2026 University of Fort Hare Application Form pdf

UNDERGRADUATE APPLICATION FORMS       

Undergraduate & Honours Application Form (Click here to download form)
Non-refundable fee of R120.00
Closing Date: 31st October
(No late applications will be accepted)

POSTGRADUATE APPLICATION FORMS 

Postgraduate Application Form (Click here to download form)
Non-refundable fee of R120.00
Closing 31st October
R250.00 LATE APPLICATION: 01 NOVEMBER – 31st DECEMBER

GENERAL ADMISSION RULES         

1.  All applications for admission are subject to the selection process.

2.  Applicants must comply with the general admission requirements and any other specific requirements as prescribed by the Faculty.
3.  A candidate may be expected to attend an interview, undergo a selection test and/or make a written presentation to the relevant head of department.

The Student Administration Office will help you with application, admission and registration enquiries.
Admission Enquiries
Alice Campus
Tel.: 040-602 2016/ 2053/ 2122/ 2174
East London Campus
Tel.: 043-704 7155/ 7266/ 7004/ 7139

G.2    ADMISSION

2.1     Every prospective student shall apply for admission to a programme offered by the University on the prescribed form. The form of application must be completed in detail and signed by the prospective student and his/her parent or guardian if he/she is a minor. The completed form must be sent to the Registrar by the date stipulated in 2.3 below, together with the application fee.

2.2     A student who was registered at another university must, upon application for admission to the University of Fort Hare, submit a certificate of conduct from the  aforementioned university,  which  is  acceptable  to  the  Council  of  the University of Fort Hare.

2.3     The closing date for applications for admission shall be 31st October

January  (for  late  application).  A  late  application  fee  will  be  payable  for applications received after 30 September.

2.4      If the above-mentioned dates (2.3 above) fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the closing date will be the next normal business day.

2.5      Applications for admission as a student received after 15 January shall be regarded  as  „walk-in‟ applications  and  shall  not  be  considered  for  that particular academic year. Such application fees shall not be refundable.

2.6     Admission requirements

2.6.1   No person shall be registered as a student at the University for a programme unless he/she meets the general entrance requirements for admission (2.6.2 below), the entrance requirements as stipulated in the rules for a particular programme and has written the National Benchmark Test (NBT). This rule shall only apply from 2011.

2.6.2   A  student  who  was  not  previously  registered  at  this  or  another

University, shall meet one of the following requirements –

2.6.2.1 a  Matriculation  Certificate,  a  National  Senior  Certificate,  a School Leaving Certificate or a Further Education and Training (FET 4) Certificate; or

2.6.2.2 mature age, Senate discretionary or any other form of conditional or complete exemption; or

2.6.2.3 any alternative qualification, examination or experience (prior learning and/or experience) which is recognized in terms of the admission policy of the University as laid down by Council in consultation with Senate; provided that Council in consultation with Senate may further prescribe by regulation additional requirements as it deems fit as a prerequisite for admission to any specific programme.

2.7     Senate’s Discretionary Exemption

2.7.1 Students  with  a  Senior  Certificate  without  Matriculation Exemption/Endorsement wishing to enrol for a degree programme may apply  for  Senate  Discretionary  Exemption  (SDE),  but  should  be advised that certain minimum requirements in certain school subjects may be required for some programmes and/or qualifications.

2.7.2   If their applications are successful, learners will be advised by Faculty Managers of their admission into the relevant Faculty‟s Foundation Programme through the Admissions Office.

2.7.3   Students  admitted  via  SDE3  (credit  bearing  and  value  addition modules) will be allowed to register for modules with a maximum of 96 regular credits during their first year. In addition, students have to successfully complete value addition (i.e. non credit bearing) modules to the equivalent of 320 notional hours during their first year.

2.7.4.  SDE  students  admitted  according  to  SDE3  will  not  be  allowed  to proceed to their second year of  study until they have successfully completed all value addition modules as well as a minimum of 60 credits of their regular, credit bearing modules.

2.7.5   Upon registration, SDE3 students will be assisted by Faculty Managers to apply for conditional certificates. When SDE3 students have successfully completed the equivalent of at least 120 credits of regular, credit bearing courses, Faculty Managers will assist such students in their application of complete exemption certificates.

2.7.6   SDE Students admitted according to SDE1, SDE2, SDE4 or SDE5 models, will be assisted by Faculty Managers to apply for complete exemption certificates, and may, after consultation with Faculty Managers, enrol for regular degree programmes.

