Applying to the University of Johannesburg is not supposed to be a difficult thing, but there is so much false information out there misleading students. That is exactly what Studyinvarsity strives to correct.
This guide covers the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) application process for 2027, for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies, the closing dates, and the fees involved. Stick to the end and share this with anyone who may need it.
When UJ 2027 Applications Open and Close
For most undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, applications for the 2027 academic year open on 1 April 2026 and close on 31 October 2026 at 12:00.
That window sounds generous, but it is not one you want to push to the final weeks. A handful of postgraduate programmes have their own earlier deadlines, and missing one of these specific dates means waiting an entire year to reapply.
A few programmes close earlier than the general date:
- Several College of Business and Economics postgraduate programmes, including the BCom Hons and MCom options, close on 30 September 2026 at 12:00
- The PGCE closes on 23 June 2026 at 12:00
- MEd in Educational Psychology opens later, on 1 May 2026, with programmes in the Faculty of Education generally closing 30 September 2026
- MEng and MPhil in Engineering Management (Coursework) closes 30 September 2026 at 12:00
- MA in Clinical and Counselling Psychology closes 13 June 2026 at 12:00
- MA and MSc in Psychology closes 31 August 2026
- BA Hons and BSc Hons in Psychology open on 1 July 2026 and close 30 September 2026
If your intended programme falls into one of these categories, treat that earlier date as your real deadline, not the general one.
What International Applicants Need to Submit
If you are applying from outside South Africa, UJ has a specific set of requirements on top of the standard application.
There is no application fee for international applicants, which is good news, but the paperwork still needs to be thorough. You will need your final school leaving results, or your final Grade 11 results if you are currently in Grade 12. A valid passport, identity document, or birth certificate is required too.
If any of your documents were issued in a language other than English, they need a sworn English translation before submission. Supporting documents can be uploaded directly on the application platform or emailed to intappsdocs@listsrv.uj.ac.za, and if you are emailing, use only your student number or application reference number as the subject line so your documents match the right profile.
English proficiency also matters if English was not your medium of instruction. UJ prefers an overall IELTS score of 6 or a TOEFL average between 80 and 104 for undergraduate study. If you have not written either, you can instead sit the UJ English Language Programme Test and aim for an overall score of 6. Email ujelp1@uj.ac.za for more information on that route.
If you have studied at another university before, whether in South Africa or elsewhere, you will also need to submit an academic transcript covering that period, especially if you are hoping for exemption from certain modules.
Matriculation Exemption, If You Studied Outside South Africa
This step catches a lot of international applicants off guard. If your high school qualification was earned outside South Africa, you need a certificate of exemption from the Matriculation Board before you can be admitted into undergraduate studies.
That means submitting the following to the Matriculation Board directly, not to UJ:
- A completed Form M30, downloadable from the Matriculation Board website
- Certified copies of your educational qualifications, certified by a South African High Commission, Consulate, Trade Mission, or Public Notary in your home country
- A certified copy of your passport or birth certificate, certified the same way
- Sworn English translations of any documents not issued in English
- Proof of payment of the R1,070 exemption fee
The Matriculation Board’s banking details are listed on their own site, and payment must go through before your exemption can be processed. Applicants from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, and Nigeria apply for this exemption directly with the Matriculation Board as well.
One thing worth knowing: if you are applying for a certificate or diploma programme rather than a degree, you can skip this exemption process entirely and apply directly to UJ.
UJ Fees and the International Levy for 2027
Fees at UJ generally increase by five to ten percent each year, and the final 2027 figures are only confirmed in November 2026. Budgeting with that increase in mind now will save you a scramble later.
For privately funded international students, whether paying through yourself, a parent, or a guardian, the payment structure for both tuition and on campus residence fees looks like this:
- 40 percent paid upfront, before or at registration
- 70 percent paid by 30 April
- 100 percent paid by 31 July
On top of tuition, there is a non refundable international levy, which varies depending on where you are from. For 2026, students from SADC and other African countries pay R2,090, while students from other countries pay R17,780. Asylum seekers, refugees, permanent residents, and diplomats are exempt from this levy entirely. The finalised 2027 levy amounts will be published closer to registration.
Payments can be made through an international bank transfer or electronically, and UJ provides separate FNB account details depending on whether you are paying by hardcopy application or transferring from an international bank, so confirm which one applies to you before sending anything.
The Department of Home Affairs also requires accepted international applicants to show proof of funds covering the full year’s tuition, along with proof of a South African administered medical aid for the full academic year, before a study visa will be issued.
Avoiding the Mistakes That Delay Applications
A few small errors are behind most of the application delays UJ’s international office deals with every year.
Sending documents without the correct student number or reference number in the email subject line is one of the most common. If your documents cannot be matched to your profile, they effectively do not exist in the system until someone manually sorts it out.
Assuming your matric exemption will be sorted out automatically once you apply to UJ is another. That process runs through the Matriculation Board, separately from your university application, so starting it early matters.
If you need on campus residence, submit your residence application form at the same time as your academic application, not afterward. Waiting until after an offer arrives can mean missing out on space entirely.
Final Word
UJ’s 2027 application process is straightforward once you know exactly what is expected and when. Mark 31 October 2026 as your general deadline, check whether your specific programme closes earlier, and start your document gathering, including any matric exemption, well ahead of time.
Share this guide with anyone you know who is applying to UJ for 2027, so they are working from facts instead of guesswork.