Fort Hare Fees

Fees at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) include tuition, registration and residence fees, along with other charges on your student account. Tuition depends on your programme and modules. The payment rules below come from Fort Hare's 2026 general prospectus, which sets out when fees are due and which discounts apply.

When fees are due

Fort Hare collects fees in stages through the year. Students who are not funded through the Financial Aid office, and who do not have a fee payment agreement, must have paid at least 50% of their fees by the end of June. They must pay 100% by the end of November. After that, any unpaid fees count as overdue and in arrears.

Discounts

• 10% discount if you pay 100% of all fees during registration
• 5% discount if you pay 75% of all fees during registration
• 10% discount on tuition for every additional child from the same family registered at the university

Merit fee waivers

To reward top performers, Fort Hare offers tuition waivers to new undergraduates based on their Grade 12 results. In 2026, 34 to 38 merit points earned R3,500, 39 to 42 points earned R4,500, 43 to 47 points earned R5,500, and 48 points or more earned full tuition.

Fee payment agreements

If you cannot pay in full, you can ask for a fee payment agreement at any time during the year. The person who signs it must show proof of a stable income, such as their latest proof of income and three months of bank statements. Fort Hare does not make new arrangements for students who defaulted on earlier agreements.

Financial concessions

Each year, the university's management may approve financial concessions for that academic year, for one semester at a time. These are decided centrally, so ask the Student Fees office whether any apply in your year.

Refunds

If your account shows a credit balance from your own payments or a bursary that the university does not manage, you can request a refund. Fort Hare needs proof of payment or a sponsor letter, a copy of your student card or ID, verified bank details and consent from the fee payer.

Paying your fees

You can pay by direct deposit or internet banking into the university's account, using your student number as the reference. Students also pay a damage deposit, which covers any damage to university property and can be reclaimed later.

Funding your studies

Qualifying students can apply for NSFAS, and the Fort Hare Financial Aid office administers bursaries and loans. Browse our bursaries, or read the Fort Hare overview.