To study for a bachelor’s degree in South Africa you need, at minimum, a National Senior Certificate (NSC) endorsed for bachelor’s study: at least 30% in the university’s language of learning and teaching and at least 50% in four 20-credit NSC subjects. That is the national floor set by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Each university then adds its own requirements for each programme — specific subjects, an Admission Point Score (APS) and sometimes a test, portfolio or interview.
Meeting the national minimum makes you eligible to apply. It does not guarantee a place, because the programme requirement, and competition for limited places, decide who is admitted.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- National minimum: an NSC with a bachelor’s pass, or a National Certificate (Vocational) meeting the equivalent bachelor’s requirements
- Programme subjects: set by each faculty — for example, Mathematics and Physical Sciences for a BSc
- APS: calculated by each university’s own method and set per programme
- Extra selection: tests, portfolios, auditions or interviews where the programme requires them
- Alternative routes: a relevant diploma or higher certificate, Recognition of Prior Learning, or a Matriculation Board exemption for mature-age and foreign applicants
- Qualification level: a bachelor’s degree sits at NQF level 7 (360 credits) or NQF level 8 (480 credits)
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The legal minimum. Since the 2018 amendment to the national admission policy (Government Gazette 42068), the minimum for a bachelor’s degree is an NSC with at least 30% in the institution’s language of learning and teaching, plus an achievement rating of 4 (50–59%) or better in four 20-credit NSC subjects. Life Orientation carries only 10 credits, so it cannot be one of the four. The older “designated subject list” no longer applies to NSC holders.
On your results statement this shows as a bachelor’s pass. The Department of Higher Education and Training’s Khetha career service summarises it as at least 40% in your home language, at least 50% in four other high-credit subjects and at least 30% in two further subjects.
The programme minimum. Section 37 of the Higher Education Act lets each university set its own admission requirements for each programme. That is why the same bachelor’s pass can get you into a BA at one university but not a BSc at another. Always read the current prospectus of the university and faculty you are applying to.
If you do not have a bachelor’s pass. Policy recognises other routes:
- Diploma or higher certificate first. Under the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF), a completed 240- or 360-credit diploma meets the minimum entry requirement for a bachelor’s degree, and a higher certificate may also give access to a related degree. Check how the institution credits your earlier study before you enrol.
- Extended or foundation programmes. Many universities offer these for applicants who meet the minimum but not the full programme requirement. The degree takes longer.
- Mature-age exemption. Universities South Africa’s Matriculation Board issues a conditional exemption to applicants aged 23 or older. You apply through the registrar of the university where you want to register.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Institutions may accept assessed work and life experience as equivalent to the minimum requirement.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Subjects decide your field. Your subject choice in Grade 10 matters more than your final total. Typical programme requirements include:
- Engineering bachelor’s degree (BEng or BSc(Eng)): Mathematics and Physical Sciences at a high level. To lead to registration as a professional engineer, the programme must be accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting (BCom Accounting): Mathematics is usually required. If you want to become a chartered accountant, choose a programme accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).
- Bachelor’s degree in teaching (BEd): a bachelor’s pass, plus the subject and language levels the institution sets for the phase or subjects you will teach.
- Bachelor’s in psychology (a BA or BSocSci majoring in psychology): usually open to a wider range of subjects. This degree alone does not register you as a psychologist; registration categories are set by the HPCSA’s Professional Board for Psychology.
- Bachelor’s degree in project management: offered by some universities and private institutions, usually as a commerce or management degree. Admission follows the institution’s commerce rules.
The APS is not a national number. Each university calculates it differently: some exclude Life Orientation, some weight Mathematics, and the published cut-off can change from year to year. Work out your score with each university’s own table, not with a generic calculator. Some universities also require the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs).
Bachelor degree level on the NQF. Under the HEQSF, a bachelor’s degree is either 360 credits with exit at NQF level 7, or 480 credits with exit at NQF level 8. A 480-credit level 8 degree may also meet the minimum requirement for a related master’s degree. The BEd is a 480-credit qualification with exit at NQF level 7, and the ECSA standard for a BEng or BSc(Eng) is at NQF level 8.
Documents and Application Requirements
For most first-year applications you need the following:
- A copy of your South African ID, or your passport if you are not a South African citizen
- Your final Grade 11 results, or Grade 12 results if you have already finished school
- Academic records from any previous tertiary study, if you are applying with a diploma, higher certificate or credits
- Proof that you paid the application fee, where the institution charges one
- A Matriculation Board exemption certificate if you are applying on mature-age grounds or with a foreign school qualification
- A study permit, if you are an international student
- A portfolio, audition or supplementary form for programmes that require one
How to get a bachelor’s degree, step by step:
- Choose the programme and check its current subject and APS requirements in the university’s own prospectus.
- Apply online through the university’s official application portal before its closing date. In KwaZulu-Natal, some institutions, including DUT, take applications through the Central Applications Office, which lets you apply for up to six programmes with one application.
- Write any selection tests, including the NBTs if the university requires them.
- Apply for funding separately through NSFAS or a bursary provider, and for accommodation separately if you need it.
- Accept your offer and register once your final results confirm that you meet the requirements.
If you are applying to a private higher education institution, check that it is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training and that the programme is accredited by the Council on Higher Education before you pay.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Offers are usually provisional. Universities make most offers on Grade 11 or preliminary results. The offer only becomes a place if your final NSC results meet the programme requirement.
Competitive programmes select above the minimum. Medicine, engineering, actuarial science and similar programmes have more qualifying applicants than places. Meeting the published minimum may not be enough.
There is no pre-med bachelor’s degree in South Africa. Medicine (MBChB or MBBCh) is an undergraduate degree you apply for directly from school. There is one graduate route: Wits University’s Graduate Entry Medical Programme admits people who already hold a bachelor’s degree into the third year of the MBBCh, if they meet its academic and selection requirements.
Your status matters. International applicants need their school-leaving qualification evaluated by the Matriculation Board before they can be admitted to a first degree. They also need a valid study permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for a bachelor’s degree?
An NSC with a bachelor’s pass (at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching and at least 50% in four 20-credit subjects), plus the subjects, APS and any selection steps the specific programme requires.
What NQF level is a bachelor’s degree?
NQF level 7 for a 360-credit degree, or NQF level 8 for a 480-credit degree, under the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework. An honours degree is also level 8.
Can I study for a bachelor’s degree without a bachelor’s pass?
Yes, through another route. You can complete a diploma or higher certificate first, apply for an extended programme where you qualify, or apply for a Matriculation Board mature-age exemption if you are 23 or older. RPL is a further route at some institutions.
What are the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in education?
A BEd needs an NSC endorsed for bachelor’s study, with the subject combinations and achievement levels the institution sets. It is a 480-credit degree at NQF level 7, normally four years of full-time study. If you already have a suitable degree, you can qualify as a teacher through a 120-credit Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) instead.
Does Life Orientation count towards a bachelor’s pass?
No. Life Orientation is a 10-credit subject, and the minimum requirement counts only 20-credit subjects. Some universities also leave it out of the APS or give it reduced weight.
Is my APS the same at every university?
No. Each university uses its own scale and its own cut-offs per programme. Calculate your APS separately for each institution you apply to.
Admission minimums, APS cut-offs, closing dates and exemption rules are set by the Department of Higher Education and Training, each university, Universities South Africa’s Matriculation Board and NSFAS, and change every intake cycle. Confirm current requirements with the institution before you apply. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.