Admission requirements at a South African institution are the combination of your matric pass level, the subjects you took and the levels you achieved, and the points score the institution calculates from your results. All three must be satisfied.
Applicants commonly focus on the points score alone. In practice the subject requirement excludes more people, because a missing subject cannot be compensated for by a strong total.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Every application is assessed against the following.
- The matric pass level you achieved
- The specific subjects the programme requires, at the levels it requires
- The institution points or APS calculation
- Programme-specific selection, such as tests, portfolios or interviews
- Available places, which is why the minimum is not a guarantee
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The pass level determines the qualification type you can apply for. Institutions then set their own minimum above the national level, and for competitive programmes that minimum understates what is actually needed.
Conditional offers are commonly made on Grade 11 or mid-year Grade 12 results and confirmed on final results. A conditional offer is not a place until it is confirmed.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Points calculations differ between institutions. Some exclude Life Orientation, some weight designated subjects, and some use their own scale entirely. Calculate your score separately against each institution published method.
Subject requirements are programme specific and are where most applications fail. Check them for each programme rather than assuming a faculty-wide standard.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications 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
- Your final matric results, used to confirm any conditional offer
- A SAQA evaluation certificate, if you hold a foreign qualification
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. Places at competitive programmes are allocated well before closing dates in practice.
Check requirements for the intake year you are applying for rather than the current prospectus, since institutions revise them between intakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are admission requirements made up of?
Your matric pass level, the subjects you took and their levels, and the institution points calculation. All three must be satisfied.
Why do points differ between institutions?
Each sets its own calculation method. Some exclude Life Orientation, some weight designated subjects, some use their own scale.
Does meeting the minimum guarantee a place?
No. Places are limited and competitive programmes admit above the published minimum.
What is a conditional offer?
An offer made on Grade 11 or mid-year results, confirmed once final matric results are released. It is not a place until confirmed.
Confirm requirements with each institution for your intake year, since they differ between institutions and change between years. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.