Unisa does not offer a qualification that trains you to become a nurse from scratch. Its Bachelor of Arts in Nursing Science requires that you are already registered with the South African Nursing Council as a general nurse, and you must submit a valid Annual Practising Certificate with every registration.
This is the single most important thing to understand before applying. If you are not yet a nurse, Unisa is not the route in. Pre-registration nursing qualifications are offered by universities and nursing colleges with clinical facilities, because they require supervised clinical placement that a distance institution cannot provide.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Unisa’s Bachelor of Arts in Nursing Science, qualification code 0216X, carries the following requirements.
- Existing registration with the South African Nursing Council as a general nurse
- A valid Annual Practising Certificate, submitted with every registration
- An APS of 20
- NQF level 6, 360 total credits, SAQA identification number 5365
- Delivered by distance learning
- Enrolled nurses and auxiliary nurses may not register for this qualification
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The qualification is a post-registration degree. It builds on an existing nursing qualification rather than replacing one, and its streams focus on health services management, education and community health rather than on clinical nursing practice.
Unisa states explicitly that neither an enrolled nurse nor an auxiliary nurse may register for it. Registration as a general nurse with the South African Nursing Council is the gateway requirement, and no APS or matric result substitutes for it.
Note also that Unisa lists this qualification as offered until 2026 and only for students previously registered for it. If you are considering it, check the current Unisa qualification list directly, since the offering may have changed or been replaced.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Unisa calculates the Academic Point Score on the National Senior Certificate 1 to 7 achievement scale, using your six recognised 20-credit subjects. The highest possible score is 42. Life Orientation is a 10-credit subject and is excluded from the calculation.
For this qualification the published APS is 20, which is low relative to pre-registration nursing degrees elsewhere. That is because the academic entry bar is not doing the work here; the professional registration requirement is.
If you want to become a nurse rather than to add a qualification to an existing registration, look instead at pre-registration programmes at institutions with clinical placement capacity. Entry to those is considerably more competitive, and subject requirements in Mathematics and Life Sciences usually apply.
Documents and Application Requirements
For the Unisa qualification you will need the following.
- Your Annual Practising Certificate issued by the South African Nursing Council, or the nursing authority of the relevant country, showing registration as a general nurse
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Certified copies of your existing nursing qualifications
- Your National Senior Certificate or equivalent
- A SAQA evaluation certificate, if you qualified outside South Africa
- Access to a computer or laptop, a printer and the internet, which Unisa states is required for the duration of study
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Unisa admits by offer of placement. You may only register once you have received an offer and accepted it online, and Unisa reserves the right to cancel a registration if it finds you were incorrectly admitted.
Meeting the requirements does not guarantee a place. Unisa states that some qualifications have limited spaces and that satisfying the general and specific requirements does not guarantee an offer for the academic year.
Because the qualification is being phased out, the practical next step is to check Unisa’s current list of nursing qualifications rather than to assume this one is open to new applicants. For the national picture on becoming a nurse, see nursing requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I become a nurse by studying at Unisa?
No. Unisa’s nursing qualification is post-registration and requires that you are already registered with the South African Nursing Council as a general nurse.
Can an enrolled or auxiliary nurse register for it?
No. Unisa states explicitly that neither an enrolled nurse nor an auxiliary nurse may register for this qualification.
What APS does Unisa require for nursing science?
The published APS for the Bachelor of Arts in Nursing Science is 20, but the decisive requirement is your existing SANC registration as a general nurse.
Where do I study nursing if Unisa is not an option?
Universities and nursing colleges with accredited clinical placement facilities offer pre-registration programmes. Confirm accreditation with the South African Nursing Council before enrolling anywhere.
Source: University of South Africa official qualification and admission pages, checked August 2026. Unisa revises qualifications and requirements between academic years, so confirm on the Unisa website before applying. Confirm your registration status and practising certificate with the South African Nursing Council. For the national picture see nursing requirements and admission requirements, and browse all education requirements.