Application Process
undergraduate application
- Please click HERE to consult the 2026 Undergraduate Prospectus to ensure you meet the minimum entrance requirements before applying.
- Each prospective student must complete the online application.
- Once your online application has been submitted and processed, you will receive a student number (Reference number).
- Receiving a student number (Reference number) does NOT imply that you have been accepted by the University of the Free State yet.
- In the case of applicants re-writing Grade 12 subjects, applications will be processed on the current results available. If Grade 12 has been written more than once then your combined results must be submitted with your application.
- Applicants writing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) through IEB or SACAI examining bodies can apply online by selecting "National Senior Certificate" under the Results Detail page of the online application process.
- Applicants currently in Grade 12 are requested to provide school stamped copies of final Grade 11.
- Applicants transferring from another university/tertiary institution are required to declare their previous studies when applying as well as upload an official full academic record/transcript and degree/diploma certificate (where applicable).
- The University of the Free State does not accept the General Education Development (GED) test for entry into any of its curricular undergraduate qualifications. The GED is no longer recognised by Universities South Africa (USAf), and is not equivalent to a South African grade 12 (NSC/IEB/SACAI). Applicants who completed the GED and would like to study towards an undergraduate curricular qualification are advised to register and complete a grade 12 NSC/IEB/SACAI or international equivalent thereof.
- Applicants who did not complete SC/NSC/IEB must have USAF accreditation from the examination board for South African Universities. Click HERE to apply online for conditional exemption, foreign conditional exemption or mature age conditional exemption or send an email to applications@usaf.ac.za.
- To apply for the University Access Programmes (UAP), please click HERE to ensure you meet the minimum admission requirements before applying.
Postgraduate Applications
- It is important to note that ALL Postgraduate programmes are selection programmes. Click HERE to consult the 2026 Postgraduate Prospectus.
- In some instances Honours, Masters and Doctoral students are expected to apply directly to the department or to pre-register. Please refer to the specific Faculty and departmental information to determine whether you need apply directly or to pre-register. Visit the Faculty and specific department web page for more information.
- Each prospective student must complete the online application.
- Once your online application has been submitted and processed, you will receive a student number (Reference number)
- Receiving a student number (Reference number) does NOT imply that you have been accepted by the University of the Free State yet.
- Admission is a separate process when your application will be evaluated by the relevant faculty.
- Before you submit your online application and upload/email documents, please visit the relevant faculty/department website to confirm additional documentation that may be required e.g. departmental application form, CV, motivation, reports, dissertation/thesis proposal etc.
- Visit the Faculty and specific department web page for more information.
- Applicants transferring from another university/tertiary institution are required to upload an official full academic record/transcript, degree/diploma certificate and SAQA certificate if you hold a foreign/ international qualification .
- Advanced Diploma qualifications are classified as undergraduate. It is however processed (administratively) as a postgraduate qualification due to previous studies involved.