Free State University online application, courses, fees, dates, and requirements
The Free State University online application process provides prospective students with a seamless way to apply for admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate programs. This guide outlines everything you need to know about the application process, including important dates, required documents, and the overall application procedure.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Free State University online application
- University of the Free State courses and requirements
- UFS contact details
- Which universities are in the Free State?
- Is there an application fee for UFS 2026?
- What are the minimum requirements at UFS?
- Which courses are still available at UFS?
- Does UFS have late applications for 2026?
- Which universities are open for 2026 with free applications?
- Is there an application fee for the Central University of Technology in 2026?
Key takeaways
- Applications for the 2027 academic year at UFS will open on April 1, 2026 until 30 September 2026 for most programs.
- Prospective students must complete the online application through the Central University of Technology portal.
- The application process is free.
- UFS offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.
Free State University online application
Applicants must meet specific entry requirements, submit the necessary documents, and adhere to application deadlines to secure their place. Additionally, details on tuition fees and course offerings can be found in the official university prospectus.
Is the UFS open for 2027 applications?
The Free State University online application for 2026 for undergraduate programmes is currently closed, as the University of the Free State ended applications for the 2025/2026 academic year. However, prospective students can prepare for the next intake, with 1 April 2026 set as the application deadline for admission in 2027.
All prospective students should familiarise themselves with the University of the Free State's courses and requirements. Kindly note that the requirements vary depending on the level of academic learning and the course you wish to pursue.
Undergraduate applications
Below are things you should know before applying for an undergraduate programme.
- Your current findings are used to process your application. If you have taken your 12th-grade exams more than once, be sure to include all of your results with your application.
- If you took the test through the IEB or SACAI, choose the National Senior Certificate option when you apply.
- Students applying for Grade 12 must provide official, stamped copies of their final 11th-grade report cards for auditing and verification purposes.
- Please include all of your academic history in your application, including any degrees or certificates you may have earned from other schools, as well as a complete transcript of your academic performance.
- To enroll in an undergraduate program after completing the GED, students must first register and then finish grade 12 at an accredited international school such as NSC, IEB, or SACAI, or its international equivalent.
- Those who did not manage to pass the South African University entrance exams (SC/NSC/IEB) should nonetheless be able to present USAF accreditation from the relevant examination body.
Postgraduate applications
Prospective postgraduate students should have the following in mind.
- Every graduate-level class is a competitive audition.
- Students pursuing master's, doctoral, or honors degrees may be required to pre-register or submit an application directly to the relevant department in certain cases.
- Before you submit your online application, contact the appropriate faculty or department to determine whether any additional materials are required.
- Full academic records/transcripts, degree/diploma certificates, and SAQA certificates are required for applicants transferring from another institution.
- Because of the prerequisite coursework for an advanced diploma, it is administratively treated as a postgraduate degree.
Online applications for 2026
Source: UGC
UFS accepts online applications. The application process is simple and can be completed within a short period. No application fee is payable. Below are the steps to log in to the UFS online application portal.
- Visit the UFC online application login portal.
- Download the university prospectus from the portal and go through the list of all UFS courses. Ascertain that you meet the minimum requirements for your course of interest.
- Read through the details provided on the portal's homepage, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click New Application.
- Enter the required verification details, then click Next.
- Enter your details on the form that appears on the screen. Verify all details before clicking Next.
- Enter your contact information.
- Next, make your study choices, followed by selection information.
- Upload the required documents.
- Agree to the terms and conditions before completing and submitting your application.
Required documents
Before you start the application process, the following are the documents needed to apply to the University of Free State.
- Copies of the prerequisite qualification certificates
- Complete and updated academic transcripts
- South African national ID or passport for international students
- Stamped final Grade 11 results
- Stamped grade 12 June results
- National Senior Certificate (NSC), if you have already matriculated
- Academic record, if you are/were a student at another institution of higher learning.
The Free State University online application 2026 closing date
Free State University online application closing dates for various faculties vary, as shown below.
Faculty | Closing date for local applicants | Closing date for international applicants |
Business School |
| |
Law | 15 January 2026 (postgraduate diplomas) 31 March | 15 January 2026 (postgraduate diplomas) 31 March |
Theology and Religion | 31 March to 31 October | 31 March to 31 October |
Natural and Agricultural Sciences | 15 September to 31 October | 15 September to 31 October |
Humanities | 30 September - 31 October | 31 August - 31 October |
Health Sciences | 31 September/31 August | 31 September/31 August |
Education | 30 September | 30 September |
Economic and Management Sciences | 30 September | 31 August |
NB: All late UFS applications will not be considered.
