NWU — Student portal

NWU eFundi & Student Portal 2026: how to log in

Student Portal (Campus Nexus SIS) is the admin system; eFundi (Sakai) is the LMS. Both use a single sign-on with NWU credentials — here's the complete login guide including the @mysis-nwu.ac.za vs @mynwu.ac.za confusion.

Updated 17 May 2026 ·By GoCareers

Open NWU Student Portal

Student Portal: student.nwu.ac.za
eFundi (LMS): efundi.nwu.ac.za
Email: studentno@mynwu.ac.za
Apply Now: applynow.nwu.ac.za
Application fee: FREE
IT Helpdesk: 018 285 5930

Who uses NWU portals

Current NWU undergraduate and postgraduate students
Applicants who've been issued an NWU student number (8 digits)
Students across all 3 campuses — Potchefstroom, Mahikeng, Vanderbijlpark
Staff (use staff variant)

What you'll need to log in

NWU student number (8 digits)
For Student Portal: username format universitynumber@mysis-nwu.ac.za (NOT @mynwu.ac.za)
For eFundi: just the 8-digit student number
NWU password (initial: ID@Nwu or Passport@Nwu for new students)
Recovery email or cellphone for self-service reset
Firefox or Edge browser (eFundi works best on these)

Step by step

Log into the Student Portal

Go to student.nwu.ac.za (open in private/incognito window to avoid Microsoft account conflicts). Click Sign in. Enter username in the format universitynumber@mysis-nwu.ac.za — NOT @mynwu.ac.za (this is the #1 cause of failed logins). Enter your NWU password and approve MFA if prompted. Allow pop-ups — the Registration screen opens in a new window.
Log into eFundi

Visit efundi.nwu.ac.za, click Login (top right). Username = your 8-digit student number (no @mysis suffix needed). Password = your NWU password. Recommended browsers: Firefox or Edge.
First-time users — initial password format

Your initial password is <SA ID number>@Nwu for SA students, or <Passport number>@Nwu for international students. The "N" in "Nwu" is capitalised, passwords are case-sensitive.

Tip: The default password <strong>expires within 2 weeks</strong>. Change it immediately at <a href='https://password.nwu.ac.za' target='_blank' rel='noopener nofollow'>password.nwu.ac.za</a> or you'll be locked out.
Apply for admission via Apply Now

If you don't have a student number yet, apply at applynow.nwu.ac.za. Register with a unique personal email, receive a temporary password, upload digital ID and Grade 11/12 results, and select up to two study options.

Tip: NWU is one of the few SA universities with a <strong>FREE application fee</strong>. The 2027 cycle opens 1 June 2026.
Set up Office 365 / NWU email

After getting your student number, your email is studentnumber@mynwu.ac.za via Office 365. Access at 365.ms.nwu.ac.za with your NWU password.
Set new password rules — every 90 days

Subsequent passwords must be alphanumeric with uppercase + lowercase + a special character (#, *, ^), e.g. AbCd*902. They expire every 90 days.

NWU portals at a glance

Portal	URL	Purpose
Student Portal (SIS)	student.nwu.ac.za	Admin: registration, results, fees, timetable
eFundi (LMS)	efundi.nwu.ac.za	Sakai-based learning management system
NWU Library	library.nwu.ac.za	Catalogue, databases, e-resources
NWU Webmail / Office 365	365.ms.nwu.ac.za	studentnumber@mynwu.ac.za
NWU Apply (Online Application)	applynow.nwu.ac.za/OnlineApplication/	New applicants
MyApps (Citrix)	apps.nwu.ac.za	Virtual desktop / PC-lab applications
Password Self-Service	password.nwu.ac.za	Password change/reset
DIY Services	diyservices.nwu.ac.za	Self-service requests

What you can do on the Student Portal

Apply for admission (links out to applynow.nwu.ac.za)
Accept or decline an admission offer
Register for modules / curriculum
View exam results, grades and academic transcript
View and download fee/account statements
View class and exam timetables
Update personal details
Submit Student Helpdesk requests (graduations, IT, assessments)

The @mysis-nwu.ac.za vs @mynwu.ac.za confusion

This catches almost every new NWU student out:

For Student Portal (SIS) login: use universitynumber@mysis-nwu.ac.za
For email: use studentnumber@mynwu.ac.za

Same student number, different domain suffix depending on which system you're logging into.

