To study nursing in South Africa you need a National Senior Certificate that meets the entry level of the programme you are applying for, the subjects that programme requires, and a points score that satisfies the institution. You must also apply to a nursing school whose programme is accredited by the South African Nursing Council.
Accreditation is the part people most often miss. A nursing qualification only leads to registration as a practising nurse if the programme is accredited by the South African Nursing Council, so confirm accreditation before you accept an offer or pay a deposit.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Nursing applications are assessed on four things at once, and falling short on any one of them is enough to be excluded.
- The entry level of your National Senior Certificate, which differs between a degree and a diploma route
- The subjects you took and the level you achieved in them
- The points or APS score the institution calculates from your results
- Programme-specific selection, which for nursing often includes health screening and a criminal record check
- Whether the programme is accredited by the South African Nursing Council
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The academic entry level depends on the route. A degree in nursing requires the National Senior Certificate pass level that permits degree study, while a diploma or higher certificate route has a lower entry level, and some institutions offer bridging or enrolled nursing routes for applicants who do not yet meet degree entry.
Institutions publish their own minimum on top of the national pass level, and for nursing that minimum is frequently higher than the national floor because places are heavily oversubscribed. Treat the published minimum as the point at which you may be considered, not the point at which you are likely to be admitted.
If you do not meet the entry level for the route you want, ask the institution about its enrolled nursing, auxiliary nursing or bridging options. These are recognised routes that can articulate into a degree later, and they are frequently a faster path into the profession than repeating matric.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Nursing programmes are built on a science base, so the subject requirements are usually the deciding factor. Institutions generally look for a mathematics subject, a life sciences subject and a language of instruction, with physical sciences required or preferred on some degree routes.
The level required in each subject varies between institutions and between the degree and diploma routes, and whether Mathematical Literacy is accepted in place of Mathematics is one of the most common points of difference. Do not assume it is accepted; check it explicitly for each programme you apply to.
Points calculations also differ. Some institutions exclude Life Orientation, some weight the required subjects more heavily, and some use their own scale rather than a standard APS. Calculate your score separately against each institution’s published method rather than relying on a single figure.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications normally require your identity document, your matric certificate or latest statement of results, and proof of the application fee where one is charged. Nursing adds requirements that most other programmes do not.
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Your National Senior Certificate or most recent statement of results
- Proof of application payment, where the institution charges one
- A medical or health screening report, commonly required before placement
- A police clearance certificate, because students are placed in clinical settings
- Proof of immunisation, which some clinical placements require
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Nursing is among the most oversubscribed fields of study in the country, so selection matters more than the minimum. Institutions typically rank applicants on academic performance and then apply their own selection process, which can include an interview, a written assessment or a psychometric test.
Clinical placement capacity is the real constraint. A nursing school can only admit as many students as it can place in accredited clinical facilities, which is why intakes are small relative to demand and why some institutions run a single intake each year with an early closing date.
Apply early, apply to more than one institution, and check the closing date for the specific intake rather than assuming it matches other programmes. Late applications for nursing are rarely accommodated because the placement planning is done well in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I study nursing with Mathematical Literacy?
It depends entirely on the institution and the route. Some diploma and enrolled nursing routes accept it while degree routes commonly require Mathematics. Check the specific programme before applying rather than assuming.
Does meeting the minimum mean I will be accepted?
No. Nursing places are limited by clinical placement capacity, so institutions routinely admit well above their published minimum and apply additional selection.
Why does accreditation matter so much?
Only a programme accredited by the South African Nursing Council leads to registration as a nurse. An unaccredited qualification will not allow you to practise, so confirm accreditation before paying anything.
What if I do not get in this year?
Ask about enrolled or auxiliary nursing routes, which are recognised entry points that can articulate into a degree later, and about improving your results in the specific subjects the programme weights.
Confirm the entry level, subject requirements and closing dates with the nursing school you are applying to, and confirm programme accreditation with the South African Nursing Council, since both change between intake years. For the wider picture see admission requirements and browse all education requirements.