Walter Sisulu UniversityWSU

Walter Sisulu University, known as WSU, is a comprehensive higher education institution in the Eastern Cape. It came into being in 2005 when three older institutions were merged: the University of Transkei, Eastern Cape Technikon and Border Technikon. Because it combines a traditional university with two former technikons, it offers both academic degrees and career-focused diplomas under one roof.

The university has four campuses: Mthatha, Butterworth, Buffalo City in East London, and Komani. The Buffalo City campus is spread over several sites, including Potsdam, Chiselhurst and College Street. Each campus has its own admissions line and applications email address. The university reports about 30 000 students and more than 170 academic programmes.

Teaching is organised into seven faculties: Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology; Medicine and Health Sciences; Management and Public Administration Sciences; Education; Law, Humanities and Social Sciences; Economics and Financial Sciences; and Natural Sciences. Qualifications run from diplomas and advanced diplomas through bachelor's and honours degrees to postgraduate diplomas, master's degrees and doctorates. Some engineering, ICT and internal auditing diplomas are also offered as extended curriculum programmes, which add academic support for students who need a longer start. A separate short learning programmes unit runs shorter courses.

The Council on Higher Education has accredited WSU programmes, including the re-accreditation of its Bachelor of Laws degree.

Applications for the 2027 academic year opened on 1 June 2026 and close on 31 October 2026, with an earlier closing date of 30 September 2026 for international applicants. Applying is done online and carries a non-refundable fee of R100. Applicants upload a certified ID copy and their latest results, and those applying to Medicine and Health Sciences also need their June Grade 12 report.

Minimum entry follows the national rules. A diploma needs a National Senior Certificate with a diploma endorsement, and a bachelor's degree needs a bachelor's endorsement, with at least 30% in the language of instruction in both cases. Most programmes then set their own Admission Point Score and subject requirements, and meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place.

For funding, the university points undergraduate students to NSFAS, the government bursary scheme for students from low-income households, and lists other bursary providers on its student finance pages.