Biomedical science requirements depend on the university and on whether you want laboratory work that needs professional registration. At the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) in Biomedical Sciences needs English level 5, Mathematics level 5 and Life Sciences and/or Physical Sciences level 5 (Wits course page).
Degree names differ between universities. The qualification that SAQA records as providing the minimum requirements for registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Medical Laboratory Scientist is a separate degree, the Bachelor of Health Sciences in Medical Laboratory Science. Decide which route you want before you choose a degree.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- School certificate: an NSC with admission to bachelor’s degree study.
- Wits BHSc Biomedical Sciences: English 5, Mathematics 5, and Life Sciences and/or Physical Sciences 5. You do not need both science subjects at level 5.
- UJ Medical Laboratory Science (2027): APS 30, English 5 (60%+) and Mathematics 4 (50%+), among other subject levels listed in the UJ prospectus.
- Selection: Wits ranks applicants on a Composite Index that includes the National Benchmark Test (NBT).
- Registration route: an HPCSA-recognised qualification, a 12-month internship and the National Board Examination.
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). Universities then add their own subject levels and APS.
Laboratory route. SAQA records that the Bachelor of Health Sciences in Medical Laboratory Science provides the minimum requirements for HPCSA registration as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (SAQA record). It also states that a 12-month internship at an accredited training laboratory must be completed, followed by the National Board Examination, before you can register as a qualified Medical Technologist. The HPCSA Professional Board for Medical Technology keeps the Medical Laboratory Scientist and Medical Technologist registers, and the annual fee for both for 2026/27 is R1 849 (including VAT), per Board Notice 870 of 9 January 2026. The same applies to the Central University of Technology version of the degree, which SAQA says enables registration with the HPCSA (SAQA record).
Biomedical Sciences at Wits. Wits describes its BHSc in Biomedical Sciences as covering molecular medicine, physiology, applied anatomy and pharmacology, with honours degrees available for many of the majors, including Chemical Pathology, Clinical Microbiology and Human Genetics. Before you enrol in any biomedical degree, confirm with the HPCSA whether it leads to registration, because the route is not the same for every degree.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
At Wits, individual subject levels are part of the entry requirement: English 5, Mathematics 5, and Life Sciences and/or Physical Sciences 5. Meeting them lets you be ranked, but it does not guarantee a place.
At the University of Johannesburg (UJ), the Bachelor of Health Sciences in Medical Laboratory Science (B9B01Q) at Doornfontein asks for a minimum APS of 30, English 5 (60%+) and Mathematics 4 (50%+) for the 2027 intake. UJ calculates APS from your six best subjects, excluding Life Orientation. The prospectus also sets Physical Science and Life Science levels, so read the programme row in the UJ undergraduate prospectus before you apply.
A general BSc, or another biomedical or health-sciences degree, is not the same as the registration qualification. Ask the institution and the HPCSA which degree you need for registration.
Documents and Application Requirements
You apply through each university’s own system. Dates for the 2027 intake:
- Wits BHSc Biomedical Sciences (MBA05, three years full-time): applications closed on 30 June 2026, and residence applications on 30 September 2026. Check the Wits site for the next cycle.
- UJ (2027 intake): applications close on 31 October 2026 at 12:00.
Wits requires the in-person (pencil and paper) NBT. Online NBT results are not considered, and the NBT is valid for three years. For 2027 entry Wits said the NBT should be written by 17 August. For registration after you qualify, the HPCSA sets the documents it requires, so ask it directly.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Wits Health Sciences ranks applicants on a Composite Index. The average of five subjects carries a 75% weighting: English, Mathematics, the better of Physical Sciences and Life Sciences, and your best two other subjects. The NBT average carries 25%. UJ states that meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place.
- Decide between the clinical (registration) route and the research route before choosing a degree.
- Confirm with the HPCSA that the programme leads to registration.
- Ask the institution how students secure the 12-month accredited laboratory internship.
- Take Mathematics, Life Sciences and/or Physical Sciences at school.
- Apply to more than one university, since levels and selection differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for biomedical science?
An NSC with bachelor’s admission plus the university’s levels. At Wits that is English 5, Mathematics 5 and Life Sciences and/or Physical Sciences 5, with selection on a Composite Index that includes the NBT.
Can I work in a diagnostic laboratory with a general BSc?
Registration as a Medical Laboratory Scientist is tied to the Medical Laboratory Science degree, followed by a 12-month internship and the National Board Examination. Ask the HPCSA whether a different degree would qualify you before you enrol.
Is Mathematical Literacy accepted?
Both programmes quoted here list Mathematics, at level 5 at Wits and level 4 at UJ, so Mathematical Literacy does not meet them. Ask the university if you took Mathematical Literacy.
Do I need both Physical Sciences and Life Sciences?
At Wits, no: the requirement is Life Sciences and/or Physical Sciences at level 5. UJ’s Medical Laboratory Science row sets levels for both subjects, so read it before you apply.
What is the hardest part of the route?
The registration route includes a 12-month internship at an accredited training laboratory, in addition to the degree. Ask the institution how its students secure a placement.
Entry levels, closing dates and registration rules change. Confirm them with the university and with the HPCSA. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.