) | 15 January from 18:00 |
| University of Mpumalanga (UMP) | 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) | From 09:00 on 13 January to 23 January |
| Vaal University of Technology (VUT) | 15 January from 12:00 |
| Walter Sisulu University (WSU) | 13 January from 00:00 |
USAF acknowledges that this change to the admissions timeline may cause some uncertainty. However, universities remain committed to ensuring a fair and efficient process for all applicants.
Prospective students, parents and guardians are therefore urged to exercise patience and cooperate fully with institutions during this period. By adhering to the revised schedule and promptly following the necessary steps once the application outcomes are released, the higher education sector can continue to uphold its standards of excellence while ensuring the safety of all those involved and safeguarding the integrity of the admissions process.
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