2.8     Exemptions:   Senate   may   exempt   candidates   from   attendance   and assessment in a module on the grounds of their having obtained credit for the same or equivalent modules prescribed for another qualification of the University. Candidates may also be granted recognition at another institution, provided that candidates who are already in possession of a first qualification shall be granted recognition towards a second qualification at the same or at a lower NQF level in respect of modules previously completed only up to a maximum of half of the prescribed credits required for a second qualification.

2.9  Minimum credits for degree qualifications: All UFH academic programmes/qualifications shall, in terms of SAQA credits, be configured such that each year of study shall entail students completing a minimum of 128 credits. Accordingly, students shall only qualify for a UFH three-year or four- year degree after completing a minimum of 384 credits or 512 credits respectively.

2.10   In cases where a candidate who is already in possession of a first qualification wishes to obtain a second qualification which has a set programme from which

deviation is not possible, owing to the requirements of the University or an outside body, the provision in Rule 2.6.1 above shall not apply.

2.11   Minimum time spent towards a qualification: In order to graduate with a UFH qualification, a student must, in the course of his/her studies at the University of Fort Hare, successfully complete a minimum of 120 credits at the exit level on which the relevant qualification is registered

2.12   Currency of undergraduate modules: Undergraduate modules from other institutions for which credits are requested may not be older than 5 years. UFH modules  retain  their  validity towards  unfinished  qualifications for  8  years. Senate may refuse recognition of a module (credit) on the basis that its content has changed and/or the module (credit) is too old to be given recognition.

G.3    REGISTRATION

3.1     A prospective student must first be admitted to the University in accordance with the provisions of Rule 2 above before he/she may register; he/she must supply proof of such admittance at registration. The University shall not be obliged  to  register  a  prospective  student  even  though  he/she  has  been admitted to the University; the student must also comply with the requirements of registration.

3.2     Before  commencing  their  studies  in  any  year  prospective  students  shall register as students of the University at the venue and on the date and time published beforehand by the Registrar by signing their names on the official registration form, thereby signifying their acceptance of the rules of the University and of liability to pay the prescribed fees including residence fees, where applicable. Except with the Registrar‟s written permission, no person who is in arrears with the payment of any fees due to the University shall be registered as a student.

3.2.1   Postal registration of returning senior students is permissible under certain conditions, namely where students have settled their debt prior to or on the due dates, and where the results of the examinations preceding the registration is available.

3.3     Students who  have  been  admitted to  a  programme shall  register for  the specified modules before the commencement of such modules. No late registrations shall be accepted except with the written permission of the Head of Department/Dean concerned, and within the period indicated in the official diary.

3.4     Compliance with programme requirements

3.4.1   The onus is on students to ensure that the modules for which they are registered comply with the requirements of the relevant Head of Department(s)/Head of  Department/Dean(s) and  the  Dean,  or  their representatives, to indicate that all requirements are met.

3.4.2   Senate may approve a special curriculum within the framework of the

rules for a student who has been exempted from any module(s) in terms of the provision of the Statute.

3.5     Concurrent registration except by permission of Senate. No students shall concurrently be registered for more than one programme at the University without the permission of Senate.

3.6     Limitation  of  registration.  Every  person  registered  as  a  student  at  the

University shall be deemed registered:

3.6.1   for one calendar year, semester or such shorter period as Council generally, or in any particular case, may specify; and

3.6.2   for   the   modules  as   specified  on   the   official  registration  form.

Registration of the student shall lapse after expiry of this period of registration. If a person wishes to remain a student at the University or to be reassessed in a particular module, he/she shall renew his/her registration.

3.7     Offering of modules. If any small number of students wish to enroll for a given module in any year, the relevant Faculty may after consideration of the staffing  position  and  module  viability  and  after  consultation  with  the  unit offering the programme concerned, decide that such module shall not be offered in that year. Faculty Boards may also set a maximum class size for a programme in  consideration of  the  staffing and  facilities available for  the programme. This rule shall be especially applicable to the offering of modules on a part-time basis. In terms of the rule, a part-time student shall not be entitled to demand and receive tuition in every module forming part of the curriculum of the UFH qualification for which s/he is/was registered by virtue only of having been allowed to commence her/his studies at UFH on a part- time basis.

3.8     Timetable clashes. Students may not register for modules with a clash on the lecture, practical or examination timetables without the approval of the Programme Co-ordinator and the Registrar. The University is not obliged to rearrange  an  examination  timetable  to  accommodate  instances  where  a student registered for modules which clash on the lecture or practical timetables.

3.9     Special prerequisites and ancillaries for particular modules. Senate may determine that candidates shall not be admitted to a particular module unless they  have  obtained credit  for  another specified module  or  simultaneously registered for another specified module. Failure to adhere to the above- mentioned rule of prerequisites and co-requisites, where applicable, may result in the immediate cancellation of the module(s) involved.

