Which Universities Are Open for Second Semester 2026? (Full List & Dates)

Key Takeaways: The Mid-Year Lifeline

The Reality Check: Most “Traditional” universities (like UCT, Wits, and UP) do not accept new undergraduate students in July. You must target Universities of Technology (UoTs) and Open Distance Learning institutions.

The Big Players: The primary public universities open for Semester 2 are UNISA, TUT, VUT, DUT, MUT, CUT, and WSU.

The Timeline: The application window is extremely brief. Portals typically open in April or May 2026 and close by the end of May 2026.

The Course Limitations: You generally cannot start a Bachelor of Medicine (MBChB), Law (LLB), or Education (BEd) mid-year. Semester 2 intakes are heavily focused on Engineering, Business, IT, and Public Management diplomas.

The KZN Trick: If you are applying to institutions in KwaZulu-Natal (like DUT or MUT), you must use the CAO portal and specifically change your search filter to the “Semester 2 / Term 3” entry term.

If you missed the January university intake—whether due to late matric results, a rejected application, or a lack of funding—you do not have to sit at home until 2027.

South Africa operates on a dual-intake higher education system. While the primary intake happens in January, a massive secondary wave of applications opens halfway through the year for the July/August semester.

However, applying for Semester 2 is a strategic game. Not all universities open, and not all courses are available. Here is the definitive guide to which universities are open for the Second Semester of 2026, and exactly how to secure your spot.

1. The Myth of the “January Only” Start

To understand where to apply, you must understand the difference between the two types of public universities in South Africa.

Traditional Universities (Closed for July):

Institutions like Stellenbosch University, Rhodes, UP, and UCT operate on a “Year-Module” system. If you study a BA degree, the curriculum is designed to flow continuously from February to November. You cannot jump onto a moving train halfway through the year. Therefore, they do not accept new first-year undergraduates in July.

Universities of Technology (Open for July):

Institutions ending in “University of Technology” (UoTs) evolved from the old Technikon system. Their National Diplomas are highly modular and heavily semesterized. Because a semester is exactly six months long, when the first group of students finishes their semester in June, a whole new batch of seats opens up for July.

2. The “Big 6” Universities Open for Second Semester 2026

If you want to study full-time at a public university campus (and get NSFAS funding), these are your primary targets.

1. Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)

TUT is the undisputed king of the mid-year intake. They have massive campuses across Pretoria, eMalahleni, and Mbombela, and they consistently take in thousands of new students in July.

What’s Open: Heavily focused on Engineering, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Management Sciences.
Application Window: Usually opens 1 May 2026 and closes 31 May 2026.
How to Apply: Direct online application via the TUT website (i-Enabler system).

2. Vaal University of Technology (VUT)

Located in Vanderbijlpark, VUT is an industrial and engineering powerhouse.

What’s Open: Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical), Applied and Computer Sciences, and specific Management Sciences.
Application Window: Usually opens in May 2026.
How to Apply: Directly via the VUT online application portal.

3. Durban University of Technology (DUT)

DUT is the premier UoT in KwaZulu-Natal. Competition here is fierce, even in the second semester.

What’s Open: Selected diplomas in Accounting, Business Administration, and Engineering.
Application Window: Opens around April/May 2026.
How to Apply: You cannot apply directly on their website. You must use the Central Applications Office (CAO).

4. Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)

Located in Umlazi, Durban, MUT is an excellent option for students whose Admission Point Score (APS) might be slightly lower, as they offer robust bridging and diploma options.

What’s Open: The Faculty of Engineering (Analytical Chemistry, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical) frequently accepts July intakes. They also open selected Management Science courses.
Application Window: Usually closes on 31 May 2026.
How to Apply: Strictly via the CAO.

5. Central University of Technology (CUT)

Serving the central region with campuses in Bloemfontein and Welkom.

What’s Open: Focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Management diplomas.
Application Window: Watch their portal closely in May 2026.
How to Apply: Direct online application.

6. Walter Sisulu University (WSU)

Located in the Eastern Cape, WSU occasionally opens specific programmes across its Buffalo City and Butterworth campuses.

What’s Open: Highly variable based on drop-out rates from Semester 1, but usually Engineering and IT.
Application Window: May 2026.

3. UNISA: The Distance Learning Giant

The University of South Africa (UNISA) is the largest open-distance learning institution on the continent. If you want to study from home while working, this is your best option.

UNISA reliably opens for a Semester 2 intake every year, but there is a major trap you must avoid.

The UNISA Application Dates (Estimates for 2026):

Applications Open: Mid-April (Usually around 14–15 April).
Applications Close: Early May (Usually around 9–10 May).
Warning: The UNISA application window is incredibly short—often just 3 weeks.

The “Year Module” Trap at UNISA:

UNISA offers both “Semester Modules” and “Year Modules.”

You can apply for degrees with Semester Modules in July (e.g., Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business Administration, Diploma in Public Administration).
You cannot apply for degrees with Year Modules in July (e.g., Bachelor of Education/Teaching, Bachelor of Laws/LLB, or specialized Engineering degrees). If you select these on the portal in April, the system will simply tell you they are closed.

4. The “Closed” List: Do Not Waste Your Money

To save you from paying non-refundable application fees, understand that the following universities historically DO NOT have a general undergraduate intake for Semester 2:

University of Cape Town (UCT)
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
University of Pretoria (UP)
Stellenbosch University (SU)
University of Johannesburg (UJ)
Rhodes University
University of the Western Cape (UWC)

Exceptions: These universities may open for specific Postgraduate courses or short learning programmes mid-year, but never for a first-year high school leaver looking to start a standard BA or BSc.

5. Private Universities: The Safety Net

If you miss the May deadlines for the public universities, the private higher education sector is your ultimate safety net.

Private institutions run like businesses and offer multiple intakes throughout the year (often in July, August, and even September).

The Top Private Options: Rosebank College, Eduvos, Mancosa, Regenesys Education, and Boston City Campus.
The Catch: Private colleges are expensive, and NSFAS does not fund them. You will need to secure a private student loan, a corporate bursary, or pay cash.

6. How to Apply: The CAO “Entry Term” Trick

If you are applying to universities in KZN (DUT, MUT, or UNIZULU), you must use the CAO (Central Applications Office) website.

Thousands of students log onto the CAO in May, search for a course, see the word “CLOSED,” and give up. They are making a critical filtering error.

How to fix it:

Go to www.cao.ac.za and click on “Programmes.”
On the search filter menu, look for the drop-down box labeled “Entry Term”.
By default, it is set to “Term 1” (January). You MUST change this filter to “Term 3” or “Semester 2”.
Once you update the filter, the courses that are genuinely open for the July intake will magically appear in green, allowing you to add them to your basket.

Summary: Act Fast in April

The biggest mistake you can make is waiting until June to look for a July placement. By June, the selection committees have already finalized their lists, and registration is beginning.

Action Plan:

Prepare Your PDFs Now: You cannot apply without a certified copy of your ID and your final Matric results. Scan them as PDFs (under 2MB) today.
Set a Calendar Alarm: Put a reminder in your phone for 15 April 2026 to check the UNISA, TUT, and CAO websites.
Target 3 Institutions: Do not put all your hopes on TUT. Apply to TUT, VUT, and UNISA simultaneously to ensure you have a backup plan.

Disclaimer: University application dates and course availability are strictly controlled by the individual institutions and are subject to change based on internal capacity. Always verify the exact opening and closing dates directly on the official university website or through their admissions office.