Dear Staff, Students and Applicants to the University of KwaZulu-Natal
With the upcoming process of selecting, admitting (making offers) and registering students, the University would like to clarify certain points so that those who have applied to the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) for admission in 2026, their family and friends, and other stakeholders, are duly advised of the roles and responsibilities of different University structures.
In keeping with the Higher Education Act (101 of 1997) and the UKZN Statute (GG No 35124, 7 March 2012), the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University is responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the University, and is assisted in this by the members of the Executive Management Committee. Further, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal may delegate any of the powers assigned or delegated to him by the Council to any officer (staff member) of the University, except where the Council decides otherwise.
Enabling this, UKZN operates within a defined academic structure and a Council-approved Academic Decision Delegations (the ‘ADF’), which records which University structures or officials are responsible for academic administrative functions and academic decisions.
While UKZN has a Memorandum of Agreement (a contract) with the KZN Central Applications Office (CAO) to deal with all South African undergraduate application matters, the matters of selection, admission (making offers), and registration are solely the responsibility of the staff of the University, as delegated. (International student application matters are dealt with by the UKZN International Office.)
This means that staff, and other University Committee structures, have the sole mandate to consider all applications and then select, admit (make offers) and register first-time entering and returning students, and not any other formal or informal structure, whether on or off campus.
Once registered, students are represented in matters that affect them by the Students’ Representative Council (including the five Campus Representative Councils). The functions of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) are recorded in the UKZN Statute. These functions are wide-ranging and seek to enable a positive and enabling student experience for registered students. No specific recruitment, application, selection, admission, or registration functions have been delegated to the SRC, which is elected by registered students to cater to their needs once registered.
In 2026, the University will once again, in keeping with the KZN Central Applications Office (CAO) in terms of applications, and NSFAS in terms of application for funding, offer a remote online system, where applicants will be advised of the outcome of their applications, and provided with details on registration, should their application be successful (should they be made an offer). These processes, including the so-called ‘change of mind’ process, are only available online and from off-campus.
In keeping with previous years, no on-campus in-person service will be offered, and no unregistered person will be allowed onto campuses in the new year.
UKZN has received over 326 546 individual applications for approximately 9124 first-year places. There are currently about 15 applicants who applied in time for each of the 9124 first-entry undergraduate places.
The University will not be accepting any ‘walk-ins’.
The following service is available for those still seeking to apply to study this year, or who wish to pursue other options if their current application(s) is declined:
- The KZN CAO (www.cao.ac.za) is currently running a ‘digital (online) walk-in-system’ until 28 February 2026 to cater for applicants who might meet minimum requirements for admission to programmes offered by Higher Education Institutions in the Province. All details are available on the KZN CAO website.
Late applications for UKZN programmes cannot be submitted via this KZN CAO platform. If there is an identified need, after the release of the NSC (Matric) results, UKZN may consider opening specific programmes for late application on a case-by-case basis in late January 2026. Information regarding late applications will be available on the 2026 UKZN Applications Portal. Inquiries regarding late applications may be submitted via the Freshdesk portal at the time.
Importantly:
- Everything related to applying, making an offer, perhaps changing your mind, and registration is solely managed by UKZN staff, and everything you need to know will be published on the official UKZN website (www.ukzn.ac.za) and UKZN’s official Social Media Platforms.
- Making and accepting an offer, change of mind, and registration at UKZN are only offered through remote online means. All first-entry undergraduates who accept an offer will be provided with data and all relevant information to assist them in registering from their remote locations.
- Places at UKZN are not for sale, and if you are ‘offered a place on payment of a fee’, please note that you will lose all your money and have no recourse in terms of the University. You will need to report the matter to SAPS and seek assistance there.
- Please only pay regard to social media posts that are legitimate or authentic and issued through official UKZN channels. Please take care with what is published and forwarded from WhatsApp or Facebook, especially. There are many opportunists who spread false and misleading information. Everyone is urged to exercise caution and be vigilant at all times.
- The University management will NOT issue any invitation to or invite prospective applicants or actual applicants to visit any of our campuses to apply or submit an application, to undertake a change of mind, to register, or to get a response to a query.
If you come across one of these messages purporting to be invitations from the University, kindly exercise extreme caution and do not take up the call to attend on campus, as you will not be allowed onto campus and will waste your money spent on travel and your time.
Final firm offers of placement at the University will be made as soon as possible after the 2026 National Senior Certificate (‘Matric’) results are released, and this is scheduled for 13 January 2026.
- A virtual Parents Day will be hosted on Saturday, 31 January 2026, and the week of 02 – 07 February 2026 has been earmarked as a dedicated remote online registration and orientation week for our first-entry undergraduates who have been offered and accepted a study place at UKZN.
Semester 1 lectures commence on 09 February 2026
- DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS until you receive an official letter from UKZN confirming that you are completely registered both for academic and residence (if applicable). You can print this letter or need to have it on your phone, with a suitable ID, to present to the Protection Services staff at the University gate, to gain access to campus, and to have your student card made/activated. Please also consider delaying your return to campus, as lectures only commence on 09 February 2026.
The University will only permit registered students to access its campuses; unregistered individuals will not be allowed entry to UKZN premises.
- The University does not offer Matric Upgrade classes/opportunities and has no legitimate working relationship with any so-called ‘Matric Upgrade School’. Once again, please exercise extreme caution when dealing with any such entity.
- In keeping with the POPI Act (No: 4 of 2013), no information on the status of an applicant/application will be provided to a third party (either internal or external to the University) without the explicit written consent of the applicant.
Issued by
Mr Mark Tufts
Registrar