Funding
NSFAS & Bursaries: Funding Your 2027 Studies
How NSFAS funding works alongside your UFS application, plus other bursaries worth applying for early.
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2027 Intake · Since 1904
Apply to the University of the Free State — one of South Africa's oldest and most respected universities.
UFS has grown since opening its doors in Bloemfontein in 1904 as Grey University College into a multi-campus, research-led university across Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa. Applications for 2027 are online and completely free — but UFS runs four different closing dates depending on your programme, and does not accept late applications, so here's exactly what you need, and by when.
7Faculties
FreeApplication Fee
30 Sep2026 General Closing Date
About the university
One of South Africa's oldest universities, since 1904
The University of the Free State opened its doors in Bloemfontein in 1904 as Grey University College, with just six students. More than 120 years later, UFS is a multi-campus institution with more than 39,000 students across its two Bloemfontein campuses — the main Bloemfontein Campus and the South Campus — and its Qwaqwa Campus in the scenic Eastern Free State.
UFS is known as a research-led, student-centred and regionally-engaged university, calculating admission using its own Admission Point (AP) score system rather than the APS used elsewhere — so a score calculated for another university won't transfer directly.
Good to know
UFS charges no application fee at all — applying online is completely free. But UFS runs four different closing dates depending on your programme, with Health Sciences closing as early as 31 May, so always check the selection information for your specific qualification rather than assuming 30 September applies to you.
Plan ahead
2027 key application dates
UFS publishes four different closing dates depending on the programme, and does not accept late applications — always confirm your specific programme's date before you wait.
1 APRIL 2026
Applications open
The UFS online application portal opens for the 2027 academic year.
31 MAY 2026
Health Sciences close
MB ChB, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Physiotherapy, Radiation Science, Biokinetics, Dietetics and Sports Coaching — the earliest deadline of any programme.
31 JULY 2026
Selected programmes close
Nursing, Social Work and Architecture close ahead of the general date.
31 AUGUST 2026
International closing date
Final date for all international undergraduate applications.
30 SEPTEMBER 2026
General closing date
Final date for all other undergraduate and non-selection programmes.
Online only, free of charge
How to apply to UFS
UFS applications are submitted online through the university's official application portal, and no application fee is charged.
01
Before you start
- Check your programme's specific closing date and admission requirements in the 2027 prospectus PDF on ufs.ac.za.
- Gather a certified copy of your ID or passport and your latest school results.
- Calculate your UFS Admission Point (AP) score using the link on the application portal — it does not transfer from other universities.
02
Submit online
- Go to the official UFS application portal at apply.ufs.ac.za.
- Register with a personal email address and complete your applicant profile.
- Upload your supporting documents — no application fee is payable.
- Submit before the closing date for your specific programme; late applications are not accepted.
Checklist
Documents you'll need
- Certified copy of your South African ID or passport
- Grade 11 final results, or latest Grade 12 results if you're a current matriculant
- National Senior Certificate or IEB equivalent results, once available
- UFS Admission Point (AP) score for your chosen programme(s)
- Supporting documents for international applicants
Costs
Application fees
South African applicantsFree
International applicantsFree
NSFAS window1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jan 2027
⚠️ UFS charges no application fee, but strictly does not accept late applications once a programme's specific closing date has passed — apply as early as possible, especially for Health Sciences, Nursing, Social Work and Architecture.
Where you could study
Faculties at a glance
Faculty
Economic and Management Sciences
Business, accounting, economics and management programmes, including the UFS Business School.
Faculty
Education
Teacher training and education studies preparing graduates for schools across the Free State and beyond.
Faculty
Health Sciences
MB ChB, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Optometry and Dietetics — UFS's earliest-closing, most competitive programmes.
Faculty
The Humanities
Social sciences, languages, psychology and communication studies across a broad range of majors.
Faculty
Law
Undergraduate and postgraduate law degrees from one of South Africa's established law faculties.
Faculty
Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Natural sciences, agricultural sciences and building sciences, including Architecture, offered on both Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses.
Faculty
Theology and Religion
One of the university's founding faculties, offering undergraduate and postgraduate theological study.
Three campuses, two provinces of the Free State
Life at Bloemfontein & Qwaqwa
Bloemfontein Campus
UFS's oldest and biggest campus, offering undergraduate and postgraduate study across all seven faculties.
South Campus
A second Bloemfontein campus, including access and foundation programmes for the region.
Qwaqwa Campus
Set in the scenic Eastern Free State, offering Economic and Management Sciences, Education, the Humanities and Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
Keep reading
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Study material
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Read more →Common questions
Frequently asked questions
When do UFS 2027 applications open and close?
Applications opened on 1 April 2026. The general closing date for most programmes is 30 September 2026, but Health Sciences closes as early as 31 May 2026, Nursing, Social Work and Architecture close 31 July 2026, and international applications close 31 August 2026. UFS does not accept late applications — always confirm the date for your specific programme.
How much is the application fee?
UFS does not charge an application fee — applying online is completely free for all applicants.
Where is UFS located?
UFS has two campuses in Bloemfontein — the main Bloemfontein Campus and the South Campus — and one campus in Qwaqwa, in the Eastern Free State.
What faculties does UFS offer?
Seven faculties: Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Health Sciences, the Humanities, Law, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and Theology and Religion.
Does UFS offer NSFAS funding?
Yes. UFS is an eligible NSFAS institution. NSFAS applications for 2027 are expected to open around 1 August 2026 and close 31 January 2027, and must be submitted separately from your university application.
One of South Africa's oldest universities starts with applying.
Get your documents ready and submit your University of the Free State application — free of charge — before your programme's closing date.
Apply to UFS Now →