Only 235,000 University Spaces for 2026: Thousands of Matriculants Will Miss Out

University Space Crunch: 235,000 First-Year Places in 2026, But Not Enough for All Matriculants

South Africa’s universities are preparing to welcome around 235,000 first-year students in 2026. While this is a significant intake, it still falls far short of the growing demand from the nearly 856,000 learners writing matric this year.

Government has warned that although more learners are qualifying for higher education each year, spaces remain limited. Even with a bachelor pass, admission depends on achieving the minimum Admission Point Score (APS) required by each institution, leaving many aspiring students without a university spot.

READ: Newly appointed Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela Pledges to Stabilise NSFAS and Rebuild Higher Education Sector

Higher Education officials say this crunch makes it crucial for learners to apply on time, explore multiple options, and consider alternatives such as TVET and Community Education and Training colleges, which together provide more than 300,000 additional opportunities.

“A bachelor pass is not enough — competition will be fierce. Learners must recognise that TVETs, CETs, and SETA programmes are equally important pathways into skills and employment,” the department noted.

The space challenge also raises questions about balancing enrolments across disciplines. Authorities are pushing universities to avoid oversupplying in fields with limited job absorption while addressing shortages in sectors such as health, education, ICT, and energy.

READ: TVET Colleges to Power South Africa’s Skills Revolution

At the same time, government is moving to stabilise student funding through NSFAS, which supports close to a million learners annually, to ensure that no qualifying student is left behind due to financial barriers.

With application deadlines closing in October, the race is on for learners to secure their place in the next academic year.