University of South Africa [UNISA]
reviews and complaints

I received my final examination timetable on 21 December 2021. I noticed that the time allocated for the completion of the examinations were reduced to 4 hours and the final dates were also amended.

This email might stem from my personal circumstances but wish to place on record that there are many students who share my sentiments, which will be discussed below.

I am of the opinion that the University should act within the best interest of the students and also not deviate from a notion set by them during the previous examination period (which is to provide the students with a minimum of 24 - hrs to complete an examination). I confirm that since the COVID -19 outbreak the University afforded all Masters students a minimum of 24 - hours to complete their examinations and the examination timetable was provided to them in advance.

However, this year it seems to be different; as the University released the final examination timetable on 21 December 2021 for the examination which is scheduled to commence on 17 January 2022. In this regard I take cognizance in the fact that this is a throughout study and students should at all times be prepared, but how can we be adequately prepared if;-

We are full time employed and have obligations towards our employers whose salaries enables us to pursue our studies?
We have no guidance from the University regarding a timeframe we can use to enable us to apply our time management skills?
We are being provided with an examination timetable for year modules less than 30 calendar days prior to the commencement of the examinations?
In light of the above I am of the opinion that the University is treating the students unfairly and also unduly prejudicing the students, for reasons unknown to all students. A further point that I wish to address is the fact that the University's actions by not forewarning the students in advance might result in monetary losses suffered by students, should they not be successful in their examinations. This is a crucial aspect, as most of the students do not have additional funds in a savings account waiting to be utilized for an unknown event.

Thus, I am requesting the University to address the changes in the examination timetable, as well as the time allocated for the completion of the examinations.

Greetings

I started by unisa in 2017 as an LLB student.
We require 40 subjects 480 credits to obtain the degree.
I aquired that this year under the ECP early completion program.

Now at the end of the year they claim i cant get my degree because i have CIV 3701 civil procedure and a 4th year elective outstanding (passed civil procedure under the old curriculum in 2017 already and the elective this year)

I have emailed them in january asking if i need the 4 last subject only or if i need more, no reponse received.I again after the ecp program under impression that i am now done emailed to ask if everything is in order (before october exam period in which i could have done the subjects had they communicated with me)

It was unisas mistake in placing me into the ECP program in the first place .To get into the program the rule is that u must have less than 5 subjects less and they decide if you qualify after lookingat your records personally.The allowed me in . This was their mistake. Now suddenly the same record they viewed back then which showed i need 4 subjects only is viewed and says i have 2 outstanding. It is the same record being viewed why did unisa not inform me back then that i have actually 6 subjects in total left.

another issue is nelspruit branch told me about the CIV 3701 being outstanding but i had to hear from a person in a whole different branch that a 4th year elective is also outstanding...and in the meantime another person reffered to only CIV 3701, ...so is it now 1 or 2. it seems even the people working by unisa with my record in front of them cannot decide what is actually needed. How can they all differ in this matter if they view the same record...the same one viewed for ECP when they were supposed to inform me of these subjects.

I in the meantime under the false impression created by them found work by a law firm and signed a contract as a clerk by them which i will now lose because of unisas mistake, im going to spend more money and months of time aswell.

I should not be punished for UNISA staff not doing their work when they were supposed to. It is their mistake and they should accommadate me in this situation, it is only fair.

I am willing to do the subjects outstanding, all i am asking from unisa because it was an error on their part is that they let me do the subjects now or as soon as possible so that i can still graduate and keep my work.

Please assist . this is a very unfair situation . My future is now messed up because UNISA staff did not do what they should have .
I wanted to study further by unisa but will not do so or suggest it to anyone if we as students are treated like this.

