University of South Africa [UNISA]
Reviews and Complaints

Unisa is a serious disgrace. I spent 2 months waiting for degree confirmation. Mandla makhanya and his brain washed regional advisors are failing. I called unisa many times, I sent many emails and smss but no reply. I decided to visit regional office and hubs but the so called advisors are illiterate, clueless, useless and brain washed, they know nothing. Beware of unisa regional advisors, they will lead you astray. They were garden boys and kitchen girls, they were promoted to the advisors position. I dont think they passed grade 10. No no no.. Useless university.. Good for nothing... It must be changed to a prison. Mandla makhanya will be the chief prison wardener..

Unisa's service is very poor, I don't understand why they put out contact details for us to use yet they never pick up their phones and never reply to any emails. One other thing is that you complete your qualification but the status still shows "qualification not completed" and you are told to wait for audits, which may take forever from what I heard from other students. It is not fair that we wait for these audits and in the mean time we lose out on job opportunities because we don't have anything to show as confirmation that we have completed the qualification. I also don't understand why we have to graduate in absentia for PGCE while other Universities have graduation Ceremonies for PGCE

I wanted to registered last week, but received the following message:
You have been excluded from further studies at Unisa due to poor academic performance. I have already completed 28 modules and have only 12 left. I have done an average of 5 modules per semester.
I have tried since the 3 January 2019 to contact Unisa to explain to me what is going on. I have send numerous e-mails and have phone everyday, but without success

Good day.
I would like to lodge a complaint to UNISA due to the failure to finalise my PGCE certificate.
I enrolled with UNISA in 2015 with my certificates of a BSc Hons in Biology and Masters of Science both certified by SAQA and was accepted to study the PGCE in life science and natural science . I studied from Jan 2016 to November 2017 and have passed all of the modules required. 1 year later my certificate is still being held back and replies of late are to re-register with UNISA and spend more money. Prior to this I have received lack of communication from UNISA with emails not being answered. I have been offered jobs in teaching but have not been able to accept due to the lack of certificate.
I would like to receive my certificate before I take this matter further.

Good Day

I am a student at Unisa (student nr [protected]) who wrote my last exam for the Bachelors of Commerce in Human Resource Management (98307) in June 2018.

It is now the 7th of November, and my qualification has not been finalised by Unisa. It still reflects as incomplete on the myunisa website.

I have sent numerous emails during the course of the year with no response, I have tried contacting Unisa via phone numerous times, and I have visited the Unisa Sunnyside campus twice. I was assisted by Bongi Mfumbatha, who gave me her email address to follow up on the progress, but she is now also not responding to any of my emails.

If you contact Unisa via phone, you can only get through to a student adviser if you are lucky. I have spoken to about 4 people and none of them could assist me over the phone.

I have applied to do my Honours in Business Management, and my application can not be processed until my results has been signed off by the audit department.

I would also like to apply for study assistance with my employer for 2019, but I am unable to do so until my degree reflects as complete and my application for honours has been finalised.

This is my future that Unisa is holding in their hands. Please I need answers and I need this to be finalised.

Regards
Marna

Am in East London.. I have not received my study material yet. I went to campus and they told me theirs nothing they can do about it.. My unisa account is acting up and in few weeks time am starting with my exams worse part I haven't started with my assignments.. I have been calling the call center for or weeks now but no answer. My student number is [protected].

STUDENT NUMBER: [protected]

Good day

Registered Student for S1 and S2
NSFAS Bursary Beneficiary - Approved

S1
No payment received from NSFAS - Alternative payment with Employer.
Completed succesfully.
No complaints.

S2
Registered. Reviewed statement and payment due.
NO NSFAS reflected on 21 July 2018.
Paid own registration fee as in S1 on 21 July 2018.
Requested statement. NSFAS paid.
Account Credit of -R1940 (Registration amount paid).
Applied for a refund on 01 August 2018 as per UNISA policy.
UNISA policy = 15 business days to pay.
Follow up on 29 August 2018 - NO REFUND.
Follow up on 03 September 2018 - NO REFUND TO DATE.

I have confirmed with NSFAS. I have a bursary NOT loan.
Refund must be dealt with as per Institution's refund policy.

UNISA, why are you illegally withholding money, not due to you?

The most horrible service. I have some inquiries about application because I had a student number as I was a registered student of unisa two years ago. Now I want to study again but with different subjects. I wanted to know if I can use the same number or if I should obtain a new one. Also as I already have a student number I couldnt log into my unisa account because I dont remember the password. They said they will send it to the phone. I have changed my number and emailed them about the situation but they did not get back. I phoned them 5 times already and no one answers, the automated voice just says they'll be with me soon but I was on the line for 30 minutes with no help at all.