Fees
The fees paid by students vary depending on the level of academic learning, year, and specific course. The fees for UFS Diploma courses, for example, are much lower than for Master's or PhD students.
University of the Free State courses and requirements
UFS is among the oldest and most respected institutions of higher education in South Africa. Its first campus in Bloemfontein was opened in 1904 as the Grey University College.
Today, the famous institution has three campuses, i.e., the Bloemfontein Campus, the South Campus, and the Qwaqwa Campus in the Eastern Free State. UFS is known for delivering quality graduates who have made indelible marks in various sectors.
Faculties at UFS
UFS has nine faculties that offer a range of courses. These faculties are listed below.
- Business School
- Economic and Management Sciences
- Education
- Health Sciences
- Humanities
- Law
- Natural and Agricultural Sciences
- Open Distance Learning
- Theology and Religion
Courses at UFS
Source: UGC
The faculties listed above offer multiple courses at different levels of academic learning. Below is a list of programmes offered by each faculty
Business School
The Business School is accredited by the Council on Higher Education and the Central and Eastern European Management Development Association International Accreditation. It offers the courses listed below.
- Higher Certificate in Management Development
- Bachelor of Management Leadership (BML)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration
- Master of Business Administration
- Doctor of Philosophy with specialisation in Business Administration
- Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (Short Learning Programme)
- Functional Development Programmes (Short Learning Programme)
- Leadership Development Programmes (Short Learning Programme)
- Management Development Programmes (Short Learning Programme)
Economic and Management Sciences
This faculty offers the academic programmes listed below.
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Commerce with specialisation in Business and Financial Analytics
- Bachelor of Commerce with specialisation in Investment Management and Banking
- Bachelor of Commerce with specialisation in Economics
- Bachelor of Commerce with specialisation in Marketing
- Bachelor of Commerce with specialisation in Business Management
- Bachelor of Commerce with specialisation in Human Resource Management
- Bachelor of Commerce in Law
- Bachelor of Commerce Extended Curriculum Programme
- Bachelor of Administration
- Bachelor of Administration Extended Curriculum Programme
- Bachelor of Accounting
- Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting
- Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration and Management
- Master of Business Management
- Master of Commerce with specialisation in Financial Economics and Investment Management
- Master of Commerce with specialisation in Economics
- Master's in Industrial Psychology
- Master's in Commerce, specialising in Industrial Psychology
- Magister in Administration
- Magister in Public Administration
- Baccalaureus Honours in Administration
- PhD Administration
- PhD in Business Management
- Doctor of Philosophy with specialisation in Economics
Education
The Faculty of Education offers the courses listed below.
- Grade R Diploma in Teaching: Four-year Programme
- Bachelor's in Education (BEd)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education
- Bachelor of Education Honours
- Master's in Education
- Doctor of Philosophy in Education
Health Sciences
The following programmes are offered in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
- Bachelor of Biokinetics
- Bachelor of Sport Coaching
- Bachelor of Nursing
- BSc Nutrition and Dietetics
- BSc Occupational Therapy
- BSc Optometry
- BSc Physiotherapy
- BSc Animal Research
- BSc Basic Medical Sciences
- BSc Biostatistics
- BSc Human Molecular Biology
- Undergraduate degree in Anaesthesiology
- Undergraduate degree in Cardiology
- Undergraduate degree in Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Undergraduate degree in Clinical Imaging Sciences
- Undergraduate degree in Community Health
- Undergraduate degree in Critical Care
- Undergraduate degree in Dermatology
- Undergraduate degree in Family Medicine
- Undergraduate degree in Forensic Medicine
- Undergraduate degree in Internal Medicine
- Undergraduate degree in Medical Physics
- Undergraduate degree in Neurology
- Undergraduate degree in Neurosurgery
- Undergraduate degree in Nuclear Medicine
- Undergraduate degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Undergraduate degree in Oncology
- Undergraduate degree in Ophthalmology
- Undergraduate degree in Orthopaedics
- Undergraduate degree in Otorhinolaryngology
- Undergraduate degree in Paediatrics and Child Health
- Undergraduate degree in Pharmacology
- Undergraduate degree in Plastic Surgery
- Undergraduate degree in Psychiatry
- Undergraduate degree in Surgery
- Undergraduate degree in Urology
- Undergraduate degree in Anatomical Pathology
- Undergraduate degree in Chemical Pathology
- Undergraduate degree in Haematology and Cell Biology
- Undergraduate degree in Human Genetics
- Undergraduate degree in Medical Microbiology
- Undergraduate degree in Virology
NB: The Faculty of Health Sciences also offers multiple MSc and PhD programmes.
