Wits Courses and Requirements in South Africa
If you are looking for Wits courses, this page gives you a clear starting point. It covers the main courses offered at the University of the Witwatersrand, how Wits admission requirements work, and what to check before you apply. Wits has five faculties, 33 schools, and more than 3,000 courses across major study areas such as Commerce, Law, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, and Science.
Wits offers both broad undergraduate degrees and more specialised professional programmes. That means your exact requirements will depend on the faculty and the course you choose. Some programmes only need the standard faculty entry requirements, while others also require an audition, portfolio, National Benchmark Test (NBT), job shadowing, or other selection steps.
What courses are offered at Wits?
Wits offers undergraduate degrees across five main faculties. Below is a practical overview of the main study areas most applicants look for.
Wits Commerce, Law and Management courses
In the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits offers courses such as BCom Accounting, BCom General, Economics, Human Resource Management, Finance, Management, Information Systems, Politics, Philosophy and Economics, BCom with Law, LLB, Bachelor of Accounting Science, and Bachelor of Economic Science. These are some of the most searched Wits courses because they combine strong career relevance with multiple major options.
Wits Engineering and Built Environment courses
Wits also offers a wide range of Engineering and Built Environment programmes. These include engineering fields such as Aeronautical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial, Information Engineering, Mechanical, Metallurgy and Materials, and Mining. Students can also study Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, Property Studies, and Construction Studies.
Wits Health Sciences courses
Health Sciences is one of the most competitive areas at Wits. Undergraduate options include Biomedical Sciences, Biokinetics, Health Systems Sciences, Clinical Medical Practice, Dentistry, Oral Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy. These courses often have stricter selection requirements than general faculty minimums.
Wits Humanities and Education courses
In Humanities, Wits offers a general BA degree as well as more focused programmes in Digital Arts, Theatre and Performance, Film and Television, Fine Arts, Music, Foundation Phase Teaching, Intermediate Phase Teaching, Senior Phase and FET Teaching, Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Social Work. Many students choose this faculty because it offers both flexible academic pathways and direct career-focused options.
Wits Science courses
The Faculty of Science includes courses in Actuarial Science, Computational and Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Geography and Archaeology, Geospatial Science, Environmental Studies, Biodiversity, Genetics and Development Biology, Microbiology and Biotechnology, and related fields. Wits Science is a strong option for students who want careers in research, data, technology, health-related science, or environmental work.
What are the minimum requirements for Wits courses?
For undergraduate entry, Wits says applicants must have a recognised National Senior Certificate from DBE, IEB, or SACAI, achieve the required performance levels for their chosen course, and qualify for bachelor’s degree study. Wits also makes it clear that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place because final selection depends on the number of spaces available, academic results, and any extra requirements for that programme.
English must be taken as either Home Language or First Additional Language. Mathematics is compulsory for numerate programmes in faculties such as Commerce, Engineering, Science, and most Health Sciences programmes. Mathematical Literacy may be considered for LLB, Education, and many Humanities courses, but not for every programme in those faculties.
Wits calculates APS using the best seven subjects, including Life Orientation, while also making sure any required faculty subjects are included. Wits also states that only one Matric upgrade or rewrite attempt is considered.
Do some Wits courses have extra requirements?
Yes. Some Wits courses have additional selection steps beyond the normal APS and subject requirements. In Humanities, courses such as Theatre and Performance, Film and Television, Fine Arts, Music, and Digital Arts may require auditions, questionnaires, or portfolios.
In Engineering and the Built Environment, the Bachelor of Architectural Studies includes application exercises. In Health Sciences, applicants are required to complete NBT requirements for early feedback, and some degrees such as Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dentistry, and Oral Health Sciences also require job shadowing certificates. Wits also says Bachelor of Science applicants must write the NBT by the end of October.
That is why it is best to use this page as a starting guide and then check the exact requirements for the specific Wits course you want before applying. APS scores, compulsory subjects, and selection rules can differ from one programme to another.
How to apply for Wits courses
Wits allows undergraduate applicants to apply for up to three programmes. The university advises applicants to check the requirements for each degree before applying and to keep their options open, especially when applying for restricted programmes such as Health Sciences or Engineering.
For the current published undergraduate cycle on the official Wits site, applications for Health Sciences programmes, Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Audiology, Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology, and BA Film and TV close on 30 June 2026, while most other undergraduate programmes close on 30 September 2026. Wits also lists a R100application fee and requires supporting documents to be uploaded through the application or self-service portal. Because these dates and processes can change, always verify the latest application cycle directly with Wits before publishing or updating this page.
If you are still in Grade 12, Wits says you should upload your final Grade 11 results. If you have already completed Matric, you will usually need to upload certified copies of your matric certificate or equivalent school-leaving results. Applicants who have studied at another tertiary institution must also provide academic records and a certificate of good conduct.
Which Wits course should you choose?
The right Wits course depends on your subjects, APS, and career goals. If you want a business or finance path, Commerce and Law programmes may be a good fit. If you enjoy maths and physical sciences, Engineering or Science may suit you better. If you want a healthcare career, Health Sciences offers professional programmes with stricter selection rules. Humanities is often the best fit for students interested in education, media, arts, languages, psychology-related pathways, and social development careers. These study areas are all part of Wits’ official undergraduate offering.
Before you apply, make sure you check three things: the faculty requirements, the specific course requirements, and whether there are any extra selection steps. That will give you a much clearer idea of whether you qualify and what documents or assessments you still need.
Final advice before applying
Wits is one of South Africa’s leading universities, but course entry can be competitive. Use this page to narrow down your options, then compare your Matric subjects, APS, and supporting documents against the official Wits requirements for the exact programme you want. That is the safest way to avoid applying for courses that do not match your results or subject choices.
FAQs
What courses are offered at Wits?
Wits offers courses across five faculties: Commerce, Law and Management; Engineering and the Built Environment; Health Sciences; Humanities; and Science. Across these faculties, Wits says it has 33 schools offering more than 3,000 courses.
What are the minimum requirements for Wits courses?
In general, you need a recognised NSC or equivalent, the correct subject levels, and a bachelor’s degree pass for undergraduate study. Some courses also have higher APS targets or extra selection requirements. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission.
Does Wits accept Mathematical Literacy?
Wits says Mathematical Literacy may be considered for LLB, Education, and Humanities, except for some programmes such as Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Many numerate programmes still require Mathematics.
Do all Wits courses require the NBT?
No. NBT requirements depend on the programme. Wits specifically lists NBT requirements for certain Health Sciences applicants, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology applicants, and Bachelor of Science applicants.
When do Wits applications close?
Closing dates vary by programme and by application cycle. On the current Wits undergraduate application page, some programmes close on 30 June 2026, while many other undergraduate programmes close on 30 September 2026 for the 2027 intake. Always verify the latest dates on the official Wits website.