To study a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) at a South African university, you need a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with admission to bachelor’s degree study and Mathematics, not Mathematical Literacy. You also need the English level and Admission Point Score (APS) that the university sets for your chosen BCom stream. These requirements rise sharply for accounting, finance and investment streams.
For example, for 2027 entry the University of Pretoria asks for Mathematics level 4 and an APS of 30 for its general three-year BCom. For BCom Accounting Sciences it asks for Mathematics level 6 and an APS of 34. Check the stream, not just the faculty.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- School certificate: an NSC (or equivalent) with admission to bachelor’s degree study.
- Mathematics: required for university BCom degrees. The minimum level runs from 4 for general and management streams to 6 or 7 for accounting, investment and financial science streams.
- English: usually level 5 in English Home Language or First Additional Language.
- APS: set per programme by each university, and calculated differently from one university to the next.
- Application: made online to each university before its closing date, which is often mid-year for the following year’s intake.
- Fallback: extended (four-year) BCom programmes have lower entry levels for applicants who narrowly miss the mainstream requirements.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The legal minimum for any bachelor’s degree is an NSC endorsed for bachelor’s study. According to the Department of Basic Education, this means you must:
- get at least 40% in your Home Language
- get at least 50% in four other subjects (Life Orientation does not count towards these four)
- get at least 30% in the university’s language of learning and teaching
- pass at least six of your seven subjects.
A bachelor’s pass only gets you considered. The Bachelor of Commerce prerequisites that actually decide admission are the Mathematics and English levels and the APS for each programme. For example, the University of Pretoria’s 2027 requirements for its Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences are:
- BCom (three-year programme): English 5, Mathematics 4, APS 30
- BCom (four-year programme): English 4, Mathematics 3, APS 26 (a selection programme with additional criteria)
- BCom in Accounting Sciences: English 5, Mathematics 6, APS 34
- BCom specialising in Investment Management: English 5, Mathematics 6, APS 34
- BCom specialising in Economics or Financial Management Sciences: English 5, Mathematics 5, APS 32
- BCom specialising in Business Management, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management or Supply Chain Management: English 5, Mathematics 4, APS 30
The gap matters. With Mathematics at level 4, you would miss out on Accounting Sciences at UP, but you would still meet the Mathematics requirement for four of its BCom specialisations.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Mathematics is the subject that matters most. Mathematical Literacy does not meet the requirement for the university BCom programmes listed above. Accounting as a school subject can help, but check whether your chosen stream actually requires it rather than assuming it does.
APS figures cannot be compared across universities. Wits, for example, calculates its APS from your best seven subjects, including Life Orientation. As a result, its minimums look higher than those at universities that count fewer subjects. For 2027 entry, Wits lists:
- BCom (General): APS 38+, English level 5, Mathematics level 5. Applicants with an APS of 35 to 37 and level 6 in both English and Mathematics may be wait-listed.
- BCom Financial Sciences: APS 42+, English level 5, Mathematics level 7. Applicants with an APS of 39 to 41 may be wait-listed.
Bachelor of Commerce in finance: finance-focused streams set some of the highest Mathematics requirements in the faculty, such as Mathematics 6 for Investment Management at UP and Mathematics 7 for Financial Sciences at Wits. If you want a finance career but your Mathematics mark is lower, a general BCom with a finance major may be within reach. The Wits BCom (General), for instance, offers Finance as a major.
Economics requirements: a BCom with an economics specialisation usually sits in the middle band. At UP it requires English 5, Mathematics 5 and an APS of 32.
Professional designations: if you are aiming for CA(SA) or another accounting designation, confirm with the professional body, for example SAICA, that the specific degree is accredited for that route. Do this before you register.
Documents and Application Requirements
You apply online through each university’s own application system. There is no central application for all universities, so apply to more than one. Typically you need:
- a copy of your South African ID, or your passport if you are an international applicant
- your final Grade 11 results, and Grade 12 results as they become available
- your final NSC results once they are released
- proof that you paid the application fee, if the university charges one
- if you are transferring from another institution, your academic record and any documents the university asks for.
Closing dates differ. For the 2027 intake, UP’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences closed on 30 June 2026, and Wits lists 30 September 2026 for its BCom. Check the current cycle’s dates on each university’s website.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place. Wits, for example, states that final selection depends on available places and your academic results, and UP runs its four-year BCom as a selection programme with additional criteria. Accounting and finance streams also carry the highest entry levels, so:
- apply to a second-choice stream with a lower Mathematics requirement
- apply to more than one university, since each sets different minimums and uses a different APS method
- consider an extended BCom if you narrowly miss the mainstream levels
- apply for funding at the same time. NSFAS funds qualifying students at public universities, and accounting and financial services bursaries often close before registration.
Bachelor of Commerce Honours: a BCom Honours is a separate postgraduate application after your degree, with its own entry requirements set by each department. At Wits, for example, BComHons Finance requires a bachelor’s degree with Corporate Finance and Investment courses and at least 65% in that major.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for a Bachelor of Commerce?
You need an NSC with admission to bachelor’s degree study, Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy), usually English at level 5, and the APS for your chosen programme. The exact levels depend on the university and the stream.
Can I study BCom with Mathematical Literacy?
Not for the university BCom programmes covered here. They require Mathematics. With Mathematical Literacy, look at other qualifications, such as diplomas, whose published requirements accept it.
What is the lowest Mathematics level accepted for a BCom?
It varies. For 2027, UP accepts Mathematics level 4 for its three-year BCom and management streams, and level 3 for its four-year BCom, which is a selection programme. Accounting and investment streams need level 6 or higher.
Do I need Accounting as a school subject?
It is not a requirement in the UP and Wits programme minimums listed above, which specify only English, Mathematics and APS. It is useful preparation for accounting streams, but always check your chosen programme’s requirements.
How do I get into a Bachelor of Commerce Honours?
Complete a relevant BCom and meet the department’s minimum mark in your major, then apply separately for the honours programme. Requirements differ by programme. For example, Wits asks for at least 65% in the relevant major for its BComHons Finance.
APS minimums, subject levels and closing dates change with every intake. Confirm them in the current prospectus or on the faculty page of each university you apply to. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.