CAO 2028 Application Form: Key Dates, Fees & How to Apply

The Central Applications Office (CAO), an organisation responsible for receiving and processing applications on behalf of selected universities and TVET colleges in South Africa, is expected to open its 2028 application window on 1 March 2027.

Prospective students who wish to apply to participating institutions can access the CAO online application portal at www.cao.ac.za to complete and submit their applications.

For the 2028 academic year, universities and TVET colleges that use the CAO system will require prospective students to submit their applications through the Central Applications Office rather than applying directly to the institutions.

CAO General 2028 Application Dates

If you are planning to apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) for the 2028 academic year, it is important to take note of the application deadlines for your preferred intake.

For the January 2028 intake, the general application deadline is 31 October 2027. Applicants should ensure that they complete their applications, upload all required supporting documents and pay the applicable non-refundable application fee before the deadline.

The CAO operates two main academic intakes. The application dates are outlined below.

January 2028 Academic Intake

Regular application deadline: 31 October 2027
Late applications: Open from 1 November 2027

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the regular deadline to avoid additional late-application requirements or fees and to improve their chances of being considered for their preferred programmes.

July 2027 Academic Intake

Regular application deadline: 31 May 2027
Late applications: Open from 1 June 2027

Applicants applying for the July 2027 intake should also submit their applications and supporting documents before the regular deadline.

Important: Application deadlines can vary depending on the institution and programme. Some qualifications may have earlier closing dates, so applicants should check the CAO website for the specific deadline applicable to their chosen programme.

CAO Application Fee 2028 for Processing

The application fee for the Central Applications Office (CAO) is determined by the timing of the application submission and the citizenship status of the applicant. Early applications will incur a relatively lower application or administrative fee. It is the responsibility of the applicant to decide when they wish to apply. Below is the breakdown of the 2028 CAO application fee:

Early Submission has the following application fees

South African applicants pay R250.00
International Applicants pay R300

Late submission: Applications submitted after the general deadline (October 31 for the January 2028 intake and May 31 for the July 2027 intake) will incur the following fees:

South African applicants: R470.00
International applicants: R580.00

How to Pay CAO 2028 Application fee

Cash payment: Cash payments are not allowed

Credit/debit card payment: Prospective students can pay online with a credit or debit card with sufficient funds.

EasyPay Method: You can pay the administration fee at any EasyPay outlet, such as Shoprite, Checkers, Pick ‘n Pay, Boxer Supermarkets, Woolworths, and so on. (When making payment, please use your unique EasyPay number as the reference.)

N.B.: CAO is the only platform that allows you to apply to up to six different institutions (universities and TVET colleges) with a single application fee.

Key CAO Application Documents Required (January 2028 & July 2027 Intakes)

Anyone wishing to apply to a university or Tvet Colleges in South Africa are required to submit the following documents at the time of the applications.

Certified Copy of ID and Birth certificate
Final Grade 11 Report (if you are in Grade 12) OR
Highest qualification achieved
Copy of study/residence permit (if you are a non-South-African applicant)
June Grade 12 Report (as soon as you receive it if you are currently in Grade 12)
September/Trials Grade 12 Report (as soon as you receive it if you are currently in Grade 12)
Any other document requested by the institution

Note: Your application may be delayed or rejected if you fail to submit any of the required documents mentioned above, as well as any additional documents that may be requested during the application process.

How to Apply Via CAO Portal

The Central Applications Office encourages all first time and returning students to apply online by following the guidelines below although manual applications will not be rejected.

Online application steps

Visit the official CAO website: www.cao.ac.za.
Click on “Apply” to start the application process.
Read the details and click “Continue with Application.”
Enter your ID number and click ‘Submit.’
Scroll down and click “Continue with Application” at the bottom of the page.
Fill in all required information and click “Next.”
Review your CAO number, password, and EasyPay number. Read the guidelines, then click “Continue with Online Application.”
Complete all necessary details and click “Next.”
Enter your Next of Kin details, then click “Next.”
Provide your school details, including enrollment and graduation years, and click “Search.”
Review your information and click “Next.”
When satisfied with your application, click “Process My Application.”
After successful submission, you’ll receive a confirmation notification.
Proceed to pay online via credit card or use EasyPay for payment.

Manual/Hard copy Applications

The CAO application forms are sent to all partnering universities, TVET colleges, and libraries. You can obtain a copy, complete it by hand, and submit the completed form along with the required documents to CAO via mail, hand delivery, or email as follows:

Email: formsreceivedcao@cao.ac.za
Postal: Private Bag X06, Dalbridge, 4014
Hand delivery: CAO, Gate 11, Mary Thiphe Street (formerly Cato Manor Road), Durban

After submission, you will be provided with a CAO number. This number allows you to log into the CAP application portal and upload the soft copies of all the supporting documents.

Contact the CAO

Call Centre: 031 268 4444 or 086 086 0226
Email: formrequestcao@cao.ac.za

Go to the Central Application Office official website for more details: www.cao.ac.za

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