CAO Change of Mind

A CAO Change of Mind (COM) is a request to change your study choices after you have applied to the Central Applications Office (CAO). This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as:

  • You no longer want to do a particular programme or programmes.
  • You want to add a programme to your list of choices.
  • You want to change the rank order of your choices.
  • You want to extend your application to the following entry year/term.

To submit a CAO COM:

  1. Go to the CAO website and click on the “Change of Mind” icon.
  2. Log into your profile.
  3. Select the “Change of Mind” option from the left navigation bar.
  4. Enter your programme choices as you now wish them to appear.
  5. Pay the COM administration fee.

Once you have submitted your COM, it will be processed immediately if you submitted it online. If you submit a hard-copy COM form, it will take up to 4 weeks to be processed.

Change of Mind

You must check your course choices immediately to ensure that they are correct. If you need to amend or add courses you may use the Change of Mind facility before the 1st of July at 17:00.

To make changes to your course choices (during the periods outlined below):

  • – log in via the ‘My Application’ facility and go to add/change course choices;
  • – introduce all of your courses on the ‘New List’ in your preferred order of preference, remembering to click ‘Continue with course changes’ to save the information; and,
  • – check the acknowledgement e-mail sent to the e-mail address you supplied when making your application. Make sure to check that your changes have been recorded completely and correctly.

Once you have submitted your COM, it will be processed immediately if you submitted it online. If you submitted a hard-copy COM form, it will take up to 4 weeks to be processed.

Change of Mind – 5th May (12:00 noon) to 1st July (17:00)

At the beginning of May applicants will be able to register an online change of course choices, free of charge. If you change online an acknowledgement will be sent to the e-mail address you used at the application stage.

There is no fee for using the Change of Mind facility.

Making Changes:

  • – subject to the exceptions and restrictions mentioned below, you may change course choices (without fee) as often as you wish, up to 17:00 on the 1st July;
  • – if you submit a Change of Mind it cancels and supersedes all the previous course choices in any category in which changes are made. However, choices in the two categories (Level 8 and Level 7/6) are considered to be completely separate from each other for this purpose e.g. a change of Level 8 course choices will not affect Level 7/6 choices.
  • – if you do not wish to change the courses in one category, do not submit a change. Your original courses in that category will remain unchanged.
  • – do not mix courses from different categories (Level 8 and Level 7/6) and make sure to list all of your course choices for the particular category which you change.
  • – except for Restricted Application Courses/Restricted Categories of applicant (see below), you may enter on the form courses which did not appear on your original application.

Watch the `CAO Change of Mind` video for a step-by-step guide to the process.

Restrictions:

Restricted courses

You may not enter on a Change of Mind any restricted courses.

Exception: you may be permitted to introduce a restricted course which shares the exact same assessment procedures with a course you had applied for by 1st February at 17:00 – you should consult with the relevant HEI before introducing such a course.

Mature applicants

Individuals admitting HEIs may impose restrictions on Change of Mind for mature applicants. These are generally the same as for late applications. Mature applicants should make enquiries from individual Admissions Offices before introducing new course choices after 1st February.

Change of Mind notifications

If you make a change of mind you will receive an e-mail to confirm your new course choices. You can also log in to your account via the My Application facility to confirm that all of your details are recorded completely and correctly.

Your course choices must be correct.

Errors and Omissions

Do not wait until August to notify us of errors or omissions as it will be too late to do anything about them at that stage.

Paper applicants

If you applied to CAO using a paper application form, and you have not yet logged in to your CAO account online, you can do so by going to ‘My Application’, click on the forgotten password link and follow the steps to obtain a password. You can then log in with your CAO application number, your date of birth and your new password to use the online Change of Mind facility.

Change of Mind (Exception to Timetable):
Exceptional Closing Date: 22nd July (17:00)

Subject to the exclusions below, and subject to the usual conditions for Change of Mind, if you are registered as an undergraduate student on 1st May in any one of the HEIs (and entered that HEI through the CAO system), you may submit a Change of Mind, in paper form only, to arrive in CAO not later than 17:00 on 22nd July.

The Change of Mind Form must be stamped by the Admissions Office of the HEI where you are a student.

(If you did NOT enter your current course through the CAO system you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply. That Admissions Office will inform you whether you may submit a Change of Mind.)

Exclusions:

  1. Such a Change of Mind may be made only for entry to a course (or courses) other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course, you must arrange this within your HEI and it is not a matter for application through CAO.
  2. Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, Maynooth University, Marino Institute of Education and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure
  3. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of the three HEIs in (b) above, you should submit your paper Change of Mind to CAO.

Overview of Public Universities in South Africa

Here's an overview of some public universities in South Africa, including general admissions requirements and estimated application periods. Keep in mind, specific program requirements and dates can vary significantly, so it's important to check each university's official website for the most current information.

University of Pretoria

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with minimum scores in specific subjects related to the chosen program; for international students, equivalent qualifications.
  • Application Period: Usually opens in March and closes at the end of July for most programs.

University of Cape Town

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with pass levels required for degree study; subject-specific requirements depending on the program.
  • Application Period: Application opens in April and closes at the end of July.

Stellenbosch University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required marks; some programs have additional testing.
  • Application Period: Opens in March and typically closes at the end of June.

University of the Witwatersrand

  • Admissions Requirements: Matriculation certificate with university exemption; required scores vary by faculty.
  • Application Period: Begins in March and ends on the 30th of September.

University of Johannesburg

  • Admissions Requirements: Matric exemption with a minimum APS score; specific subject requirements based on the faculty.
  • Application Period: Opens in April and generally closes by the 30th of September.

University of the Free State

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific marks for the program applied to; additional requirements for certain courses.
  • Application Period: Typically opens in April and closes at the end of August.

University of Venda

  • Admissions Requirements: Completion of the National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for diploma or degree studies; specific APS scores needed.
  • Application Period: Usually from May to September.

University of Fort Hare

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; certain programs may have specific requirements.
  • Application Period: Opens around May and closes at the end of September.

University of the Western Cape

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific performance levels; additional requirements for certain programs.
  • Application Period: Generally from May to September.

North-West University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; program-specific requirements may apply.
  • Application Period: Opens in March and usually closes by the end of August.

Rhodes University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate or equivalent; minimum academic performance in certain subjects.
  • Application Period: Applications open in April and close at the end of September.

Nelson Mandela University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; portfolio or additional tests for some faculties.
  • Application Period: Opens in April, with a deadline at the end of August for most programs.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores; additional requirements for certain courses.
  • Application Period: Opens in May and typically closes by the end of September.

University of Limpopo

  • Admissions Requirements: Senior Certificate with endorsement for diploma or degree courses; specific APS scores for different programs.
  • Application Period: From April to September.

University of Zululand

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for bachelor’s degree studies; specific score requirements for various programs.
  • Application Period: Usually between April and November.

Central University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores for the chosen field of study; additional criteria for certain programs.
  • Application Period: Application period generally starts in May and ends in October.

Vaal University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with a pass that qualifies for admission to bachelor’s degree, diploma, or higher certificate programs.
  • Application Period: Typically from May to September.

Walter Sisulu University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; additional criteria for certain faculties.
  • Application Period: From April to September.

This list provides a starting point for understanding the admissions landscape across South Africa's diverse higher education institutions. Given the variability in programs and requirements, it's crucial to consult each university's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

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