SPU Applications: The what, where, when and how
Sol Plaatje University (SPU), located in Kimberley in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, is named after Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje, a renowned South African intellectual journalist, linguist, politician, translator and writer who lived from 1876 to 1932 and had important ties to Kimberley.
The university, which was established in 2013 and welcomed its first students in 2014, wears its name with pride and boasts as the first university established in the Northern Cape province. With great power comes great responsibility, and the university aims to raise up young would-be Sol Plaatjies who are not only proudly South African but will bring lasting, positive change to South Africa.
SPU has researched the unique needs of not only the province but also South Africa and has structured its qualifications in such a way as to meet those needs with human intellect and knowledge.
What qualifications can you study at SPU?
The university offers diplomas, advanced diplomas, under- as well as postgraduate degrees in 4 main fields of study. These fields of study are:
- Economic and management sciences offering qualifications such as Bachelor of Commerce, retail business- and public management as well as entrepreneurship.
- Education offering qualifications such as Bachelor degrees in the different phases of education and honours programs in curriculum development.
- Human sciences offering qualifications such as a bachelor degree in arts, an honours program in social sciences and several higher certificates.
- Natural and applied sciences offering qualifications such as several diplomas and Bachelor of science degrees as well as honours programs in computer-, data- and mathematical sciences.
When are applications to study at SPU for 2027 open?
SPU’s official application page states that undergraduate and postgraduate applications for 2027 are open until 31 October 2026. Use the current application page and qualification-specific requirements rather than an estimated August-to-September window.
Do not assume that a late-application period will follow the published deadline. Apply by 31 October 2026 and rely only on any later opportunity formally announced by SPU.
How do you know if you can apply to study at SPU?
If you meet the basic requirements as detailed in this article and SPU’s website, you are in luck and will be able to apply to study at SPU. It should be quite simple to know whether you qualify since the requirements for the different qualifications are very straightforward, and it only requires you to match your final year subjects and final mark to the required APS.
However, if you are uncertain or have questions about your merits, you can contact SPU at information@spu.ac.za or call their call centre at 053 491 0000.
The next few sections of this article detail exactly what is required or where you can find details of what is required for your application to succeed.
What are SPU’s requirements?
Not all the different fields of study within the university have the same requirements, just as the different types of qualifications also don’t have the same requirements. We advise you to look at the university’s prospectus for your intended entry year to confirm the requirements for your desired qualification. The prospectus also includes an Admission Points Score (APS) calculator that shows you what merits your various final school year results get and what APS your desired qualification has.
It would be wise to calculate your APS and compare this to the required APS of the qualification before you apply to have the best chance of a successful application. That being said, it is not guaranteed that your application will be successful simply if you meet the basic requirements.
What documentation do you need?
To apply to study at SPU, if you are completing your matric year, you need the following documents:
- A certified copy of your ID or birth certificate
- Your final grade 11 results
If you have already completed your matric, you need the following documents to apply to study at SPU:
- An affidavit declaring either that you have studied at another tertiary education institute such as a college or university or that you have not enrolled to study at any tertiary education institution since obtaining your matric certificate.
- A certified copy of your ID or birth certificate
- A certified copy of your matric certificate
Additional documentation in the form of an official academic transcript and certificate of conduct from your previous tertiary education institutions will be required if you have studied at another institute before enrolling at SPU. If you can provide these documents, no affidavit is needed.
International applicants need the following documentation:
- Last year’s school results
- SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) evaluation document based on the evaluation of your qualifications
- Matriculation board evaluation document based on the evaluation of your qualifications
- A certified copy of your passport
What is the correct format for the required documents?
Once you have all the required documents, you need to ensure that they are:
- Black and white with clear resolution. The university will not allow colour document submissions.
- Submitted in either of the following formats: Word document, PDF or an image
- Not submitted as one large file but individually scanned, named and submitted.
Now that you have all you need, how do you apply?
When you have decided what qualification you would like to study for and have all the correct documentation, you can apply online by visiting SPU’s website, www.SPU.ac.za, or following this link. You will need to select the bold writing under Prospective Student and complete the application form that comes up. Applicants are cautioned against applying on mobile and are advised to rather apply on a computer with a strong and steady internet connection.
The university has a very extensive and extremely helpful Q&A page regarding applications and common questions about applications. You can access this page here.
Furthermore, prospective students can email applications@spu.ac.za if they encounter any problems with the online application portal.
Also Read: Accessing SPU Prospectus And Tracking Application Status
How much does the application cost?
This is where SPU really shows its support and care to the community in that it has made all online applications free, mahala.
Knowing if your application was successful?
If you wish to check whether your application to study at SPU was successful, In that case, you need to log back into the online application portal and select “Student Enquiry” and then “Academic Admissions Status”. You can access the online applications portal here.