My student number is [protected]. I am in my final year of my degree and my registration has been finalized the beginning of the year. I however, not received any of my study material nor am I am able to download my material from MyUnisa.
I have continually tried calling and emailing various departments (inlc: Deans office and despatch) but no one is able to help me.

The exam period is during Oct-Nov which is just over a month to go. How am I able to be well prepared for my finals with short term preparation when I haven't been able to submit any of my assignments.
Furthermore, I have a bursar that would need to be refunded if I do not complete this year.

What exactly is UNISA being paid for and how do they go about justifying messing with students education?

Good day,
I am a final year student with UNISA and registered for the second semester of 2018. While my registration was finalised some time back, to date I am yet to receive all study materials. I received an sms on the 6th Aug advising me that my materials would be delivered, following that I received study materials only related to one of the four modules that I have registered for on the 15th Aug. I have had two assignments due for two of my registered modules already without having recieved study materials and now two more to submit, only to receive materials for one module 2 days prior to due date.
The level of pressure and stress that this is causing for me as a student is immense and extremely unacceptable! We cannot be expected to fully participate and deliver good results if the University is sabotaging us as student. I would like to understand what measures the University will put in place to correct this situation as it has hone on for too long!

i had emailed unisa from my unisa email in april to have my subjects moved to the 2nd semester. i only received a response to my mail a month later stating that it was passed the date to change semesters. obviously this will be so if you are handling my request 4 weeks later.

i send through a registration query about my LLB degree and received a read receipt for it. 48hrs later still no response, and i ony have 4 days left before registration closes.

its it annoyingly pathetic that we have to pay these high study fees and not get the minimum support from this organisation.

they once had contact centres which they did away with. now it is almost impossible to get your query resolved online.

what was the purpose of closing the contact centre if Unisa is not able to support students online?

the purpose of correspondence study is that some of us have to work during the week. this idea of taking a day off just to go to unisa to resolve simple issues is totally unacceptable!

something needs to be done...

Please assist I don't know who to speak to anymore since I am not getting help from the branches and calls to accounts and several emails I have sent to the university

My name is sthembile meyiwa student number [protected], I need to move funds from [protected] to [protected] because when I applied I was given 2 student numbers for 2 qualifications and made payments to the wrong one [protected] and I was registered on [protected] now I have been to the durban branch 3 times they have taken my details promised that the amount will be moved to the correct account but nothing has happened till today, I have emailed finance and still have a no response, I have tried calling the financial department but no answer, currently on the [protected] account there is r500 for exemption and r375 for study fees that I have paid and no one is paying attention to my query.

My id number is : [protected]
My cell number is : [protected]

Please assist

Good day;

RE: Lost documents issues, Unprofessional Exam Invigilators, Loss of income, unclear instructions to students as to ID provided.

I would like to know if my exam paper (CMY 1502) (Somerset- West exam venue) were received in good order.

During the course of writing the exam, the invigilators interrupted me 5 times because the copy of my ID were not certified.

On the students side of regulations / instructions, it does not stipulate anywhere that the ID must be original or certified copy. All my documents were stolen. The invigilator kept saying that I must go and get this copy certified, and I keep saying (whilst writing and disrupting the rest of the students) that in order to certify a copy one MUST have the original. This I keep reporting to both. I asked If I could just complete the exam, and we can talk or contact unisa afterwords but they keep asking questions that are really unintelligent. Then they leave and in about 15 minutes of chatting to each other they come interrupt me again. They asked then :how did I make a copy of my ID then?" and I said, obviously I have an electronic version that I pulled of an old email.

After I wrote the exam and left the venue to make try and make arrangements for this situation as time was running out, and for my next exam, the invigilator followed me and claimed I was late for the exam anyway and tried to snatch the "students proof of attendance" out of my hand in a violent manner, in front of all the other students writing. The then treatended to not send in my exam paper.-Of course to try and cover themselves and try and plead that I never wrote the exam.

This copy of mine was signed by the invigilator and the invigilators code was written down. If I was late, why let me write? I really hope these invigilators submitted my completed exam whilst I try to clear this matter with UNISA. It is really expensive to take unpaid leave from work. And also, why does she try and grab my attendance copy out of my hand and disrupt the exam. Tension was already running high with me for it was a strenuous law exam. These invigilators is not trained UNISA learners or graduates as the other universities use, but retired old ladies.

I had my student card with me and exam roster and the copy clearly shows it is me that wrote. The best I could do was get a affidavit to state I lost my documents.

Please assist. I really need to know that those invigilators submitted my exam paper and that it will be marked. I will not pay for re-taking the subject or take leave from work again.

