Audiology is a regulated health profession in South Africa. Practising requires a qualification from an accredited programme, completion of community service, and registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
It is offered at a small number of universities, which makes places limited and entry competitive well above the published minimums.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Entry requires a science-track school record and admission to an accredited programme.
- A National Senior Certificate with admission to bachelor’s degree study requires at least 40% in your home language, at least 50% in four subjects from the designated subject list, and at least 30% in two further subjects.
- Mathematics — Mathematical Literacy is generally not accepted
- Physical Sciences and Life Sciences at the levels the faculty requires
- English at the level required, since the work is heavily communication-based
- An APS meeting the programme minimum, which for health sciences is typically high
- Admission to an HPCSA-accredited audiology programme
- A South African ID, or a passport and study visa for international applicants
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Accreditation is not optional. Registration with the HPCSA requires a qualification from an accredited programme. Confirm accreditation with the council before registering anywhere.
Audiology is offered as a standalone degree at some institutions and as a combined speech-language pathology and audiology degree at others. The combined qualification allows registration in both categories at some institutions and one at others — ask the institution precisely what its degree qualifies you to register as, because the answer differs and it affects your scope of practice for your whole career.
Community service is compulsory. Graduates complete a year of community service in the public sector before qualifying for independent practice, allocated through the national placement process. You do not choose your placement freely, and it may be anywhere in the country. Plan for that.
Selection for health sciences programmes often involves more than marks. Confirm with the institution what applies for your intake — additional assessment, interviews and other selection criteria are used at various institutions.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Most South African universities calculate an Admission Point Score (APS) from your best six 20-credit NSC subjects on a seven-point scale, giving a maximum of 42. Life Orientation is excluded at most institutions, and level 1 subjects generally do not count. Each university publishes its own APS table and programme minimums, revised annually, so confirm the figure for your intake year with the institution itself.
For health sciences the individual subject levels matter as much as the total, and meeting the APS while falling short on Physical Sciences or Life Sciences will not succeed.
Understand what the work involves. Audiologists assess and manage hearing and balance disorders across the lifespan — newborn hearing screening, paediatric assessment, hearing aid fitting, cochlear implant programmes, occupational hearing conservation and vestibular assessment. Much of it is technical, and much of it is counselling families through difficult news.
Occupational health is a substantial employment area in South Africa specifically, because noise-induced hearing loss in mining and industry is a major occupational health issue with its own regulatory framework.
Plan alternatives. With few programmes nationally, strong applicants are turned away every year. Related fields worth applying for in parallel include speech-language pathology, where offered separately, and other allied health programmes. Some applicants complete another degree and reapply.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications run through each university’s own system, and health sciences closing dates are typically earlier than for other faculties.
- Certified copy of your South African ID, or passport for international applicants
- Grade 11 final results and Grade 12 mid-year results when applying
- Final National Senior Certificate once available
- Proof of payment of the application fee
- Any additional documentation the faculty requires for its selection process
- Health and immunisation records, where required for clinical placement
- For HPCSA registration: qualification certificates, proof of community service and the council’s registration requirements
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Apply early — health sciences deadlines are among the earliest — and apply to every institution offering the programme rather than only your first choice.
Job shadowing an audiologist before applying is worth doing. It is a specific profession that many applicants know little about beyond hearing tests, and a day in a clinic tells you more than any prospectus.
- Confirm HPCSA accreditation of the programme before registering
- Apply to every institution offering audiology, not just one
- Check the closing date early — health sciences deadlines fall sooner
- Ask exactly what registration categories the degree qualifies you for
- Plan for compulsory community service anywhere in the country
- Job shadow an audiologist before committing
- Apply for NSFAS and health science bursaries early
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I study audiology in South Africa?
A small number of universities offer accredited programmes, some as a standalone audiology degree and some combined with speech-language pathology. Confirm accreditation with the HPCSA.
Is community service compulsory?
Yes. Graduates complete a year of community service in the public sector, allocated through the national placement process, before independent practice.
Is Mathematical Literacy accepted?
Generally not. Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences are the standard requirements for health science programmes.
What if I am not accepted?
Speech-language pathology and other allied health programmes are worth applying for in parallel, and completing another degree and reapplying is a recognised route.
APS minimums, selection criteria, accreditation and community service arrangements are set by universities, the HPCSA and the Department of Health, and are revised. Confirm current requirements directly with the institution and the council.