To check your CAO status in South Africa, you can:

• Go to the the following link: https://cao.ac.za/MyApplicationLogin.aspx?
• Enter your CAO number, ID number, or passport number.
• Click on “Submit”.

You will be able to see the status of your application, including whether it has been received, processed, or sent to institutions. You can also see which institutions have received your application and their response status.

How to view my CAO Status Check Online?

You can check your CAO application status online via the CAO student Portal.

1. First, access the CAO Portal at the following link: https://cao.ac.za/MyApplicationLogin.aspx?
2. Select and enter one of the following identification numbers:
   – CAO Number
   – ID Number
   – Passport Number
3. Then click the Submit button

You will now be presented with your CAO application status.

What do the different statuses mean?

The CAO uses specific terms to indicate what progress the institution has made in considering your application process. Please see the below list of admission application status updates:

Waiting for a Decision: The institution / school has not yet considered your application (This is the default status for on time applications).

Late Application: This is a default status as your application was received after the closing date for the programme. Each institution deals with late applications in different ways. Refer to the institutions’ prospectus for further information.

Awaiting Results: The institution is waiting for further results (e.g. June, Trial or Final NSC results) before making a decision on your application.

Conditional Offer: The institution will accept you provided that you meet the requirements. Where space is limited, these may be higher than the minimum requirements for the programme published in this Handbook. Some programmes may conduct assessment tests at registration. This may be withdrawn if you do not indicate that you want to accept the place or if your final results are not as good as your earlier results.

Firm Offer: You are offered a place by the institution / university. This may be withdrawn if you do not indicate that you want to accept the place or if your final results are not as good as your earlier results.

Has Not Met Programme Ranking Criteria: You do not meet the institution’s specific criteria. Refer to the institutions’ prospectus for further information. You may complete a Change of Mind Request Form on which you can change the programme ranking.

Interview/Audition/Portfolio: The programme has _ special selection procedures. Institutions should contact you with details of the date, time and venue. You may need to follow up with the institution directly.

Please Supply Academic Record: The institution requires a copy of your academic record from your current or previous study at tertiary level.

Please Supply USAf/SAQA Evaluation: The institution requires a Universities South Africa (USAf)/SAQA evaluation of the foreign exam results you may have written.

Programme Closed: No further applications will be considered.

Refer for Decision: The application has to be assessed before the ‘status can be changed.

Regret Programme Discontinued: The institution has decided that they will no longer be offering a programme that was initially listed in this Handbook. In some cases, institutions may advise on an alternative programme that you can apply for. Complete a Change of Mind Request Form at no cost to yourself.

Regret Unsuccessful: The institution has decided not to offer you a place for whatever reason according to their selection processes.

Short-listed, Standby and Wait-listed: The institution is considering your application but has not yet decided whether they will be able to offer you a place.

Unsuccessful Following Placement Test/Interview: The institution has decided not to offer you a place following the entrance test you wrote or the interview you attended. There are also a number of messages the institution can use to tell you that they are unable to offer you a place.