More applications for universities

By Tebogo Monama. Of the 156,000, only 41,200 matrics can look forward to being admitted when the academic year starts.
Prospective students who have not yet applied will have to make alternative plans as most institutions will also not be taking late applications.
University of Pretoria spokeswoman Nicolize Mulder said they had received 34,000 applications, but could only accommodate 16,000 first-year students.
She said the most popular courses were engineering, economics, business management, sciences and natural sciences.
According to the director of admissions at the University of Cape Town, Carl Herman, the university had received more than 25,000 undergraduate applications for about 4,200 spaces.
The University of Johannesburg last week said they would not be taking late applications. It said it had received about 50,000 applications for the about 13,000 first-year spaces available.
Stellenbosch University aims to take 5,000 new students next year, but they have received about 16,000 applications and accepted 9000 provisionally.
Spokesman Herman Esterhuizen said most applications close on the last Friday of this month , but all applications received by November 30 would be processed.
At Wits University the most popular courses for 2013 are bachelor of commerce; chemical, mechanical, civil, and mining engineering; and medicine, according to Jeannette Phiri of the student enrolment centre.
She said the university had already received 31,000 applications. The university is only taking 3,000 first-year applications.
"We are still taking in late applications for very select programmes such as bachelors of fine arts, music and drama and some programmes in the faculty of science.
"Certain programmes such as construction studies and property studies in the faculty of engineering and the building environment are also prepared to accept late applications," Phiri said.
"If and when there are spaces to be filled in January, the university only accepts late applications from academically exceptional students who meet the entry requirements."