The University of South Africa (Unisa), which is renowned for distance education, has embraced this trend, offering online tests that meet the demands of modern students. As Africa’s biggest open distance learning school, Unisa recognized the importance of adapting to the digital age and leveraging technology to better its evaluation techniques.

Online examinations progressively supplanted conventional pen-and-paper exams, allowing students to take assessments from the convenience of their homes or any location with an internet connection. The online application form for the online examination is only available on myUnisa. Log in to myUnisa and go to the Examination Timetable tool’s administration area to access it.

The appropriate examination fee must be submitted with the application. Online applications must be filed using myUnisa. WITHIN 10 DAYS of the written test date. Applications that are late or incomplete will not be accepted. Exam costs are not refundable nor transferable. When exam dates or hours overlap, no substitute dates or times may be scheduled.

READ: Exam Timetable Unisa 2025-2026

Unisa Online Exams Timelines And Dates For 2025

Students must choose their study units carefully to avoid any clashes in their exam dates, as overlapping exam dates will not be allowed. The University may change exam dates, and students cannot request changes.

The exam timetable can be accessed through the examination timetable tool. The final timetable will be sent to students via their myLife email and posted on MyUnisa. It will include:

• Study units where students are eligible to write exams.
• Study units, if any, where students are not eligible for exams.
• The dates and times of the exams.
• General exam instructions.

Below are the Unisa dates and timelines for 2025:

• Final Timetable Release Date: 15 April
• If you do not receive your final timetable by this date, contact the Examination Administration Division immediately by emailing examinations@unisa.ac.za with your student number.

October / November Examinations:

• Final Timetable Release Date: 15 September
• The timetable will be sent via myLife and posted on MyUnisa.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting exams are also held in October/November, while Postgraduate Diploma in
• Auditing exams take place in September.
• If you do not receive your final timetable, email exams@unisa.ac.za with your student number.

January / February Examinations:

• Exams Period: Approximately 13 January – 23 February
• This includes exams for a Further Diploma in Education and various postgraduate diplomas (Advanced Nursing Science, Distance Education, Telecommunications and Information Policy, Tertiary Education, and Translation).
• Final Timetable Release Date: 8 November
• The timetable will be sent via MyLife e-mail to all students scheduled for these exams.

Unisa Online Exams Fees

For the 2025 academic year, the basic examination fee for one exam is included in the student fees for each study unit. Additional fees are required for the following:

• Aegrotat Examination: R300.00
• Special Examination: R300.00
• Supplementary Examination: R300.00
• Remarking of Examination Script: R525.00
• Purchasing of Examination Script: R60.00

Step-By-Step Guide For Successful Unisa Online Exams

It is that time of the year and Unisa is ready to commence with the online examination period. Unisa wishes all its students well as they prepare for the online examinations. As you prepare, please follow the steps below to ensure that you are ready for the online examinations:

Check your examination timetable:

• You must know ahead of time when your module will be written.

Access your examination question paper:

• To access your examination question paper, visit the myExams platform.

Prepare for online invigilation/proctoring:

• It’s equally important to determine and prepare for the proctoring tool that will be utilized for your examination.

Assistance for students with special needs:

• Unisa has prepared resources for students with special needs, differently abled, students, and for those who are unable to write examinations on religious days.

Training webinars and resources to help you prepare for the exams:

• Unisa has prepared an extensive list of training webinars, live troubleshooting, guidelines, and videos that will help you prepare adequately for your exams.

Familiarise yourself with the do’s and don’ts of the online examination rules:

• Read the May/June 2025 online examination rules  thoroughly to familiarise yourself with the do’s and don’ts before your examination.

Know when your mark will be withheld:

• Announcement re: Know when your mark will be withheld

Test your device by participating in mock examinations:

• Familiarise yourself with the online examination experience by completing the mock examinations before your official examination.

Do the mock exam here: ADOVH001

Don’t Cheat:

• Unisa has zero tolerance for plagiarism and cheating during online examinations. Understand what it means.
• Rules around plagiarism and cheating
Unisa warns students against academic misconduct

Troubleshooting technical issues before you start the exam:

• This includes the chatbot, scanning handwritten documents, compressing file sizes, corrupting files, resetting your password, and more.

Resolving login challenges (set up your MFA):

• MFA Technical Support Pocket Guide

Contact Unisa:

• Get help during the examinations by contacting the Student Communication Service Centre
• Additional measures at the Unisa Student Communication Service Centre to deal with high volumes

Unisa Online Exams Result Release Date
Examination Periods and Release Dates:

• January / February: Results released on 9 March
• May / June: Results released on 5 July
• October / November 2024: Results released on 15 December 2024

Important Notes:

• Results will be available on myUnisa as they are released.
• Students must return all borrowed library books and settle any outstanding fees before results are released.
• Results will not be provided over the phone by academic or administrative staff.
• Timetables for supplementary exams will not be issued if fees or library books are outstanding.

How To Access Unisa Exam Results

• E-mail: Register on myUnisa and choose to receive results via e-mail.

Confirmation of Completion of Qualifications:

• January / February Exams: Confirmation available from the end of April
• May / June Exams: Confirmation available from the end of August 2024
• October / November Exams: Confirmation available from the end of February 2025

Essential Tips For UNISA Online Exams

Take-Home or Portfolio Exam (File Upload) on eAssessment Tool On my exams:

1. ACCESS MYEXAMS; Unisa recommends that you access your examination 15 minutes before the start of the examination. Internet connectivity is only required for downloading the exam question paper and uploading your answer file.
2. DOWNLOAD THE EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER; You need to download the examination question paper. You can download the examination question paper from the landing page of myUnisa.
3. COMPILE ANSWERS OFFLINE; You can go offline to read the questions after you’ve downloaded your question paper and either type your answers on a laptop/desktop or write your answers on paper sheets and later convert your answers to PDF for upload on myExams.
4. PREPARE ANSWER FILE FOR UPLOADING AND UPLOAD ANSWERS ON MYEXAMS; Answers prepared using Microsoft Word, for example, must be converted into a single PDF formatted document for uploading into my exams.
   
5. SELECT THE HONOR PLEDGE.; Until submission, remember to press the Honor Pledge if it appears on the page. If the checkbox is not marked, you will not be able to submit the assessment.
6. SUBMIT ANSWER FILE; Click the Submit button to complete your assessment submission when you are ready and confident that you have the correct answer document.
7. CONFIRMATION; You will receive a confirmation message on the computer after you have submitted your assessment.

Go to https://my.unisa.ac.za/portal to apply for online exams

READ: Unisa Exam Timetable 2025-2026

Contact UNISA

Please contact Unisa at the following address:

• Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria
• Sunnyside campus (applications, registrations & learning center):
• Cnr Justice Mahomed & Steve Biko Streets, Sunnyside, Pretoria
• Tel: 0800 005 311
• Email: unisa@whistleblowing.co.za

The ease, flexibility, and accessibility of online examinations have enabled a wide range of students to seek great education. While there are obstacles, ongoing advancements in technology and assessment practices will increase the legitimacy and efficacy of Unisa’s online assessments. Visit the official website of UNISA for more information.

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