Kind regards .
Chanelle Strydom
Student no. [protected]
Email [protected]@unisa.ac.za
Phone no: [protected]

I received 10 gig data as opposed to 10+ 20 in September. I queried this on the 09/09/2021 & I never received a response. I gave up, then for October I did not receive any data. I reported this and no one bothered to explain why. Now in November people have received data & I have not, still no explanation. I would like to believe that the institution has paid for this data & expects that every eligible student receives it, who is then accountable when this does not happen? I am unemployed and really desperate for this service but it seems as if the status quo is here to stay. The number provided for us to call does not work, you may try it if you don't believe me.
Dumisani Mgqoboka
[protected]
[protected]

Unisa has introduced the ecp (early completion programme) earlier this year 2021 for all students who were left with 5 modules or less to complete their studies. I have participated in that programme as i was left with only 4 modules to complete my bcom . Results was released end august 2021 and beginnng september 2021 communication was sent out that they are busy with final audit and all students who part take in ecp (wrote exams june/ july 2021) should get the completion confirmation latest 31 october 2021 and those that havent received any communication can email the [protected]@unisa.Ac.Za however that email is not responded . I have been checking my mylife emails and nothing has been communicated . Today is the 03 november 2021 and no communication or whatsover if what is happening. This is so frustrating as all i want is my degree and leave unisa alone . I have called in yesterday through 0800 number and the consultant i spoke to told me that the last time they worked on my profile was on 27 september 2021. This is so dissapointing to work do hard and struggle to get your qualification . Why is unisa comminicating wrong information to us and not responding to our frustration when were are asking questions?

Student number [protected] Jolene Visser

I have tried to contact Unisa in order for them to send my transcripts to WES for review in order to work in Canada. I have completed the form and attached my documents. They have received this but ignored the requests totally and lately blocking my emails.

Just hoping to get assistance with this urgently.

Kind regards
Jolene

I registed with UNISA in 2019 and paid the full amount that was due to them but some of my registered modules were not appearing. I sent multiple emails to UNISA but only received a response 2 years later, very unprofessional. There is an amount of R1161. 00 that has been due to me for 2 years now and I have sent all the relevant documents but have not received any response. I need my money back. Due to your incompetency I could not complete all my registered modules.

On the 24 of March I went to the unisa newcastle branch but I was turned away by the regional coordinator. This was after I had booked a space at the branch. This is further after the notice to assist students with critical registration was placed at the door. Her reasons for not assisting me where not clear. As a result I lost a month and a half worth my study time.

Student number [protected], cellphone number [protected] when im logging to mylife email it says my id doesn't exist, i failed a module because of the mylife email address, and im repeating this module and i still have the same problem and i have tried going to unisa campus with no luck cause of covid 19 .i was called by the help desk last year but they did not sort my email problem which im still facing

I have send numerous emails to the university with no response from last year (2020) April. So since it was lockdown I couldn't go to the campus becausethey don't allow walk ins .
So last year January (2020) I missed my exams due to illness. I then applied for agrotat examination via myunisa page but I didn't receive any feedback whatsoever. I kept checking if they have added my examination date on my timetable because I can't access mylife account with no luck. My results came out with an absent next to my psmp015 mark. So please assist me and look into this matter. I need to know what's the way forward. I need to register but I can't because of incomplete results. And time is ticking.
I have also attached a copy of my doctor's letter.

Kind regards
L.D Mokgesi

From the year 2019 until last year I was on the unisa M&D bursary, the first year I applied for the bursary in 2019 everything went smoothly and my fees were paid in time. But last year I had applied for the bursary before the closing date, however my bursary was only paid in late October and the contract for the bursary was sent to me in early October. In early November I made a claim for language and technical editing but I have not received any response. I sent over 10 emails to dsf postgrad without any response or success. All I got was acknowledgement emails with reference numbers. I am frustrated because I have submitted my dissertation for technical and language editing and don't have the funds to pay. This is disappointing and frustrating.

I finished my exam 2020 and did apply for admission 2021 unisa didn't update the exam marks on the admission and for that I can't start my new studies. I past all my exams and are done with my studies. I tried to send emails no respond try calling the numbers don't work. My studies are on hold because unisa don't do their work that they getting paid for unisa don't care at all.

