Page 11 - CAO Handbook 2023 Entry

2. You are encouraged to apply online at www.cao.ac.za as your application is immediately available to the institution/s to which you have applied on receipt of your application and administration fee. You can apply and pay the administration fee online.
2.1 If you apply online or via the mobile app and then pay via EasyPay, your application is available to the institution/s as soon as we receive your administration fee payment, which is generally the day following your payment.
2.2 If you apply by submitting a hard copy application form and you pay the administration fee, your application takes at least two weeks after we receive your application form and payment before it is available to the institution/s to which you have applied. We have no control over how long the Post Office takes to deliver your completed application form to us.
3. Complete and submit your application to us as soon as possible. Preferably online using our website (www.cao.ac.za).
4. We process applications for our member institutions from 1 March for the following year's January (First Semester) intake. We process applications for member universities that have a Second Semester intake from August for the following year’s July (Second Semester) intake.
5. Should you wish to study at a TVET College, please contact the TVET college directly.
6. All supporting documents must be uploaded on our website (www.cao.ac.za). Documents uploaded onto our website are immediately available to the institutions with which you have a valid application. No hard copies of documents are accepted.
6.1. Ensure that documents are clear and legible. Illegible documents could delay or jeopardise the selection process at institutions.
7. Institutions have informed us that the earlier in the year you apply, the earlier you are considered for a place.
1.4. IMPORTANT NOTICE AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS
8. Make sure that the ID number and Full Name and Surname you use when you apply through the CAO are exactly the same as the one you use when you register for your Final Grade 12 Examination with the Department of Basic Education (DBE). If it differs, we will not be able to download your final examination results from the DBE database and match them to your application information at the institution to which you have applied.
9. An application is considered to be valid only once the full application (online or mobile app or hard copy), including the programme choices, signed Declaration and Informed Consent as well as the full administration fee has been received by the CAO. Only then will it be processed and made available to institutions.
10. The official Received Date for the application will be the date on which the completed/valid application – with programme choices, full payment, declaration and informed consent have been received. Applicant and application information will be available to institutions only once these terms and conditions have been met.
11. Administration and Change of Mind (COM) fees are not refundable.
12. Please provide the correct email and cell phone number as all messages are sent to you via SMS and/or email while all letters are sent to you via email.
13. Without a valid cell phone number, you will not receive any messages from the CAO or institutions to which you have applied. Without a valid email address, you may miss requests or offers made by the institution/s to which you applied.
14. The cell phone and email details we use are those on your original application or that you have conveyed to us via email AFTER you have applied and have changed either or both of them. See Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002 on www.gov.za regarding emailed documents.
CAO HANDBOOK ENTRY 2023 7