Vaal University of Technology (VUT)

Vaal University of Technology, known as VUT, is a university of technology based in Vanderbijlpark, in southern Gauteng. It traces its roots to 1966 and became a university of technology in 2004. It enrols about 21,000 students each year in four faculties.

About VUT

The institution opened in 1966 as the Vaal Triangle College for Advanced Technical Education. It started as a night school, because most of its first students worked for industrial firms in the region. In 1979, it became the Vaal Triangle Technikon.

In 2004, under the national restructuring of higher education, the technikon became the Vaal University of Technology. Unlike many other institutions, it did not merge with another technikon, although it did take over the Vista University campus in Sebokeng.

Faculties and campuses

VUT teaches through four faculties: Applied and Computer Sciences; Engineering and Technology; Human Sciences; and Management Sciences. Its main campus is in Vanderbijlpark. Over the years, it has also opened sites of delivery in places such as Secunda, Klerksdorp, Upington and Ekurhuleni, and it now has four campuses.

Applying to VUT

For the 2027 intake, VUT opened applications on 21 May 2026. Applications for national applicants closed on 30 October 2026, and international applications on 30 September 2026. Some programmes closed earlier, on 31 July 2026, so check the date for your course.

The national application fee is R110, while the international office's FAQ gives R120 for international applicants. You must pay the fee on the online portal before you can submit your application, and VUT does not accept forms without proof of payment.

Fees and funding

Tuition depends on your programme, and VUT publishes its fees each year. Many of its qualifications include workplace training. Qualifying students can apply for NSFAS, and companies in the Vaal's manufacturing and engineering sectors also fund students. Browse our bursaries for more options.

Is VUT right for you?

VUT suits students who want a practical, technology-focused qualification in southern Gauteng. Its later closing date for national applicants also gives you more time than many other universities.

Before you apply to VUT

Check the 2027 undergraduate minimum admission requirements for your programme, since each one sets its own subject levels. Pay the application fee on the portal before you submit, because VUT does not accept applications without proof of payment. If your course is in the group that closes in July, apply early. Residence applications have their own deadline, so complete them at the same time as your studies if you need housing. Keep your application number for tracking your outcome.