Wits - 2027 intake
Wits application 2027: dates, APS and fees
Wits closes general programmes on 30 September 2026 and charges R100. Its APS is calculated differently from every other university - best seven subjects including Life Orientation, with bonuses.
Updated 22 July 2026 ·By GoCareers
Apply at Wits - Applications open
- March 2026
- General closing
- 30 September 2026
- Health sciences
- 30 June 2026 (closed)
- Application fee
- R100
- Scoring
- APS - best 7 incl. Life Orientation
- Enquiries
- 011 717 1888
Who can apply
- South African citizens, permanent residents and international applicants
- NSC or IEB equivalent with the endorsement your programme requires
- Wits calculates APS on best seven subjects INCLUDING Life Orientation
- Bonus points apply for English and Mathematics - a level 8 counts as 10
- Health sciences, architecture and audiology closed on 30 June 2026
- Compliance with minimum requirements does not guarantee a place
What you'll need
- Certified copy of your SA ID (or passport for international applicants)
- Certified copy of your latest Grade 11 or Grade 12 results
- Certified copy of your matric certificate if you have already completed school
- Proof of payment of the application fee where one applies
- Sworn translation of any document not in English
- Supporting documents for specific programmes (portfolio, medical report) where required
Step by step
-
Check whether your programme has already closed
Wits health sciences (all programmes), Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology and BA Film and TV closed on 30 June 2026. Everything else closes 30 September 2026. -
Pay the R100 application fee
Wits requires a R100 application fee. It publishes a guide to paying via the self-service portal. -
Calculate your Wits APS - it is not the standard one
Wits uses best seven subjects including Life Orientation, with bonus points for English and Mathematics. Level 7 (80-99%) scores 8 points; a level 8 in English or Maths becomes 10.Tip: This is the most generous APS calculation of the major universities, because Life Orientation counts and bonuses apply. Your Wits APS will usually be higher than your UP APS. -
Apply through the Wits self-service portal
Go to wits.ac.za/applications, which redirects to the self-service portal. This is the same portal you will use as a registered student. -
Do not treat the minimum as a target
Wits states explicitly: "Compliance with the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place." Popular programmes select well above the published minimum.
How Wits APS differs from everyone else
This is the single most useful thing to know about applying to Wits.
Wits calculates APS on your best seven subjects, including Life Orientation, and awards bonus points for English and Mathematics. The scale:
| NSC level | Percentage | Wits points |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 80-99% | 8 |
| 6 | 70-79% | 7 |
| 5 | 60-69% | 6 |
| 4 | 50-59% | 5 |
By contrast, UP excludes Life Orientation and uses six subjects with a maximum of 42. So the same matric certificate produces different scores at the two universities.
The 2027 closing dates
- 30 June 2026 - Faculty of Health Sciences (all programmes), Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Audiology, Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology, BA Film and TV. Closed.
- 30 September 2026 - all other university programmes, and residence applications.
- 31 May 2026 - BA General (part-time), July intake only.
Wits publishes its opening as "March 2026" without a specific day.
Contact
Enquiries: 011 717 1888
Online: the Ask Wits enquiry form at wits.ac.za/askwits
Already a Wits applicant checking your status? See our Wits Self-Service guide for portal login and status-check help.
Frequently asked questions
When do Wits applications close for 2027?
30 September 2026 for most programmes and residence. Health sciences, architecture, audiology, speech-language pathology and BA Film and TV closed on 30 June 2026.
How much does it cost to apply to Wits?
R100. Wits publishes a guide to paying the fee through the self-service portal.
How does Wits calculate APS?
Best seven subjects including Life Orientation, with bonus points for English and Mathematics - a level 8 in either counts as 10. Level 7 scores 8 points, level 6 scores 7, level 5 scores 6, level 4 scores 5.
Is the Wits APS the same as the UP APS?
No. Wits uses best seven subjects including Life Orientation with bonuses; UP uses six subjects excluding Life Orientation with a maximum of 42. The same results give different scores.
When did Wits 2027 applications open?
Wits publishes its opening as March 2026 without stating a specific day.
Does meeting the Wits minimum APS guarantee admission?
No. Wits states explicitly that compliance with the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place. Competitive programmes select well above the published minimum.
Can I still apply to Wits medicine for 2027?
No. The entire Faculty of Health Sciences closed on 30 June 2026.
How do I check my Wits application status?
Through the Wits self-service portal. See our Wits Self-Service guide for login help, password resets and status checks.
Related guides
Last updated 22 July 2026. We review and refresh this guide regularly —
if something here is out of date, let us know.