The answer is no. You cannot study at UNISA if you are not eligible for admission. However, you should know that just having a national advanced qualification is not enough. It simply sets you up for a great opportunity at the coveted university because it is possible to miss out even if you have good grades.
Despite the fact that UNISA is a great institution of higher education, you will not be lost if you end up missing out because you do not have matriculation. Remember, you do not have to start with a degree at UNISA, because there are other paths that you can take. Aside from looking at alternative leaerning institutions that allow you to study without matric, you can also start at lower education levels and work your way up.
Can you rewrite your matric at UNISA?
Unfortunately, you cannot do that at the moment but there are plenty of options for improving it. An adult can consider Adult Basic Education Training (ABET), which is for anyone with an education level below Grade 9.
Can you study without a matric certificate?
Yes, there are some schools in our beloved nation that allow it. However, there may be those of us that have a strong desire to study at UNISA and may not have the certificate. If that is the case, you can simply upgrade your matric and improve your chances.