List of South African Universities with 2026 Second Semester Intake

Key Takeaways: The Mid-Year Opportunity

• The Myth: “University starts in January.”
• The Reality: Universities of Technology (UoTs) run on semester cycles, meaning they have a massive intake in July.
• Who is this for? Students who upgraded their Matric results in May/June, or who missed the January deadline.
• The List: TUT, DUT, VUT, MUT, CUT, and WSU are the big players.
• The Course Limitation: You generally cannot study Medicine, Law, or Teaching mid-year. This intake is strictly for Engineering, Business, and Management.
• Application Window: usually opens May 2026.

It is the most common feeling among students in March: Regret. You missed the January deadline, or your NSFAS funding came late, or you were rejected. Now, you are sitting at home, watching your friends post stories from campus, thinking you have wasted an entire year.

Stop thinking that.

South Africa has a unique dual-intake system. While “Traditional Universities” (like UCT or Wits) only take new students in January, “Universities of Technology” (like TUT or DUT) operate on a Semester System. This means they finish a full academic module every 6 months.

Consequently, they need a fresh batch of new students to start in July (Semester 2) to replace the ones who just graduated or moved on.

This is your second chance. It is not a “bridging course” or a “part-time” program. It is the exact same degree, just starting 6 months later. Here is the definitive guide to which universities will be opening their doors in May 2026.

1. The “Big 6” Universities (Definite Intake)

These institutions historically always have a Second Semester intake.

1. Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)

• Location: Pretoria (Pretoria West, Arcadia, Soshanguve) and eMalahleni.
• Status: The king of mid-year intakes. TUT takes in thousands of students in July.
• What you can study:
  • Engineering: Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial.
  • Management: HR, Marketing, Management Assistant.
  • ICT: Computer Systems (sometimes).
• How to Apply: Direct online application via the TUT website (i-Enabler).
• Application Window: usually May – June.

2. Vaal University of Technology (VUT)

• Location: Vanderbijlpark (Gauteng).
• Status: A massive hub for Engineering students who missed January.
• What you can study:
  • Engineering: Chemical, Metallurgical, Civil, Industrial.
  • Applied Sciences: Analytical Chemistry (sometimes).
  • Business: Cost & Management Accounting, Logistics.
• How to Apply: Direct online application.

3. Durban University of Technology (DUT)

• Location: Durban and Pietermaritzburg (KZN).
• Status: Very popular, especially for Business Studies.
• What you can study:
  • Business: Public Management, Marketing, Business Admin.
  • Engineering: Power Engineering, Civil Engineering.
• How to Apply: CAO (Central Applications Office). You usually have to select the “Jul 2026” entry term on the CAO website.

4. Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)

• Location: Umlazi (Durban).
• Status: The most reliable option for students with lower APS scores (20-25).
• What you can study:
  • Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, Surveying.
  • Natural Sciences: Nature Conservation, Agriculture (sometimes).
  • Management: Public Admin, Accounting.
• How to Apply: Via CAO.

5. Central University of Technology (CUT)

• Location: Bloemfontein and Welkom (Free State).
• Status: The primary option for students in central South Africa.
• What you can study:
  • Engineering: Civil, Electrical, Mechanical.
  • Management: Government Management, HR.
• How to Apply: Direct online application via the CUT portal.

6. Walter Sisulu University (WSU)

• Location: Eastern Cape (Buffalo City, Butterworth, Mthatha).
• Status: Specific campuses only (usually Buffalo City and Butterworth).
• What you can study:
  • Engineering: Civil, Electrical.
  • Management: Public Management, Admin.
• How to Apply: Direct online application.

2. The “Maybe” List (Limited Intake)

These universities sometimes have an intake, but it depends on how full they are from January. Do not bank on them, but check their websites in May.

• Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT): Often has a small intake for Engineering only. They rarely open Business courses mid-year.
• University of Zululand (UNIZULU): Sometimes opens for specific Richards Bay campus courses.
• Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU): Very rarely has a mid-year intake, usually only for specific postgraduate or bridging courses, not general first-year entry.

3. The “Definitely Not” List (Do Not Apply)

Do not waste your application fee on these institutions for July. They run on a “Year Module” system (January to December). They do not accept first-year students in July.

