Admission requirements are the conditions you must meet to be accepted at a university, college or school. For higher education in South Africa that means your National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass level, the subjects you took and the ratings you achieved, and the points score the institution calculates from your results. The national floor is set in the national minimum admission requirements gazette; each institution then adds its own requirements.
For public schools, admission is governed by the Admission Policy for Ordinary Public Schools and, in the Western Cape, by the WCED online system. Both are covered below.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
A higher education application is assessed against the following.
- Your NSC pass level, which decides whether you can apply for a Higher Certificate, Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
- The subjects the programme requires, at the ratings it requires
- The institution’s points (APS) calculation
- Programme-specific selection, such as tests, portfolios or interviews, where the programme uses them
- Available places, which is why meeting the minimum is not a guarantee
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The national minimum, as gazetted in 2008, depends on the qualification type. In every case you need an NSC (certified by Umalusi) with at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the institution.
- Higher Certificate: the NSC with 30% in the language of learning and teaching.
- Diploma: the same, plus achievement rating 3 (40-49%) or better in four recognised 20-credit NSC subjects.
- Bachelor’s degree: the same, plus achievement rating 4 (50-59%) or better in four subjects. The gazette draws these four from a list of recognised 20-credit subjects, so confirm with your institution which subjects it counts.
The NSC is the gateway, but the policy states that it does not guarantee admission to any programme. Institutions may set additional programme-specific requirements, and for competitive programmes the real cut-off is usually well above the minimum.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
All recognised NSC subjects carry 20 credits except Life Orientation, which carries 10. How those results become an admission points score is decided by each institution, so the same results can give different scores at different places.
For example, the Wits entry requirements page says Wits calculates its APS from your best seven subjects including Life Orientation, that faculty-specific subjects must be included, and that Wits does not distinguish designated from non-designated subjects. Other institutions use different methods, so calculate your score separately using each institution’s published method.
Subject requirements are programme specific and are where many applications fail. Check them for each programme rather than assuming a faculty-wide standard.
Documents and Application Requirements
Higher education applications normally ask for your ID and your NSC or latest statement of results, and final results are used to confirm any conditional offer. Some institutions also charge an application fee or ask for an evaluation of foreign qualifications. The institution’s application page lists exactly what it needs, so check it before you apply.
School admissions (Western Cape). WCED admissions for Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 are done online at admissions.westerncape.gov.za. You register as a parent first, then apply, and the WCED learner admissions page advises applying to at least three schools, including those closest to home. The step-by-step admissions guide lists these documents:
- Birth certificate or ID of the learner and of the parent
- The learner’s latest school report
- Proof of residence, such as a rates account, lease agreement or an affidavit made at a police station
- An immunisation card, for primary schools only
The WCED call centre is 0861 819 919. WCED covers the Western Cape only; other provinces run their own processes.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Apply to more than one institution and more than one programme, and apply as early as the application window allows. Check the requirements for the intake year you are applying for rather than an older prospectus, since institutions revise them between intakes.
For public schools, the national policy requires a school’s own admission policy to be consistent with it, prohibits unfair discrimination against an applicant, and does not allow a governing body to set an admission test. Heads of Department may set feeder zones, and learners living in the feeder zone get preference. A parent must present the learner’s birth certificate, although a learner may be admitted conditionally until a copy is obtained. Under the age requirements notice, a child must be admitted to Grade 1 if they turn seven in that calendar year.
The 2026-27 WCED late online window for Grades R, 1 and 8 has closed and is now handled through district offices. WCED Circular 0023/2026 covers changes for the 2027 academic year, including the removal of waiting list status, so check the WCED page for current dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the admission requirements for a university?
An NSC at the right pass level for the qualification, the subjects and ratings the programme asks for, and the institution’s points score. All three must be met.
What are the minimum admission requirements for a degree?
The national minimum for a Bachelor’s degree is an NSC with 30% in the language of learning and teaching and achievement rating 4 (50-59%) or better in four recognised subjects. Institutions set higher requirements per programme.
Why do points differ between institutions?
Each institution sets its own calculation method. Wits, for example, uses your best seven subjects including Life Orientation. Calculate your score using the method published by each institution.
Does meeting the minimum guarantee a place?
No. Places are limited, and Wits states plainly that meeting its minimum requirements does not guarantee a place.
What is a conditional offer?
An offer that depends on your final school-leaving results. It becomes a place only once the institution confirms it against the programme’s points and subject requirements, so check the conditions in your offer letter.
How do I apply to a school through WCED admissions?
Register as a parent and apply online at admissions.westerncape.gov.za, applying to at least three schools. Have the birth certificate or ID, latest school report and proof of residence ready. Call 0861 819 919 for help.
What is the admission policy for ordinary public schools in South Africa?
It is Notice 2432 of 1998 (Government Gazette 19377), issued under the National Education Policy Act, 1996. It sets the framework that provincial departments and school governing bodies follow, as summarised above.
Confirm requirements with the institution for your intake year, or for schools with your provincial education department. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.