Are you checking your phone every five minutes for a university acceptance SMS? If you are part of the Class of 2025 awaiting your 2026 placement, you need to know that universities are responding later than usual this year.
Universities South Africa (USAf) has officially confirmed that public universities will only release application outcomes after the National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric results are publicly announced.
⚠️ Important Warning from USAf:
“Students must only arrive on campuses after receiving an application outcome and a confirmation of their accommodation status.” — Dr. Phethiwe Matutu, CEO of USAf.
Do not travel to a university as a “walk-in” without an offer. You will likely be turned away at the gate. Instead, use the official timetable below to know exactly when to check your online portal.
Why is there a delay?
In previous years, universities received matric results 72 hours before the public. This year, to prevent leaks, the Department of Basic Education only granted universities access to the results on Monday, 12 January (just 24 hours before you get them).
The Official 2026 Outcome Release Schedule
We have compiled and cleaned the official data to help you check your status at the right time.
Tuesday, 13 January 2026 (Day of Matric Results)
- 00:00 (Midnight): Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
- 06:00: North-West University (NWU)
- 06:00: University of Venda (UNIVEN)
- 08:00: Rhodes University (RU)
- 08:00: Sol Plaatje University (SPU)
- 09:00: University of Zululand (UNIZULU)
- 12:00: Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)
- 12:00: University of Pretoria (UP)
- Afternoon: Central University of Technology (CUT)
- 16:00: University of Johannesburg (UJ)
Wednesday, 14 January 2026
- 08:00: Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
- 08:00: University of Fort Hare (UFH)
- 08:00: University of the Free State (UFS)
- 09:00: University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
- 10:00: Wits University (WITS)
- 12:00: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences (SMU)
- 16:00: University of Cape Town (UCT)
- 16:00: Stellenbosch University (SU)
Thursday, 15 January 2026
- 08:00: Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
- 09:00: University of Mpumalanga (UMP)
- 12:00: University of the Western Cape (UWC)
- 12:00: Vaal University of Technology (VUT)
- 16:00: Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
- 18:00: University of Limpopo (UL)
Friday, 16 January & Beyond
- 16 Jan 2026 08:00: Durban University of Technology (DUT)
- 19 Jan 2026 07:30: University of South Africa (UNISA)
Get the Full University Status Dates
Registration Alert: University of Johannesburg (UJ)
Some institutions move fast. If you receive an offer from UJ, note these critical dates:
- First-Year Registration: Opens 13 January and closes 06 February 2026.
- Returning Students: Registration opens 12 January.
Tip: If you get an offer, accept it immediately. Most universities give you only 3-5 days to accept before they offer your spot to someone on the waiting list.
What if I don’t get an offer?
If you check your status on these dates and see “Unsuccessful,” do not panic. Look for Late Applications: Keep an eye on the Apply With Me homepage. We will be updating a list of colleges and private institutions that are still accepting applications for 2026.
Why Use Apply With Me?
We bring all you need into one place. Get help with bursary applications, use our APS Calculator App to check your score, or find courses with our APS Score Checker and also check which institutions are open or closed using our Uni Status Check tool. Join our Apply With Me Community to share tips on university applications, internships, and jobs, or use Direct Messaging to chat one-on-one.
