A university application is a process with several separate deadlines that do not coincide: the academic application, the funding application, the accommodation application and, for some programmes, a selection assessment. Missing any one of them can undo the others.
This page sets out the requirements and then the sequence, because the sequence is what most applicants get wrong.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Typical university admission requirements.
- A National Senior Certificate with the pass level the qualification requires — Bachelor’s, Diploma or Higher Certificate
- The programme’s subject requirements, set by the faculty
- The institution’s APS for that programme, revised annually
- A minimum achievement in the language of instruction
- A selection test, portfolio or interview, where the programme requires one
- A valid South African ID, or a passport with a study permit
- A National Certificate (Vocational) Level 4 or a completed prior qualification, for alternative routes
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Confirm everything with the university directly. APS scores, subject minimums, programme availability, campus offerings and closing dates are set by the institution, revised annually, and often differ between campuses. The prospectus and admissions office are the only authoritative sources, and any third-party summary — including this one — is a starting point, not an answer.
The three matric pass levels determine what you may apply for. A Bachelor’s pass admits you to degree study, a Diploma pass to diploma study, and a Higher Certificate pass to Higher Certificate study. The pass level, not the aggregate, is the gate.
The APS is calculated differently by each institution. Some exclude Life Orientation, some weight designated subjects, and the required score changes annually with demand. Use the university’s own calculator; a score computed elsewhere does not transfer.
Alternative routes exist and are under-used. Extended and foundation programmes admit at a lower APS over an additional year. Higher Certificate and diploma study can articulate into a degree. Mature age exemption and Recognition of Prior Learning admit applicants without standard qualifications. Ask the admissions office rather than assuming exclusion.
Provisional offers are conditional. Offers made on Grade 11 or preliminary results are confirmed only on final results, and a provisional offer is not a place.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Subject and points requirements.
- The correct matric pass level for the qualification
- Mathematics rather than Mathematical Literacy for science, engineering, commerce and health sciences programmes
- Physical Sciences and Life Sciences where the faculty requires them
- A minimum in the language of instruction
- A programme-specific APS, calculated by the institution’s own method
- A National Benchmark Test or institutional selection assessment, where required
- A portfolio or audition, for design, art and music programmes
Documents and Application Requirements
The application document set.
- Certified copy of your South African ID or passport
- Certified copy of your National Senior Certificate or final Grade 12 results
- Academic transcripts and certificates from any previous study
- Proof of payment of the application fee, where one applies
- Proof of residence, where required
- A study permit, for international applicants
- A curriculum vitae, where the programme requires work experience
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
The sequence matters. Apply academically as soon as applications open, typically early in the year for the following intake. Apply for NSFAS on its own timeline. Apply for accommodation separately. Register for any selection test by its own deadline. Four deadlines, four applications.
Bursaries close earliest of all. Company, government department and sector education bursaries are frequently advertised and closed months before university applications close. If external funding matters, start looking a year ahead, and read the work-back conditions before accepting anything.
Apply to more than one institution and more than one programme. Places are limited, offers are not guaranteed, and a single application is a single point of failure. A realistic second choice is not a compromise; it is planning.
Accommodation is the problem that surfaces late. Residence places are limited and private accommodation near campuses fills early. Deal with it at the same time as the academic application, not after the offer.
Late applications and clearing. Where places remain, some institutions accept late applications for specific programmes. Treat that as a fallback rather than a plan.
Nobody can sell you a place. Any person or agency charging to secure admission, raise an APS or guarantee selection is committing fraud. Public university applications are made directly, and application fees are published and modest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find the actual requirements?
In the university’s own prospectus and from its admissions office. APS scores, subject minimums and closing dates are set by the institution and revised annually.
Does my APS transfer between universities?
No. Institutions calculate it differently and some exclude or weight subjects. Use each university’s own calculator.
What deadlines do I need to track?
Four: the academic application, NSFAS or bursary funding, accommodation, and any selection test. They do not coincide.
Is a provisional offer a place?
No. It is made on preliminary results and confirmed only on final results. Meeting the final requirement is what secures the place.
Admission requirements, APS scores, closing dates and funding rules are set by the university and NSFAS and are revised annually. Confirm current requirements with the institution and with NSFAS before applying.