Password reset

Go to password.nwu.ac.za and click I Forgot My Password
Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) verifies your identity via the registered recovery email/mobile
If SSPR fails or returns "account does not exist", contact the IT Helpdesk on 018 285 5930

NWU's 3 campuses

Potchefstroom Campus (Pukke) — North West Province; main campus and Institutional Office; engineering and nuclear strengths
Mahikeng Campus (Maf) — North West Province; agricultural sciences, animal health
Vanderbijlpark Campus (Vaal Triangle) — Gauteng; economic sciences and IT

Application via NWU Portal

NWU accepts direct online applications via applynow.nwu.ac.za (no CAO). Process:

Register with a unique personal email (becomes username)
Receive a temporary password; set a new one
Upload digital ID and Grade 11/12 results (PDF or JPEG)
Select up to two study options
Submit (and separately complete the 2-step residence application if applying for accommodation)

Application timing

Applications open: typically 1 June (e.g. 2027 academic year opens 1 June 2026)
Closing dates (recent pattern for 2026 intake): 30 June for residence and selection programmes; 31 August for general undergraduate programmes
Some postgraduate or selection programmes have used 30 September
Late applications are not accepted; walk-ins are not permitted

Application fee — free

NWU's application fee is FREE for all prospective students. Applicants still bear their own costs for certified copies and data, but the application itself costs nothing.

Using @mynwu.ac.za (email format) on the SIS portal instead of @mysis-nwu.ac.za
Caps Lock on (@Nwu initial password is case-sensitive)
Default password expired after 2 weeks — must use SSPR
Browser conflict with another logged-in Microsoft 365 account — use Incognito
Pop-up blocker preventing the registration window from opening
Cookies disabled
Browser incompatibility — prefer Firefox/Edge on eFundi
"Account does not exist" — contact Helpdesk
MFA device not registered / lost phone

Mobile access

eFundi works on smartphones/tablets via mobile browser (no dedicated student app)
Office 365 / Outlook email via standard Microsoft mobile apps using studentnumber@mynwu.ac.za
NWUWIFI on-campus Wi-Fi uses student number + NWU password
MyApps at apps.nwu.ac.za delivers Citrix-based virtual lab desktops to any device

Contact — NWU IT Helpdesk

T&L Technology / eFundi Helpdesk phone: 018 285 5930 (weekdays 08:00–16:45)
Support portal: support.nwu.ac.za → "Something is not working" → "T&L Technology Support"
Walk-in IT service desks: Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark campuses, Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00
Admissions / Studies Call Centre: 0860 169 698
WhatsApp: +27 60 070 2606
SMS: 31750
Email: studies@nwu.ac.za

Frequently asked questions

How do I log in to eFundi as a first-year student?

Go to efundi.nwu.ac.za, click Login. Enter your 8-digit student number as the username and your NWU password (initial: SA ID number followed by @Nwu, case-sensitive). Use Firefox or Edge for best results.

What is my NWU password if I am a new student?

Initial password is your SA ID number followed by @Nwu (e.g. 9001015800086@Nwu) for SA students, or your passport number plus @Nwu for international students. The "N" is capitalised, case-sensitive.

How do I reset my NWU student password?

Go to password.nwu.ac.za and click "I Forgot My Password". Verify via your registered recovery email or mobile. If that fails, call 018 285 5930.

How do I register on eFundi?

Module registration happens on the Student Portal (student.nwu.ac.za), not eFundi. Once you've registered for modules, they appear automatically as tabs in eFundi.

What is the difference between eFundi and the NWU Student Portal?

Student Portal (SIS) is for admin — registration, results, fees, timetables. eFundi (Sakai) is the LMS for course content, assignments, discussions. Both use the same NWU credentials but different login URLs and username formats.

How do I check my NWU application status?

Log into applynow.nwu.ac.za with the personal email and password you used at application. Status updates as Admissions processes your file.

Is the NWU application fee free?

Yes — NWU's application fee is free for all prospective students. You only pay for your own certified copies and data.

When do NWU 2027 applications open?

1 June 2026 (NWU's typical opening date). Closing dates are usually 30 June for residence/selection programmes and 31 August for general undergraduate programmes — confirmed for 2027 once NWU publishes them.

Why can't I log in to my NWU Student Portal?

Most common cause: using @mynwu.ac.za (email format) instead of @mysis-nwu.ac.za (SIS format). Second most common: initial password expired after 2 weeks — reset at password.nwu.ac.za. Third: browser conflict with another Microsoft account — try Incognito.

What is the NWU IT helpdesk number?

018 285 5930 for eFundi and Learning Tech. 0860 169 698 for general admissions/studies queries.

How do I connect to NWUWIFI?

Select NWUWIFI on your device, enter your 8-digit student number as the username and your NWU password. After password changes, "forget" the NWUWIFI network and reconnect.

Related guides

South African Universities 2026 — complete guide

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

UP Student Portal (Tuks)

Another large multi-campus university — similar Blackboard LMS.

How to apply for NSFAS 2026

Funding for NWU tuition and allowances.

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