To study law in South Africa you generally need a National Senior Certificate with a bachelor pass, the subject requirements set by the law faculty, and a points score that meets the institution’s cut-off. The standard undergraduate route is the LLB, which can be taken as a four-year degree or entered after another degree.
Law is one of the few professional fields with no single national subject prescription, so requirements differ noticeably between universities. What is required at one faculty may not be required at another, which makes checking each institution separately unusually important here.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Law applications turn on the following, assessed together.
- A bachelor pass, which is the standard entry level for the LLB
- The language and subject requirements set by the specific faculty
- The points or APS score, which for law is often high because of demand
- Which LLB route you are applying for: the four-year degree or entry after a prior degree
- Faculty-specific selection, which at some institutions includes a written assessment
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The four-year LLB is entered directly from matric and requires a bachelor pass. The alternative route is to complete another degree first, commonly a BA or BCom, and then enter a shortened LLB, which suits applicants who do not meet the direct-entry cut-off or who want a second discipline alongside law.
Faculties set their own minimum above the national pass level, and for law that minimum is usually well above it. Because law attracts far more applicants than there are places, the score that actually secures admission is set by competition each year rather than by the published figure.
If you do not meet the direct-entry requirement, the degree-first route is a genuine path to the same qualification rather than a lesser one. Many practising attorneys and advocates entered law that way.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Law has no universally required matric subject in the way that medicine requires life sciences. What faculties consistently assess instead is language ability, because the discipline is built on reading and constructing arguments in precise language.
Most faculties require a strong result in the language of instruction, and some require or prefer a second language. Mathematics is generally not required for the LLB, though it can carry weight in the points calculation and is usually needed if you intend to combine law with commerce.
Points calculations vary between faculties in the usual ways, and some law faculties apply their own weighting to language subjects specifically. Check each institution’s published method rather than assuming a single score applies everywhere.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications to an LLB programme normally require the following.
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Your National Senior Certificate or latest statement of results
- Proof of the application fee, where one is charged
- Academic transcripts, if you are applying after a prior degree
- An evaluation certificate, if you hold a foreign qualification
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Law faculties commonly make conditional offers on Grade 11 or mid-year results and confirm them on final matric results. Some run an additional assessment or require a motivation, particularly where the programme is heavily oversubscribed.
It is worth understanding what the degree leads to before you commit. The LLB is the academic qualification; practising as an attorney or advocate requires further steps after it, including practical vocational training and admission by the court. Those requirements are set by the Legal Practice Council, not by the university.
Apply to more than one faculty, apply early, and check the closing date for the specific intake. Because law cut-offs move with demand each year, a score that was sufficient last year is not a reliable guide to this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Mathematics to study law?
Generally no for the LLB, though it can count towards your points score and is usually needed if you want to combine law with a commerce degree. Confirm with the faculty.
Is the four-year LLB better than entering after another degree?
They lead to the same qualification. The degree-first route takes longer but gives you a second discipline and is a genuine option if you miss the direct-entry cut-off.
Does an LLB let me practise as a lawyer?
Not on its own. Practising requires further steps after the degree, including practical vocational training and admission, which are governed by the Legal Practice Council.
Why do law requirements differ so much between universities?
There is no single national subject prescription for law, so each faculty sets its own requirements and points method. Check each one separately.
Confirm subject requirements, points methods and closing dates with each law faculty you apply to, and confirm the requirements for practising with the Legal Practice Council. For the wider picture see admission requirements and browse all education requirements.