University admission requirements are your matric pass type plus your APS.
Your APS (Admission Point Score) is the total of your six best NSC subjects, scored 1 to 7 by percentage, with Life Orientation left out. Each programme then asks for a minimum APS, a pass type (Higher Certificate, Diploma or Bachelor), and sometimes specific subjects or the NBT. Here is exactly how it all works.
Requirements differ by programme and change each year. The bands and pass rules below are the national NSC standard. Always confirm the exact APS, subjects and tests for your programme on the official institution site before you rely on them.
Your APS is a single number that universities use to decide if you meet the academic bar for a programme. You take your six best NSC subjects, leave out Life Orientation, turn each subject percentage into points using the band below, then add the six point values together. Most universities score out of 42.
Points per percentage band
Each subject earns points by the percentage you scored. The seven achievement levels are the national NSC standard set by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and quality-assured by Umalusi; qualifications are registered on the NQF by SAQA, and each university then sets its own minimum APS per programme.
The NSC achievement scale: each of your best six subjects converts to 1 to 7 APS points by percentage band, from 0 to 29 percent (1 point) up to 80 percent or more (7 points).
APS points per NSC percentage band (each of your best six subjects)
NSC percentage
Achievement level
APS points
80 - 100%
Level 7
7
70 - 79%
Level 6
6
60 - 69%
Level 5
5
50 - 59%
Level 4
4
40 - 49%
Level 3
3
30 - 39%
Level 2
2
0 - 29%
Level 1
1
Worked example: 82% (7) + 74% (6) + 68% (5) + 61% (5) + 55% (4) + 48% (3) gives an APS of 30. That is enough for many degrees, but competitive programmes like engineering or health sciences often want 35 or more, plus specific subjects.
Bachelor vs Diploma vs Higher Certificate pass
Your APS gets you into the running, but your NSC pass type (the endorsement on your certificate) decides which level of qualification you can register for at all. There are three.
Leads to NQF level 7
Bachelor pass
Also called a matric exemption. You need at least 40% in your Home Language, plus 50% or more in four other subjects chosen from the designated subject list (excluding Life Orientation), and at least 30% in two more. A Bachelor pass is the minimum to register for a degree at a university.
Leads to NQF level 6
Diploma pass
You need at least 40% in your Home Language, 40% or more in three other subjects, and 30% or more in two more. A Diploma pass lets you register for a diploma at a university or university of technology, but not a degree.
Leads to NQF level 5
Higher Certificate pass
You need at least 40% in your Home Language and 40% or more in two other subjects, with the remaining minimums met. A Higher Certificate pass is the entry level qualification and is often a bridge into a diploma or degree once you complete it.
Subject requirements and the designated subject list
A good APS is not always enough on its own. Most programmes also set subject minimums, for example 50% or more in Mathematics for engineering, or 60% in Physical Sciences for some health degrees. Check these per programme, because a strong overall APS will not get you in if you missed a required subject.
A Bachelor pass is built around the designated subject list: a defined set of recognised NSC subjects (languages, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy is treated separately, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Accounting, Geography, History and others). To qualify for a degree you need 50% or more in four subjects drawn from this list. Subjects outside it, and Life Orientation, do not count toward that four.
Rule of thumb: APS gets you the volume of points, the pass type sets the qualification level, and subject minimums are the gatekeepers for specific fields. You need all three.
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The NBT (National Benchmark Test)
The NBT is a separate test of your academic readiness, written outside of matric. It has three domains: Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy, and Mathematics. Universities use the result alongside or instead of your APS to decide on admission and on whether you need extra support.
Several institutions require or recommend the NBT for some programmes, including UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch and UP, among others. You book and write it yourself, so do this early. If your chosen programme needs the NBT and you have not written it, your application can stall, no matter how strong your APS is.
Check whether your programme needs the NBT as soon as you shortlist it. The test has its own dates and a fee, and slots fill up during the application season.
Institutions that score differently
Not every university uses a plain APS. Some run their own admission formula, so the number you need is not directly comparable to a standard APS. We flag these so you apply against the right score.
University of Cape Town (UCT)Uses a Faculty Points Score (FPS) built from your best results in specific subjects, not a standard APS. Some faculties also weight the NBT.
Wits (University of the Witwatersrand)Uses its own composite admission score that combines your matric results (and the NBT for some programmes) rather than a plain APS total.
Rhodes UniversityCalculates its own points score for admission, so the number you need can differ from a standard APS.
Stellenbosch, UP and othersUse an APS-style score but require the NBT for many programmes, and may set extra subject minimums per faculty.
NQF levels, briefly
The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) ranks every South African qualification by level. For school leavers, the three you will see most are:
NQF level 5 - Higher Certificate.
NQF level 6 - Diploma.
NQF level 7 - Bachelor degree.
So when a programme is described as NQF level 7, it is a full degree. Your NSC pass type maps directly to the highest NQF level you can enter: a Bachelor pass for level 7, a Diploma pass for level 6, a Higher Certificate pass for level 5.
Admission requirements questions
APS stands for Admission Point Score. You take your six best NSC subjects (Life Orientation does not count), convert each subject percentage into points using a 1 to 7 band, then add those six points together. For example 80% or more earns 7 points, 70 to 79% earns 6, and 50 to 59% earns 4. The total, usually out of 42, is your APS.
It depends on the programme. As a rough guide, a Higher Certificate often needs around 15 to 18, a diploma around 18 to 24, and degrees commonly start around 24 to 30. Competitive programmes like medicine, actuarial science or engineering can need 35 or more. Always check the exact APS on the official programme page, because it changes by institution and by year.
A Bachelor pass (the modern name for matric exemption) is the minimum NSC result that lets you register for a degree. You need at least 50% in four subjects from the designated subject list, plus the language and other minimums. A Diploma or Higher Certificate pass is not enough for a degree on its own.
A degree (Bachelor pass) requires 50% or more in four designated subjects and leads to a Bachelor qualification at NQF level 7. A diploma pass needs 40% or more in three subjects and leads to a diploma at NQF level 6. The degree pass is the higher bar and opens more programmes.
The NBT (National Benchmark Test) measures your academic readiness in Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy and Mathematics. Several universities including UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch and UP require or recommend it for some programmes, used alongside or instead of your APS. You book and write it separately from matric, so check early whether your chosen programme needs it.
NQF stands for National Qualifications Framework, which ranks every South African qualification by level. A Higher Certificate sits at NQF level 5, a diploma at level 6, and a Bachelor degree at level 7. When a programme says NQF level 7, it means a full degree qualification.
No. Most universities use an APS or an APS-style score, but some do their own thing. UCT uses a Faculty Points Score (FPS), Wits uses a composite admission score, and Rhodes calculates its own points. Several also require the NBT. We flag the institutions that score differently so you do not apply against the wrong number.
You still have routes. Look at a Higher Certificate or a bridging programme to build up to a diploma or degree, consider a different institution with a lower APS for the same field, or improve your marks and reapply. Many universities also offer extended (foundation) programmes for students who are just short.
No. Life Orientation is excluded from the APS calculation at almost every university. Your APS comes from your six best other NSC subjects. A few institutions may count a fraction of it in specific cases, but as a rule you should leave Life Orientation out when working out your score.
Work out where you stand
Enter your marks to get your APS in seconds, then see which of the 2,120 programmes nationally you may qualify for. When you are ready, follow the step by step application guide.
AskSmarty is an independent national guide - not affiliated with any university, college, or the CAO. This page explains how admission requirements work in general; the exact APS, pass type, subject minimums and tests for your programme are set by each institution and can change each year. Always confirm the current requirements on the official institution site before you rely on them. We never take payment.