To study a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) at a South African university, you need a National Senior Certificate (NSC) that admits you to bachelor’s study, plus the Mathematics level, English level and Admission Point Score (APS) that your chosen university sets for the stream. Those programme levels, not the national minimum, decide most applications.
For the 2027 intake, the University of Pretoria (UP) asks for Mathematics level 4 and an APS of 30 for its three-year BCom, and Mathematics level 6 and an APS of 34 for BCom Accounting Sciences. Check the stream, not just the faculty.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- School certificate: an NSC with admission to bachelor’s degree study.
- Mathematics: every programme listed below sets a Mathematics level. At UP for 2027 it runs from level 3 (four-year BCom) to level 6 (Accounting Sciences and Investment Management).
- English: level 4 or 5 at UP, and level 5 at Wits.
- APS: set per programme, and calculated differently from one university to the next.
- Application: online, to each university separately, before its closing date.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The national minimum for bachelor’s study is an NSC with at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the institution, plus an achievement rating of 4 (50–59%) or better in four recognised 20-credit subjects (Department of Basic Education). Institutions may add programme-specific subject and achievement requirements, and meeting the national minimum does not guarantee admission to any programme.
The programme requirements are what decide admission. The University of Pretoria’s 2027 requirements for its Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (UP requirements tables) are:
- BCom (three-year programme): English 5, Mathematics 4, APS 30
- BCom (four-year programme): English 4, Mathematics 3, APS 26. This is a selection programme with additional criteria.
- BCom in Accounting Sciences: English 5, Mathematics 6, APS 34
- BCom Investment Management: English 5, Mathematics 6, APS 34
- BCom Econometrics: English 5, Mathematics 6, APS 32
- BCom Economics, Financial Management Sciences, Law, or Statistics and Data Science: English 5, Mathematics 5, APS 32
- BCom Agribusiness or Information Systems: English 5, Mathematics 5, APS 30
- BCom Business Management, Supply Chain Management, Marketing Management or Human Resource Management: English 5, Mathematics 4, APS 30
The gap matters. With Mathematics at level 4 you would miss Accounting Sciences at UP, but you would still meet the Mathematics requirement for its business, supply chain, marketing and human resource streams.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Mathematics is the subject that matters most, because each programme above sets a Mathematics level. None of the published requirements listed here offers Mathematical Literacy as a substitute, so if you took Mathematical Literacy, ask the university before you apply.
APS figures cannot be compared across universities, because each uses its own method. For 2027 entry, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) lists its BCom (General) at APS 38+ with English (Home or First Additional Language) level 5 and Mathematics level 5. Applicants with an APS of 35 to 37 and level 6 in both English and Mathematics may be wait-listed, subject to places (Wits BCom).
Unisa’s BCom in Business Management (98310) asks for an NSC with degree endorsement, at least 50% in the language of teaching and learning and at least 50% in Mathematics, with an APS of 21 (Unisa qualification page). Unisa also accepts a completed higher certificate or diploma from its College of Economic and Management Sciences, so confirm that route with the university.
Bachelor of Commerce in accountancy: at UP the accounting route is the BCom in Accounting Sciences, which needs English 5, Mathematics 6 and an APS of 34 for 2027. At Wits, accountancy courses are among the majors you choose from within the general BCom. Confirm any further subject requirement, such as Accounting as a school subject, with the university.
Economics requirements: at UP, a BCom specialising in Economics needs English 5, Mathematics 5 and an APS of 32 for 2027.
Professional designations: if you are aiming for CA(SA) or another accounting designation, confirm with the professional body that the specific degree is accredited for that route before you register.
Documents and Application Requirements
There is no central application: you apply through each university’s own system, so apply to more than one. At Wits you submit the application, the required documentation and the application fee before the closing date, then track progress on the Self Service Portal. Other universities publish their own document lists, so check the application page of each one.
Closing dates for the 2027 intake have passed at the two universities quoted here: UP’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences closed on 30 June 2026, and Wits listed 30 September 2026 for its BCom. Look for the next cycle’s dates on each university’s website, and apply as soon as they open.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place. Wits states that places are limited and that selection depends on places, results and other criteria, and UP runs its four-year BCom as a selection programme with additional criteria. Accounting and investment streams carry the highest Mathematics 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 the four-year BCom at UP if you narrowly miss the three-year levels
- ask each university about bursaries and funding when you apply
Bachelor of Commerce Honours: honours is a separate postgraduate application after your degree, and each department sets its own entry requirements. Ask the department you want to join for its minimum mark in the relevant major.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for a Bachelor of Commerce?
An NSC that admits you to bachelor’s study, the Mathematics and English levels set for the stream, and the stream’s APS. At UP for 2027 that ranges from Mathematics 4 and APS 30 (three-year BCom) to Mathematics 6 and APS 34 (Accounting Sciences).
What is the bachelor’s pass in the NSC?
At least 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the institution and 50% or more in four recognised 20-credit subjects. This is the national minimum, and universities ask for more for commerce programmes.
Can I study BCom with Mathematical Literacy?
The programmes quoted here set Mathematics levels and do not list Mathematical Literacy as a substitute. Ask the university directly, or look at other qualifications whose published requirements accept it.
What is the lowest Mathematics level accepted for a BCom?
It varies. For 2027, UP asks for level 3 for its four-year BCom (a selection programme) and level 4 for its three-year BCom and its business-related streams. Wits asks for level 5 for its BCom (General).
Do I need Accounting as a school subject?
The UP and Wits minimums above are expressed as English, Mathematics and APS. If you want an accounting stream, ask the university whether Accounting as a school subject is required or recommended.
How do I get into a Bachelor of Commerce Honours?
Complete a relevant BCom, then apply separately for honours. Each department sets its own entry requirements, so ask the department for its minimum mark in your major.
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.