Also I want to change venues for my next exam for I never want to see them again. I am reporting this matter to the ombudsman out of sheer desperateness.

Erina Kriel

Dear Complaint Board,

It is of great concern to myself and my fellow WLL2601 & 2602 Film, Literature and Society study students, that the lecturer Dr G Sansalvadore, has not prepared us adequately for this demanding module.
The lecturer responds to emails, but does not clarify questions asked and has not assisted us at all on MyUnisa during the semester.
Our money goes to waste when we have to re-do a subject, that we would've otherwise passed if the Lecturer did what she was employed to do.
Thank you in advance

I still haven't got my study materials they sent me a message saying I must go collect at the post office which I don't understand why because we gave our addresses they should have sent the way they did last year I even called to ask them to transfer to another post office the lady said she will but till this day it has not been transferred I sent someone to collect with the form they sent to me filled in completely with my I.d number but still they could give saying she must have a copy of my I. D which was never mentioned in the paper they said I must fill in..I'm very disappointed with this year's services we are trying so hard to balance time and studying but unisa is making it very difficult.

I am disgusted with the service at unisa. After being advised incorrecly by an unprofessional student advisor, almost 2 years of my life has been wasted trying to obtain my degree. I have emailed unisa so many times and no one ever replys. The phones just ring. The staff in Pietermaritzburg and Durban are unfriendly and very reluctant to help. We are paying our fees so we expect better service! I am still waiting for degree confirmation!

UNISA has just wasted my time. Please don't ever study there. From failed delivery to no response, UNISA really treats their students like the 'gum under their shoe', no care whats so ever. Unisa will keep you waiting months after you have finished your degree. I have emailed countless of times regarding my query but i get no response. To all prospective students please dont waste your time. You might as well study part time with ukzn or other universities you will never have any issues. Choosing UNISA is the worse mistake i have ever made.

Good day

I am very disappointed, not by application outcomes but by late response. I have been trying to inquire about this application since mid december 2017. The worse part is that you send me an email in november 2017 that I will receive my application feedback back in december 2017. Unisa open another chance for students to re apply and I did not apply because I have not receive any response regarding my application for 4 consecutive months.

Imagine its mid february now and all universities are full, what can I do?.

I am a final year student studying PGCE at UNISA. I have achieved an A aggregate throughout the year however I am currently still awaiting confirmation of qualification complete. As off December 2017 UNISA has advised that an auditing process will take 6 weeks. We are currently in the middle of February which is 8 weeks since date of release of results (15 December 2017).

I have emailed the university on various occasions and have only received an acknowledgement which was sent way out of any companies turn around time. Since i have never received any response using my student email i had used my person email to liase with the university. To date i have not received any sort of response with this regard from the university. I was offered a permanent job at a school which i had to forfeit as the university did not respond to my emails regarding when i will receive confirmation of qualification complete so i could inform the school. I had explained to the university on various accounts that i have a job opportunity pending confirmation that i am actually qualified. Since i have not received any confirmation i have lost out on a job.

It is approximately 2 months now with out a job which means that due to UNISAs delay i have lost out on 2 months of salary, 2 months of pension, 2 months of medical aid etc. And for how long? Many unemployed South understand how difficult it is to find a job and how long the process takes and UNISA is just delaying the process even longer. It is utterly uncalled for.

UNISA has been very unsympathetic to students. First there was a delay with study material, then students in Durban had to sacrifice their lives to make it to the exam venues during the heavy rains and, to which UNISA was very unsympathetic about and made students pay an additional amount to write that paper due to the bad weather, to shutting down the UNISA offices in Durban without any prior notification about a workshop that UNISA staff had to attend which wasted students money to get to the university and go back home and told to come in the next day as they could not be helped only to experience the very same thing the next day, now this, inhibiting its students from getting a job.

I would like to know if anybody else has received such appalling service from the university. I think these issues need to be made known so that it can be rectified. Rather than year after year students receiving no assistance and poor service. Students are paying for their education. It is not for free. As soon as we students are a day late with our payment, UNISA suspends our modules, i feel as if the same procedures should apply, students should get reimbursed for the poor service provided as it is the only thing that the university is providing

I supposed to register 9 modules for the year 2018 and 2 of those are semester modules. Instead, the system registered only 6 modules leaving out 3, the worst thing is that the qualification will be phased from 2019 and UNISA should be making sure that the students are not hindered to complete the qualification as early as possible. I contacted several relevant departments but no response till now.

I beg whoever will read this message to help me because this is my future we are talking about. I even sent several images to the manager of Economic and Management Sciences Ms. Jackie but she does not bother herself to answer me.

My student number is [protected] and I am doing National Diploma in Safety Management.

Very disappointed,
Mr. Vusikhaya Mabena
[protected]