UNISA — Distance learning

myUnisa Student Portal 2026: how to log in and use it

myUnisa is the central portal for SA's ~400,000-student distance learning university. With myLife email, myModules LMS, online exams and applications — here's how to use every UNISA portal.

Updated 17 May 2026 ·By GoCareers

Open myUnisa

myUnisa: my.unisa.ac.za
myLife email: studentno@mylife.unisa.ac.za
LMS (Moodle): mymodules.unisa.ac.za
App fee (2026): R150
Contact centre: 0800 00 1870
Exams (most modules): Online via myExams

Who uses myUnisa

Current UNISA undergraduate and postgraduate students
Applicants who've been issued an 8-digit student number
South African citizens, permanent residents and international students
UNISA is an Open Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) institution — most teaching is online

What you'll need to log in

8-digit UNISA student number
myUnisa password (same as myLife email password)
For first-time users: SA ID number or passport for identity verification
Registered cellphone for OTPs
Current Chrome or Edge browser

Step by step

Log into myUnisa

Go to my.unisa.ac.za. In the login box on the right, enter your 8-digit student number and your myUnisa password. Click Login. You'll land on the dashboard with tiles for myModules, myAdmin, myLife email and myExams.
First-time users: Claim UNISA Login

On the myUnisa homepage click Claim UNISA Login. Enter your 8-digit student number → Continue. Enter your surname, full names, date of birth and SA ID / passport number → Continue. Create a password meeting UNISA complexity rules. You'll see "Step 4 of 4" confirmation.

Tip: Wait <strong>up to 24 hours</strong> for myLife email to provision after claiming your login. Don't panic if it doesn't work immediately.
Log into myLife email

From the myUnisa homepage, click the myLife e-mail button. Enter your full myLife address (studentnumber@mylife.unisa.ac.za) and your myUnisa password. Complete Microsoft 365 MFA if prompted.

Tip: myLife and myUnisa share the same password — change one, change both. For sync issues, email MyLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za.
Access course content on myModules

Go to mymodules.unisa.ac.za (Moodle-based LMS). Use the same UNISA credentials. Submit assignments, access study material, join discussions.
Apply for admission

If you don't yet have a student number, apply via UNISA Apply (linked from the corporate site at unisa.ac.za). Application fee 2026: R150 (non-refundable).
Check exam results

Results are released through the exam results service linked from myUnisa, plus the UNISA Student App.

UNISA portals at a glance

Portal	URL	Purpose
myUnisa	my.unisa.ac.za	Main student portal — registration, results, assignments, fees
myAdmin	myadmin.unisa.ac.za/portal	Admin functions (alternative login gateway)
myLife email	Via myUnisa	studentnumber@mylife.unisa.ac.za
myModules (Moodle LMS)	mymodules.unisa.ac.za	Course content, online tutorials
UNISA Apply	unisa.ac.za (corporate site)	Online application system
myExams	myexams.unisa.ac.za	Online examination platform
UNISA Institutional Repository	ir.unisa.ac.za	Theses, dissertations, research (formerly uir.unisa.ac.za)
UNISA Library	unisa.ac.za/library	Library services

What you can do on myUnisa

Apply for admission (via UNISA Apply linked from myUnisa)
Accept/decline offer and complete online registration
Register for modules (semester or year)
View results (released through the exam results service)
View and download fee statements
View academic record
Submit assignments (through myModules)
Access online tutorials and study material on myModules
Apply for re-registration each year
Apply for re-marking of examination scripts
Track application status, upload documents, pay application fees (also via UNISA Mobile App)

UNISA student number format

UNISA student numbers are 8 digits, issued by UNISA on first application. The leading-digit convention has evolved over time as numbers advance — older students often have numbers starting 4 or 5, newer intakes 6 or 7. Don't rely on the leading digit to verify your number.

Used as the username across myUnisa, myLife, myModules and myExams.

Forgot password — single reset for both myUnisa and myLife

Go to my.unisa.ac.za and click Forgotten UNISA Password
Enter your student number → Continue
Enter surname, full names, date of birth, SA ID or Passport — exactly as on record
UNISA verifies last 4 digits of the cellphone number on file
Reach "Step 4 of 4: Confirmation" — password is reset for both myUnisa and myLife (single password)

Related self-service links on the same page: Claim UNISA Login, Forgotten Student Number, External Marker & eTutor Password Reset.

Application timing (2026)

UNISA runs three intakes: Semester 1, Semester 2 (selected programmes only) and Year programmes.

Semester 1 + year programmes (undergrad): applications 3 November – 19 December 2025
Semester 2 2026: opens around April/May 2026 (selected programmes only — most degrees only intake in Sem 1)
Postgraduate (Honours, Masters, Doctoral): separate windows, generally Sep–Nov of prior year

Application fee — R150 in 2026

UNISA's 2026 application fee is R150 (non-refundable, online applications). Pay by the closing date or the application won't be processed.

