UKZN Requirements
If you want to study at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, you need to meet the minimum admission requirements for your qualification and then the subject and performance requirements for your chosen programme. UKZN says its published requirements are minimum requirements only, and meeting them does not guarantee that you will be offered a place. The university is structured around four colleges and offers study across five campuses.
This guide explains the main UKZN admission requirements for undergraduate, postgraduate and international applicants in plain English. It is a useful starting point, but you should always verify the latest official requirements in the current UKZN prospectus and the relevant college handbook before you apply.
What are the minimum requirements to study at UKZN?
For undergraduate degree study, the South African National Senior Certificate for degree studies is the basic legal requirement. For diploma study, applicants must generally have an NSC for diploma studies or a Senior Certificate obtained before 2008. UKZN also notes that it teaches in English, so applicants must meet the required English standard, and many programmes have their own subject and performance requirements on top of the basic admission level.
For South African applicants writing the NSC, UKZN uses an Academic Performance Score, or APS, for many undergraduate selections. Life Orientation is not included in the APS calculation. UKZN calculates APS from six subjects, using English, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, and the best results from the remaining subjects needed to make up the total.
UKZN undergraduate requirements
The exact requirements depend on the qualification you want to study. Some programmes only need the minimum legal admission level plus a modest APS, while others need strong subject results in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences or English. Competitive programmes can also rank applicants above the minimum published level.
UKZN may make conditional offers based on Grade 11 results or Grade 12 June, trial or mock results. Final offers still depend on your final matric results and whether you meet the full programme requirements.
How UKZN APS works
If you are applying with an NSC, APS is one of the most important parts of your application. UKZN states that Life Orientation is excluded from APS, and no bonus points are awarded for extra subjects. This means your core academic subjects matter most when the university calculates your score.
Popular UKZN course requirement examples
Here are a few examples from the official undergraduate prospectus. These examples help you understand the level of performance UKZN often expects, but you should still check the latest official table for your exact programme.
UKZN Nursing requirements
The 2026 prospectus lists Bachelor of Nursing with English and Life Orientation at Level 4, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy at Level 3, and Life Sciences at Level 4.
UKZN Law and LLB requirements
The Bachelor of Laws entry example in the prospectus shows English Home Language at Level 5 or First Additional Language at Level 6, Mathematics at Level 3 or Mathematical Literacy at Level 5, Life Orientation at Level 4, and an APS of 32.
UKZN Pharmacy requirements
The prospectus example for Pharmacy shows English, Life Sciences, Life Orientation, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, with an APS range shown at 33.
UKZN Medicine requirements
For MBChB, the 2026 prospectus shows English, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Level 5, Life Orientation at Level 4, and at least a 65% aggregate. UKZN’s selection procedure also notes that MBChB applicants are ranked by average percentage rather than APS.
UKZN postgraduate requirements
Postgraduate requirements depend on the qualification level and the school you are applying to. In the 2026 postgraduate guide, UKZN says postgraduate diplomas usually require an appropriate bachelor’s degree, while honours degrees also require an appropriate bachelor’s degree or an equivalent status recognised under university rules. Master’s programmes require a relevant prerequisite degree, and doctoral study requires a relevant prerequisite degree at the required level plus any additional school or college criteria.
In practice, this means postgraduate admission is not one-size-fits-all. Your previous qualification, your marks, your field of study and the rules of the relevant school can all affect whether you qualify.
UKZN international student requirements
International undergraduate applicants must usually provide a Universities South Africa evaluation showing that their school-leaving qualification meets the legal requirements for degree study in South Africa. UKZN also says the point system does not apply to international applicants in the same way, and that applicants must meet the required English level and any specific subject requirements for their programme.
For postgraduate study, international applicants are generally expected to provide a SAQA evaluation for qualifications obtained outside South Africa. The postgraduate guide says applicants should do this well in advance because the evaluation process can take time.
Documents needed for a UKZN application
The documents you need can vary, but UKZN’s application pages commonly ask for a certified copy of your ID or passport, your matric certificate or other school-leaving qualification, and extra academic records if you have already studied at another tertiary institution. International applicants may also need USAF or SAQA documentation, official translations, and proof of English proficiency. Research master’s and PhD applicants may also need a research proposal or provisional dissertation topic.
How to apply to UKZN
South African first-time undergraduate applicants must apply to UKZN through the Central Applications Office. UKZN’s online application system is used for returning undergraduate students, students with a gap year, local postgraduate applications, and undergraduate or postgraduate international applicants.
Before you apply, make sure you have chosen the right programme, checked the subject requirements, and prepared all supporting documents. Missing documents can delay your application or stop it from being assessed properly.
UKZN application closing dates
Closing dates can change from one cycle to the next, so always check the current UKZN application page before submitting anything. For the 2026 undergraduate intake, UKZN published 30 June 2025 as the closing date for Medicine and 30 September 2025 for all other undergraduate programmes.
Final advice before you apply
The best way to use this page is as a starting point. First check whether you meet the general UKZN admission level. Then calculate your APS, compare your subject marks with the official programme table, and verify the latest details with UKZN before applying. That approach gives you a much better idea of whether you are likely to qualify.
FAQs
What APS score do you need for UKZN?
There is no single APS score for all UKZN programmes. Each qualification has its own minimum level, and some competitive programmes may effectively require higher results than the minimum published entry point.
Does UKZN count Life Orientation in APS?
No. UKZN says Life Orientation is not included in the APS calculation.
Can you apply to UKZN with Grade 11 results?
Yes. UKZN says applicants can be assessed for early or conditional selection using Grade 11, Grade 12 June, trial or mock results, but final admission depends on the final NSC results.
Do first-time undergraduate students apply directly to UKZN?
South African first-time undergraduate applicants apply through the CAO, not directly through the standard UKZN online application route.
What do international applicants need for UKZN?
Undergraduate international applicants generally need a USAF evaluation and must meet English and programme-specific subject requirements. Postgraduate international applicants generally need SAQA evaluation documents for qualifications obtained outside South Africa.
Does meeting the minimum UKZN requirements guarantee admission?
No. UKZN states clearly that the published requirements are minimum requirements and do not guarantee that an applicant will be offered a place.