UNISA Fees

The University of South Africa (UNISA) charges fees per module, not per year. So your total cost depends on how many modules you take and which subject group they fall in. You pay a minimum amount when you register and the balance later in the year. The figures below come from UNISA's 2026 prescribed fees for undergraduate studies.

Fees per module in 2026

UNISA groups its subjects, and each group has its own price. For subjects in Education, Law, Psychology, and Public Management and Services, a full module cost R4,455 in 2026. You paid R1,470 of this when you registered.

For subjects in Business Economics and Management Studies, Communication and Journalism, Computer and Information Sciences, Languages, Philosophy, Religion and Theology, and the Social Sciences, a full module cost R4,370, with R1,440 due at registration. Half modules and smaller papers cost less. For example, a half module in the first group cost R1,145.

Other groups, such as Engineering, Mathematics and Statistics, and Architecture and the Built Environment, have their own prices. Use UNISA's fee calculator to work out the total for your modules.

When to pay

You must pay the minimum amount for each module before the registration closing date, or UNISA cannot process your registration. The balance then falls due on set dates. In 2026, first-semester modules were due by 31 March, while year modules were split between 15 May and 15 August, and second-semester modules were due by 15 August.

Pay into UNISA's official bank account with the correct reference number. UNISA does not accept cash or cheques at its offices, although you can deposit cash into its bank account. If a sponsor pays your fees, UNISA can give the sponsor a quotation, but your registration only becomes active once the minimum payment arrives.

Other fees

Some compulsory fees are added at registration. These include a levy for students in foreign countries and levies for extra study material. If you need matriculation exemption, you pay that fee with your minimum amount. Practical modules also carry extra costs, which form part of the minimum payment.

Cancelling a module

If you cancel a module, you lose part or all of what you paid. In 2026, cancelling a first-semester module by 31 March cost you the minimum payment, and cancelling later cost the full fee. Year modules followed similar rules on 15 May and 31 August.

Funding your studies

NSFAS funds qualifying UNISA students, and UNISA's Directorate of Student Funding manages donor bursaries and loans. See the UNISA provider page or our bursaries.