3.10   Registration of occasional students.

3.10.1 Senate may permit any person to register as an occasional student for a module or modules other than as a candidate for a degree, subject to such    conditions    as    may    be    prescribed    by    the    Head    of

Department/Dean concerned.

3.10.2 Senate may, subject to conditions as may be prescribed, permit a student to register for a module or modules other than as part of his/her curriculum.

3.10.3 Subject to the provisions of Rule 2.8, Senate may grant a student credit towards a qualification for one or more modules completed while registered in terms of  the provisions of  Rule 3.10.1 and/or 3.10.2, subject to such conditions as it may prescribe in an individual case, provided that a student shall, on registration, qualify for admission to the  programme  concerned  and  the  module  can  form  part  of  an approved curriculum for the qualification/programme.

3.11   Registration/concurrent registration with  another  institution.  Where  a student is for any reason whatsoever unable or unwilling to register for a UFH (core/elective) module required in order for her/him to complete the curriculum of the qualification for which she is registered at UFH, the University shall (through the relevant Faculty office) provide permission for the student to register for that module with any other higher education institution. For the avoidance of doubt, a student who has completed a module with another higher education institution pursuant to this rule shall be entitled to apply for recognition of the credit as soon as possible after s/he obtains a pass in the relevant  module.  This  rule/provision  shall  not  apply  to  a  module  that constitutes a „major‟ within an undergraduate degree curriculum.

3.12  Compulsory registration of last outstanding module under G.Rule 7 or with another institution. Students who have ONE module outstanding for completion of the curriculum of the qualification for which they are registered shall not be eligible to register for that module on a full-time basis, with or without any other modules, but may request permission to register for that last outstanding module in terms of G.Rule 7. Where such a student is unable to register in terms of G. Rule 7, s/he may apply for permission to register for the said (last outstanding module) at another institution in terms of the immediately preceding G.Rule 3.11. This rule/provision shall not apply to a module that constitutes a „major‟ within an undergraduate curriculum.

3.13   Student identification. Every student, while on campus or using University facilities shall produce his/her student registration card upon request.

3.14   Promotion criteria. Promotion of students shall be determined by Faculties, for which purpose Faculties have to provide specific criteria.

3.15   Academic exclusion of  full-time students. Full-time students who  have failed to obtain the minimum number of credits towards the qualification for which they are registered shall be excluded from the University on academic grounds:

3.15.1 In the case of a three-year degree programme

3.15.1.1 After one year, a minimum of 40 credits;

3.15.1.2 After two years, a minimum of 120 credits;

3.15.1.3 After three years, a minimum of 180 credits;

3.15.1.4 After four years, a minimum of 300 credits;

3.15.1.5 After five years, if a degree has not been obtained;

3.15.2 In the case of a four-year degree programme

3.15.2.1 After one year, a minimum of 40 credits;

3.15.2.2 After two years, a minimum of 120 credits;

3.15.2.3 After three years, a minimum of 240 credits;

3.15.2.4 After four years, a minimum of 360 credits;

3.15.2.5 After five years, a minimum of 420 credits;

3.15.2.6 After six years, if a degree has not been obtained.

3.15.3 In the case of a Foundation Year Programme (FYP)

The first year of registration of a Foundation Year Programme shall not be taken into account in calculating the prescribed period of study for the purpose of academic exclusion.

3.15.4 Change of programme and interruption of study

3.15.4.1 Where a student has been allowed to change registration from one programme to another after the first year of study, the prescribed period of study shall be calculated from the registration of the new programme;

3.15.4.2 Where a student has been allowed to change registration from one programme to another after the second year of study or in later years, the number of years subsequent to the first year of study of the first programme shall be taken into account when calculating the prescribed  period  of   study  in   respect  of   the  new  programme;

3.15.4.3 In calculating the prescribed period of study, the frequency or duration of the period of interruption of study by a student shall not be taken into account.

3.15.4.4 A student shall be permitted to change registration from one programme to another on one occasion only.

3.16   Academic exclusion of part-time students

3.16.1 A  student shall be  excluded from the  University if  he/she has not fulfilled all the requirements for his/her proposed degree within ten years of study, except in special circumstances approved by Senate.

3.16.2 Periods of attendance and examination results at another university shall be taken into account, with one year of full-time study being regarded as equivalent to two years of part-time study.

3.16.3 The University may re-admit a student who has been excluded from the university where his/her subsequent experience or academic achievement justifies readmission.

3.16.4 A student who was previously eligible for exclusion, but who was not excluded at that time, may be excluded on that basis at the end of any