Semester two CAO 2026 applications now open- Here how you can apply

If wish to study at one of KwaZulu Natal universities, you still have a chance to apply. Applications are now opened for 2026 second semester according to Central Application Office (CAO). CAO is considered a non-profit organization. It allows those who want to study at one of KZN’s universities to apply through them.

CAO also allow those who can afford to study at the private colleges to apply through them. Unlike before, when one would have to fill in the hard copy form and post it. Now, applications are done strictly online.

Everyone, anyone elsewhere can apply if they wish to study in KZN. CAO allows prospective students to apply for spaces at most prominent public universities. They can also apply to private colleges or institutions in the KZN. In this post we will go through process of applying online through their website http://www.cao.ac.za/

THINGS TO HAVE BEFORE YOU APPLY:

 1.1 If you are currently in Grade 12:

• Your ID Number (Found on your ID Document and/or Birth Certificate)

 or Passport Number

• At least your Final Grade 11 Results
• Also, Your Grade 12 June and/or Trials (September results) if you already have it or

as soon as you get it.

 1.2 If you have already passed the Grade 12 Final Examinations:

• Your ID Number (Found on your ID Document and/or Birth Certificate)

 or Passport Number

• Your Final NSC results.

2. DURING YOUR APPLICATION:

 COMPLETING YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION

 (a) Go to our website: www.cao.ac.za

 (b) Click on ‘Apply’ on the top navigation bar.

 (c) Read the information and click on ‘Continue with Application’.

 (d) Enter your ID / Passport Number and click on ‘Submit’.

 (e) Read the information and click on ‘Continue with Application’.

 (f) Enter ALL the details requested. Once you have entered all the requested information,

click on ‘Next’.

 (g) Click on ‘Continue with Online Application’.

 (h) A pop-up window will appear with your CAO number, password and EasyPay number.

Read the instructions. The same information will also be sent to the email address

you provided. This information is important to access your information at a later date

and track the progress of your application.

 PLEASE NOTE: YOU HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED YOUR

APPLICATION

 (i) Click on ‘Continue with Online Application’

(j) Follow the instructions, complete ALL the information

requested and click ‘Next’ on each page as you navigate

through the application.

 (k) At the end of the application, view the summary of YOUR

application presented on screen.  Should any information

be incorrect, click on ‘Edit’ and update the information

immediately.

(l)

To submit your application, click on ‘Process My Application’

at the bottom of the page.

 YOUR APPLICATION HAS NOW BEEN SUBMITTED

 (m) You will know that you have successfully submitted yourapplication when you receive the prompt “Your Application has been successfully submitted to CAO.”

 3. AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE COMPLETING YOUR

APPLICATION YOU CAN:

 (a) Pay your admin fee online at the same time you apply or after

or by choosing to pay at an EasyPay Outlet (See Page 24 of handbook on

‘Ways to Pay the Administration Fee’). You can download the handbook on their website or download the one we uploaded on this post below.

 (b) Submit/Upload your supporting documents eg. ID, School Results

etc at the same time you apply or afterwards by clicking on the

‘Upload My Documents’ icon on the Homepage (See Page 22

on ‘How to Submit your Supporting Documents). You can download handbook on their website or below this post.

 4. AFTER YOU HAVE APPLIED

 If you did not pay the administration fee or upload your documents at

the time you applied, you must do so as soon possible.

 (a) Pay the administration fee online by clicking on ‘Payments’ on the

top menu bar OR

 Pay via an EasyPay outlet (See Page 24 on

‘Ways to Pay the Administration Fee’). Download the handbook on their website or below

 (b) Upload your Proof of Payment AND

Upload supporting documents by clicking on the ‘Upload My Documents’ icon on the Homepage (See Page 22 on ‘How to Submit your Supporting Documents’). Download the handbook on their website or below

Don’t delay – apply as soon as possible after

The sooner you apply, the sooner

your application will be considered.

There you have it. These application steps are available and were taken from the CAO Handbook. It can be downloaded from their website. We have made things easier by downloading it for you. You can download it here. You can download it below.