Humanities
The Faculty of Humanities offers multiple undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, as listed below.
Undergraduate
- BA Programme
- Communication Science
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts
- Governance and Political Transformation
- Language Practice
- Music
- Social Sciences Programme
- Social Work
Postgraduate
Source: UGC
- Africa Studies
- African Languages
- Afrikaans, Dutch, German, and French
- Anthropology
- Art History Visual Culture Studies
- Classical Languages
- Classical Studies
- Communication Science
- Criminology
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- English
- Film and Visual Media
- Fine Arts
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- Governance and Political Transformation
- Health Systems Studies
- Hebrew
- History
- Linguistics and Language Practice
- Odeion School of Music
- Philosophy and Classics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
- South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies
NB: The faculty also offers multiple Short Learning Programmes.
Law
The Faculty of Law offers the courses listed below.
- LLB degree
- Advanced Diploma in Estate and Trust Administration
- Interdisciplinary Master of Human Rights
- Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning
- Postgraduate Diploma in Investment Planning
- Postgraduate Diploma in Estate Planning
- Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law
- Various Short Learning Programmes
Natural and Agricultural Sciences
The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the following fields.
- Chemistry
- Computer Science and Informatics
- Engineering Sciences
- Genetics
- Geography
- Geology
- Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
- Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science
- Microbiology and Biochemistry
- Physics
- Plant Sciences
- Zoology and Entomology
- Agricultural Economics
- Animal Science
- Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences
- Sustainable Food Systems and Development
- Architecture
- Quantity Surveying and Construction Management
Theology and Religion
The Faculty of Theology and Religion offers the courses listed below.
- Higher Certificate in Theology
- Bachelor of Divinity
- Advanced Diploma in Theology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Theology
- Bachelor of Theology Honours
- Master of Theology
- Doctor of Theology
Open Distance Learning
The Faculty of Open Distance Learning offers a range of courses from various departments. These include Access programmes, distance-education programmes for in-service teachers, and short learning programmes.
Source: UGC
UFS contact details
If you wish to contact the institution for further information, use the details below.
- Bloemfontein Campus: +27 51 401 9111
- Qwaqwa Campus: +27 58 718 5000
- South Campus: +27 51 401 9111
- E-mail: info@ufs.ac.za
Which universities are in the Free State?
The universities in the Free State province are the Central University of Technology, the University of South Africa, and the University of the Free State.
Is there an application fee for UFS 2026?
The university does not charge an application fee. You can complete your application online for free.
What are the minimum requirements at UFS?
The minimum requirements are course-specific. You should ascertain that you meet the minimum requirements for a specific course before starting the application process.
Which courses are still available at UFS?
UFS offers numerous courses at various academic levels. The comprehensive list of programmes is explored above.
Does UFS have late applications for 2026?
The UFS cannot accept late applications. The University of the Free State's (UFS) online application deadline for undergraduates for the 2026 academic year was March 13, 2025. Applications for the 2026 academic year will open on April 1, 2026.
Which universities are open for 2026 with free applications?
If you are wondering which universities are open for application in 2026, several South African universities are open for applications and allow students to apply for free. They include:
- The University of Johannesburg
- University of the Free State
- Central University of Technology
- Nelson Mandela University
- North-West University
- Sol Plaatje University
- Walter Sisulu University
- The University of the Western Cape
Is there an application fee for the Central University of Technology in 2026?
No, the Central University of Technology (CUT) does not charge an application fee for the 2026 academic year. The university clearly states that there is no application or late application fee, and applicants should avoid anyone requesting payment to assist with the process, as this would be a scam.
There are numerous courses offered by the institution. Therefore, to secure your spot for the next intake, you must complete the Free State University online application before the deadline. Once you apply, always visit the university’s website for updates and progress.
Briefly.co.za recently published the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) online application. UMP has a well-designed system for determining when and how students are admitted.
Prospective students can choose from a wide range of courses across three faculties and eight schools. They must meet the minimum requirements for each course before being considered for admission.
Source: Briefly News
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Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over six years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She received the Writer of the Year awards in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
