How to Check How Much You Owe Unisa

By Klenam JU •  Updated: 01/23/24 •  7 min read

Checking how much you owe (UNISA) The University of South Africa is not a task that one can delight in. As humans, the energy or drive that may be needed and how much we owe can suddenly decline. No one loves to owe, and no one loves to check his or her debt. But when the need arises, it becomes necessary to know. 

The University of South Africa, after careful consideration, realised that a payment plan structure can support a lot of students. It is inevitable in South Africa that many individuals looking to go into tertiary may not have the means to do so. Once it happens, it becomes a hindrance to their educational progress. And when such cases come, it is the school that faces low attendance and low admission.

Throughout all this hardship, NSFAS came to save the lives of many students and applicants. But what happens if you do not qualify for NSFAS or you can not receive a grant from NSFAS? This means you have to find a way to pay. As such, many people resort to a payment plan or paying fees in trenches. 

Indeed, UNISA allows that; however, there are so many administrative costs that could be paid once but considering the two semesters, it is always important to check ahead what you owe.

You may not like the idea of owing UNISA, but this information will guide how to check your outstanding balance with UNISA, its consequences and how to pay the balance. 

How do I check my Unisa outstanding balance?

It is important to check your outstanding balance at UNISA (University of South Africa) for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it ensures that your tuition fees are kept up to date, which helps to prevent any registration issues and ensures that you have access to all the necessary study materials. Additionally, it assists in preventing the imposition of late payment penalties, which can place a burden on your financial situation. Additionally, it ensures that students are eligible to take exams and graduate. Regularly checking your balance can help you as a student to effectively manage your budget and also enable you to seek financial assistance if necessary. It is crucial not to overlook this important task as it can result in academic setbacks and financial stress. It highlights the significance of keeping yourself updated on your outstanding balance at UNISA.

Follow these simple steps to check your outstanding balance with UNISA.

In the case where you are not able login into your account, you can simply email UNISA at finan@unisa.ac.za to request the outstanding balance on your account. 

This will be shared with you via your UNISA email address for your perusal.

What happens when you owe Unisa?

Owing UNISA as a student will not be the first and the last, but the problem arises when the deadlines are not met. Or in the case where payments are due but you still owe UNISA. 

Inevitably, debt can not be erased from our world. There are so many students who have financial issues, and in the end, they tend to owe UNISA a huge amount.

It is part of the reason why, through the government of South Africa, NSFAS has become a lifesaver. Having a bursary does not guarantee you won’t owe UNISA. However, working on your bursary application on time to receive the necessary funds can help you in this situation. 

However, there are cases where some students may not qualify for UNISA. There are also issues where UNISA may not cover certain bills, and it becomes your responsibility to take care of that cost.

Studying at the University of South Africa does not come cheaply. When you look from the application stage to the graduation stage, there is so many cost involved. And certainly, if you do not have the financial capacity, you may have to settle some debts later. 

There are over 1,000 students who owe UNISA every academic year.  And these numbers keep increasing every year. 

Ultimately, owing UNISA is not a death sentence but the consequences that may arise from owing UNISA can cost you a lot. 

In all these, it is important to understand the obligation of the institution and you as a student. 

Unisa has the right to refuse services to students who have an outstanding debt that is past due and has not been paid. Students will not be permitted to re-register with the university unless they have fully paid off any outstanding debt from previous registration periods. If students have outstanding balances on their accounts that have been overdue for a long time, it is possible that their accounts may be transferred to a third-party agency for collection purposes. The student will be responsible for any collection or legal costs that may occur as a result of the account being handed over. If you have any overdue accounts that have been handed over for collection, please make sure to contact the collection company directly to discuss payment or any necessary arrangements.

Once the outstanding account is sent to collections, the student will be responsible for covering any legal expenses incurred during the recovery process.

Additionally, students who have outstanding debts with UNISA may encounter difficulties in registering for their modules and progressing towards module completion.  If you fail to pay off your remaining debt, it can become quite challenging to re-register with UNISA. 

How do I pay my Unisa debt?

Paying your debt on time can save you a lot of issues. If you are looking to pay your debt with UNISA, you can easily log into your myUnisa account to reach the financial details. This reveals how much you owe. Also, you can send an email requesting to know the various debt components on your account. 

Once you see your debt, you can prepare to make payments at the bank or use any of the appropriate payment details indicated by UNISA. Payments of debts can be made through Electronic fund transfers, bank deposits, UNISA web credit card payments or even bursaries like NSFAS. 

Can I graduate with outstanding fees at Unisa?

UNISA works with the systems, and it is automatically detected as a partial completion if you still owe fees at UNISA. It is impossible to graduate if you have outstanding fees with UNISA. Additionally, students who are looking to graduate may not even receive a notification of the completion.

What happens if you are financially suspended at Unisa?

When you are financially suspended at UNISA, it means your exam results are withheld for the time being.

Also, any existing supplementary exams will not be granted to you. In this case, you will not have your supplementary exams rescheduled for you. Once this happens, you are on the road to failing the module or forfeiting it. 

Being financially suspended at UNISA can halt your academic work and whole examination. 

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