How to Apply to Fort Hare

You apply to the University of Fort Hare (UFH) online, through its application portal. The application fee is R120 for South African applicants, and you pay it online. For the 2027 intake, undergraduate applications closed on 31 October 2026, and Fort Hare charges a late application fee for applications that arrive after the closing date.

Step 1: Get ready

Read the steps of the application process and download Fort Hare's checklist of required documents. Then prepare each document as a separate PDF attachment:

• Proof of payment of the application fee
• A certified copy of your ID
• A certified copy of your Grade 12 mid-year or June results, or of your final certificate if you have finished school
• Proof of your residential address, if you are applying for university accommodation or as an international student

Step 2: Pay the application fee

The application fee is R120 for South African applicants and R500 for international applicants, and neither is refundable. Fort Hare asks students to pay online through PayGate, as the online application directs. It processes your application only once it receives the fee, so pay before or while you submit.

Step 3: Apply online

Visit the UFH online application portal, create an account, and fill in your personal and academic details. Then upload your documents and submit. Fort Hare offers a step-by-step application guide that walks you through the process.

Choosing programmes

You can apply for more than one programme at Fort Hare. Check the campus for each one, because Alice, Bhisho and East London teach different fields. Also check the Fort Hare admission requirements for your choices.

After you apply

Check your portal regularly for updates. If Fort Hare accepts you on your mid-year results, your admission may be conditional on your final NSC results.

Late applications

If you apply after the closing date, Fort Hare may still consider you, but it charges a late application fee on top of the normal fee. Places in popular programmes may also be full by then, so apply well before the deadline.

Postgraduate applications

Honours and Master's applications for 2027 also closed on 31 October 2026, while PhD applications close on 31 March 2027.

Getting help

If you have trouble with the portal, use the step-by-step guide first, then contact the admissions office through the Fort Hare website. Keep your proof of payment, because you need it if there is any query about your application fee.

Apply for funding at the same time. NSFAS runs its own application process with its own closing date, so do not wait for a Fort Hare offer before you apply.