• University of Cape Town (UCT)
• University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
• Stellenbosch University
• University of Pretoria (UP)
• Rhodes University
• University of the Western Cape (UWC)
• University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)

Exception: Sometimes these universities open for Master’s/PhD students mid-year, but never for First Year undergrads.

4. What Can You Actually Study? (The Limitations)

This is the catch. The Second Semester intake is not a full menu. It is a limited menu.

What is OPEN:

• Diploma in Engineering: (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical). Why? Because engineering is modular. You do “Maths 1” in Semester 1. If you fail, you repeat it in Semester 2. This creates space for new students to join the “Semester 1” class in July.
• Diploma in Management: (HR, Marketing, Public Management). Why? Same reason. Modular structure.

What is CLOSED:

• Medicine / Nursing: These are year-long professional degrees. You cannot start Medicine in July.
• Law (LLB): Strictly annual.
• Education (Teaching): Schools run Jan-Dec, so teaching degrees run Jan-Dec.
• Social Work: Annual.
• Psychology: Annual.

Summary: If you want to be a Doctor, Lawyer, or Teacher, you must wait for 2027. If you want to be an Engineer, Accountant, or Manager, you can start in July 2026.

5. How the Application Process Works (Timeline)

The window is much shorter than the main intake. You have to move fast.

• April 2026: Universities assess their numbers. (e.g., “We have 500 spots for Civil Engineering, but 100 students dropped out. We have 100 open seats.”)
• 01 May 2026: Applications Open.
• 31 May 2026: Applications Close. (Some stay open until mid-June).
• June 2026: Selection Process.
• July 2026: Registration and Classes Start.

The “Upgrade” Strategy:

If you are currently rewriting your Matric subjects in May/June 2026, you can apply for the Second Semester intake using your Grade 11 results or your Old Matric results, and then present your upgrade results during registration in July (if they are released in time).

• Note: Matric Rewrite results often only come out in August, which might be too late for July registration. Check the release date carefully.

6. How to Apply: CAO vs. Direct

For KZN Universities (MUT, DUT, UNIZULU):

• You use the CAO (Central Applications Office).
• Go to www.cao.ac.za.
• Click on “Programme List.”
• Crucial Step: On the search filter, look for “Entry Term.” Change it from “2026 Term 1” to “2026 Term 3” (or Semester 2).
• If you leave it on Term 1, you will see “Closed.” Change the filter!

For Gauteng/Free State/Cape (TUT, VUT, CUT, CPUT):

• You apply Directly on their websites.
• Look for the specific “Semester 2 Application” link. Do not use the general “2027 Application” link (which might also be open), or you will end up waiting another year.

7. Pros and Cons of Mid-Year Entry

The Pros:

• No Gap Year: You save 6 months of your life.
• Smaller Classes: The July intake is usually smaller than the January tsunami. Lecturers often have more time for you.
• Sync with Failure: Ironically, if you start in July, you are in sync with the students who failed Semester 1. This means study groups are already formed and notes are available.

The Cons:

• Social Life: You miss “O-Week” (Orientation Week). You arrive when everyone else is stressed about exams or winter break. It can be lonely.
• Accommodation: Res is full. You are trying to find a room in the middle of the year when most leases are signed for 12 months. You often have to take whatever is left.
• The “December” Trap: Your academic year ends in June, not December. Your “Summer Holiday” is in June/July. In December, while your friends are partying, you might be writing exams or doing supplementary tests.

8. Financial Aid (NSFAS) for Semester 2

Can I get NSFAS?

Yes. NSFAS funds semester students.

How does it work?

• If you applied for NSFAS for 2026 (last year) and were approved but didn’t register, your funding is still valid. You just need to register.
• If you didn’t apply for NSFAS, a specific “Semester 2 Application Window” usually opens on myNSFAS for a few weeks in June/July. Watch the NSFAS social media pages like a hawk.

Conclusion: Don’t Hibernate

The worst thing you can do is sit on the couch until 2027.

If your dream is Engineering or Business, the University of Technology route is a fantastic option. A Diploma from TUT or DUT is highly respected by employers because it is practical.

Action Plan:

1. Check your APS Score again.
2. Go to the TUT and CAO websites on 01 May 2026.
3. Filter for “Semester 2”.
4. Apply.

You could be a registered university student by July.

Disclaimer: Intake availability is based on faculty capacity. Universities reserve the right to close the Second Semester intake if they have no vacancies.