Module structure — Semester 1, Semester 2, Year

Semester 1 modules: Jan/Feb registration, exams May/June
Semester 2 modules: registration June/July, exams Oct/Nov
Year modules: Jan–Nov (single registration, single Oct/Nov exam)

Workload guidance: part-time students 4–6 modules per year; full-time up to ~10. Registration closing dates for 2026: 20 Feb 2026 (semester modules), 20–31 March 2026 (year modules, varies by qualification).

Online vs distance (ODeL)

UNISA is officially an Open Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) institution. Most teaching is online via myModules (Moodle) — assignments, discussion forums, digital study guides. Some courses still ship printed study material if you select print delivery. No traditional in-person lectures; students study independently with support from e-tutors and occasional discussion classes at regional centres.

Exam format in 2026

Most modules: online via myExams with the Invigilator App for human/AI proctoring
The May/June 2026 online exam period started 12 May 2026
Hybrid venue-based exams approved for the College of Accounting Sciences (CAS) — 3rd-year and postgraduate SAICA-accredited modules will be human-proctored at UNISA regional venues
Final mode per module is on the examination timetable

Slow / unresponsive myUnisa during registration peak (January) and assignment due dates
MyLife not yet active — 24-hour provisioning delay after claiming login
Password out of sync between myUnisa and myLife — fix by resetting via Forgotten UNISA Password (forces both systems to sync)
Microsoft tenant errors ("account doesn't exist") — usually means myLife hasn't been activated or wrong email format used
Browser cache / cookies — clear cache or use Incognito
MFA / Authenticator issues on myLife — contact MyLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za
Account lockout after multiple failed attempts

Mobile access — two official apps

Unisa Student App — admin functions: track application status, upload docs, pay fees, accept/decline offers, exam timetables, results, graduation invites, campus locator. Available on Google Play, Apple App Store and Huawei AppGallery.
UNISA myModules Mobile App — Moodle-based, for course content, calendar, badges and messages

Both apps use your student number + UNISA password.

Contact

Toll-free contact centre: 0800 00 1870
Hours: Mon–Fri 08:00–19:00; Sat 08:00–14:00
General email: enquire@unisa.ac.za
myLife support: MyLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za
Exams: exams@unisa.ac.za
Tip: call early weekday mornings or use the online enquiry form / SCSC categorised email channels for faster resolution

Frequently asked questions

How do I log in to myUnisa?

Go to my.unisa.ac.za, enter your 8-digit student number and myUnisa password in the login box on the right, click Login.

How do I claim my UNISA login?

On my.unisa.ac.za click "Claim UNISA Login". Enter your 8-digit student number, then surname, full names, DOB and SA ID/passport. Create a password. Wait up to 24 hours for myLife email to provision.

How do I activate my myLife email?

Claim your UNISA login first (see above). myLife provisions automatically within 24 hours. Access it from the myLife e-mail button on myUnisa, signing in with studentnumber@mylife.unisa.ac.za and your myUnisa password.

What is my UNISA student number?

8 digits, issued by UNISA on first application. If you've forgotten it, use the "Forgotten Student Number" link on my.unisa.ac.za.

How do I reset my myUnisa / myLife password?

On my.unisa.ac.za click "Forgotten UNISA Password". Enter your student number, surname, full names, DOB and SA ID/passport. UNISA verifies last 4 digits of your registered cellphone, then resets the password for both myUnisa and myLife.

How much is the UNISA application fee in 2026?

R150 (non-refundable). Older third-party sites still quote R135 — that's outdated.

When do UNISA 2026 applications close?

Semester 1 + year programmes closed 19 December 2025. Semester 2 2026 (selected programmes only) opens around April/May 2026.

Is UNISA going back to venue-based exams in 2026?

Most modules remain online via myExams with proctoring. The College of Accounting Sciences (CAS) has approved hybrid venue-based exams for 3rd-year and postgraduate SAICA-accredited modules — check the examination timetable per module.

How do I check my UNISA exam results?

Log into myUnisa and use the exam results tile, or use the Unisa Student App. Results are typically released about 4–6 weeks after the exam date.

Why is myUnisa so slow?

myUnisa is historically slow during registration peak (January) and assignment due dates. Try off-peak hours, clear browser cache, or use Incognito. UNISA launched a new contact centre solution in January 2025 to improve responsiveness.

What is the UNISA contact number?

Toll-free 0800 00 1870 (Mon–Fri 08:00–19:00, Sat 08:00–14:00). For myLife issues, email MyLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za. For exams, exams@unisa.ac.za.

Related guides

South African Universities 2026 — complete guide

All 26 public universities, APS, NSFAS and how to apply.

How to apply for NSFAS 2026

Funding for UNISA tuition and allowances.

UJ uLink Portal

Contact university alternative — same Gauteng region.

Last updated 17 May 2026. We review and refresh this guide regularly — if something here is out of date, let us know.