My student number is [protected]
In this module I erroneously wrote the wrong assignment for assignment 1 semester 2 I was awarded as 0 which I believe I deserved, In assignment 2 I got a 75% which was divided by two to give me a semester mark of 35%.

I fully committed my self to the exam and my exam mark came out as a 0. I really do not believe that I got a Zero and I cannot remark since the grade is below a remark grade. Please can somebody help check my script.
Kind regards

I have registered with Unisa at the beginning of the year. I have a bursary paying for my studies.
Beginning of March I tried to get my statement of account and was informed that I can get it using mylife. I then tried to access mylife to no success. I then went to Unisa in Parow to get the statement and to activate mylife.

An official at the computer Centre helped me he was struggling. He said that he would send an email and someone will contact me and to assist with my life.

Lock down was announced and I was not contacted by the constitution. Luckily, I did not need to submit study leaves as I was writing from home.

I again need statement of account as well as to activate my life however no one is helping.

I have sent emails to more than 5 officials but there is no response. I even went to Parow centre but is still closed.

I urgently need your assistance for the purpose of mylife for information needed by mu bursary as well as statement of results and statement of account.

I have proof of emails sent to the institution since March 2020

I was very unhappy to go write my exams at Randburg due to the Unisa strike that takes place every year whereas I choose Florida as the exam venue during registration. This is such an inconvenience to us. This is not acceptable at all as it had a huge impact on me during the exams. Exam time on its own is stressful, and changing the exam venue on the last days adds more stress.

It would be grateful if there can be an option of first preference and second preference on exam venues. It would then be easier for me to go to the second nearest exam venue if something comes up on the first chosen venue, not the University making decisions for us. Randburg is too far for me even if it falls under Roodepoort. Ormonde is the second convenient option for me than Randburg.

Its been a month being sent back and forth over my exam results for module PBA4802. Results for this module were released except mine. I have settled all outstanding fees however my exam results still don't reflect on the system. Im stuck, i can't plan my future because my qualification is incomplete because of the pending exam results. Unisa (School of Business Leadership) has messed up my life.

I am a first student at Unisa. Paid my outstanding fees in May 2020 when my exam started. Proof of payments were also sent but nobody is responding, I phone all the numbers provided on the website with no lunch. I cannot view my results and start my second semester because of this and I sent proof of payment more thAn 5 times

I have applied for student academic record one month ago and no reply or support from UNISA, I have tried to call no one answers the phone, and my due date to submit the document is nearing and my future studies depends on this document.

Online portal, the function for downloading or email is temporarily suspended. This is a serious case.

Very frustrated

Since the opening of the second semester registrations 9 June 2020, I have not been able to register for my modules for 2nd semester. Everytime I click on add modules, a page pops up, telling me my courier address is duplicated. I have tried over 10 different addresses, ranging from Pretoria to Johannesburg, it does not allow any address and continues with the same error "courier address duplicate". I have send emails to Unisa, complained on Facebook and send emails to professors. This problem has not been solved after a month and I can not register for my second semester. I have already paid my deposit, so I do not even owe Unisa any money at the moment.

I am a invigilator in Namibia.
In Nov the financial department told me that they did not receive my claim forms.
Since Nov it is a battle with emails.
Mr Mogoshoa gave me his personal telephone number. He told me that the claims were processed. And there it stopped.
I am really disappointed in the way your are handling this matter.
D Beukes

I am a final year BEd student and have only 4 modules left to complete my degree.

In January this year I registered and paid for these modules, one of them being a practical module.

To date I have not received all of my study materials. In particular, I am missing the very necessary Practical Booklet, containing assignment 50.

I am emigrating soon and it is essential that I complete my studies.

I have emailed both the Despatch department and the Teaching Prac department and have received nothing but automated responses.

I then emailed everyone including the lecturer and was brushed off.

What do you suggest I do?

I've paid more than R60 000 to Unisa and am very upset at the treatment I am receiving.