Student Support

Distance learning requires that you study in your own time and in your own space, but that doesn’t mean you’re on your own. Unisa provides various facilities and services to cater for its diverse student population. Our lecturers, e-tutors, counsellors and the Unisa Library all play a part in making your qualification a reality, as do the various service providers you’ll encounter along the way.

Connect online

• myUnisa is Unisa’s online student portal and is your most important study tool. It’s your lifeline – the primary link to your university. It’s how you communicate with Unisa and how Unisa communicates with you. Don’t forget to also claim your free myLife e-mail account, which Unisa will use to send you important information, notices and updates.
• Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube are great channels through which to share ideas, find other students, ask questions and generally stay informed.
• Unisa Radio keeps you updated and informed on a whole range of Unisa-related topics.

Access Unisa Radio via radio.unisa.ac.za.

• Study groups: Being isolated and removed from your lecturers and fellow students is often one of the major challenges of distance education. You can overcome this by joining and forming study groups with fellow students.
• Tutorial classes allow students to interact, collaborate and learn from one another.

Check with your closest regional centre to see if tutorials are offered in your modules.

• Work-Integrated Learning: Unisa recognises the value of practical experience in the academic learning process. Our work-integrated (WIL modules) (in certain curriculums) requires that students work in their chosen fields, on site, in a real work environment. Your Tutorial Letters 101 for WIL modules contain all the relevant details.

Connect with your lecturer and e-tutor

Most of Unisa’s tutors – the experts we employ to help you – are now e-tutors, communicating exclusively via myUnisa. They’re there to guide you, give you advice, explain difficult concepts and generally enrich your Unisa experience. You may, of course, also contact the lecturers responsible for your modules.

Academic Literacies Services

Our Academic Literacies Services focus on supporting Unisa students from undergraduate level to doctoral level in any discipline who aim to develop the following literacy abilities for academic success:

• information literacy
• reading
• writing
• learning literacy
• quantitative literacy (academic numeracy)

Every Unisa learning centre has a face-to-face Academic Literacies Centre, with a reading and writing, research writing and quantitative literacy service.

Counselling services

Unisa’s counselling services provide career, academic and personal support to students. Support is available online and by e-mail, in person, by telephone and by letter. Visit our website at www.unisa.ac.za/counselling for more.

Student funding

Unisa’s Student Funding Division (DSF) offers services to assist you in obtaining funding to cover the cost of your studies. Bursaries and loans are available to academically deserving and financially needy students to relieve the stress of worrying about paying for your studies. Visit www.unisa.ac.za/studentfunding for more information.