Wits does not publish one university-wide entry standard. Requirements are set per faculty and programme, and meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place. For example, BCom (General) asks for an APS of 38 or more with Level 5 in English and Mathematics, while BCom with Law asks for an APS of 43 or more.
Wits has five undergraduate faculties, and applicants in some of them must also write the National Benchmark Tests (NBT). Work out your position against your specific programme, using the Wits admission requirements (NSC) page.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Applications are generally assessed on the following.
- A National Senior Certificate with the endorsement matching the qualification
- The Admission Points Score (APS) that Wits publishes per programme
- Subject requirements specific to the programme, such as English and Mathematics at a stated level
- The NBT, where your faculty requires it
- Available places, since Wits states that meeting the requirements does not guarantee a place
- Additional selection for some programmes, such as portfolios, essays or auditions
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Wits groups its undergraduate programmes into five faculties: Commerce, Law and Management; Engineering and the Built Environment; Health Sciences; Humanities; and Science. This is the answer to the common question of what the Wits faculties are, and the full list of degrees sits on the Wits undergraduate academic programmes page.
Wits publishes each faculty’s admission requirements as guideline pages in its prospectus (pages 16 to 25). Commerce, Law and Management is on pages 16 and 17, Engineering and the Built Environment on 18 and 19, Health Sciences on 20 and 21, Humanities on 22 and 23, and Science on 24 and 25. Wits states these are a guideline only.
If you hold an international qualification, you need matriculation exemption from the South African Matriculation Board.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Wits calls its score the Admission Points Score (APS) and publishes it per programme, so there is no single Wits APS. Two examples from the Wits course finder, where the year is not stated on the page:
- BCom (General): APS 38 or more, English (Home Language or First Additional Language) at Level 5 and Mathematics at 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.
- BCom with Law: APS 43 or more, with Level 5 in English and Mathematics. Applicants with an APS of 35 to 42 and Level 6 in both may be wait-listed, subject to places.
Check the Wits prospectus pages or course finder for the subject and APS requirements of any other programme before you apply.
The NBT is compulsory in some faculties (see the Wits selection tests page):
- Science: all applicants must write the NBT (AQL and MAT) before being considered, and Wits asks science applicants to write before the end of October.
- Health Sciences: write the NBT in person (pencil and paper) by 15 August. Online NBT results are not considered for applicants living in South Africa.
- Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology: write the NBT by 15 August.
NBT results are valid for three years, and only your first attempt in the most recent year counts.
Documents and Application Requirements
Wits applications are made through the university’s own process, set out on the Apply to Wits page. This is also where to get the application form and where to apply. The application fee for the 2027 intake was R100, paid through the self-service portal or by EFT using your person or student number as the reference. You upload your documents as follows:
- Current matric learners: your final Grade 11 results (no hardcopy needed)
- Already matriculated: certified copies of all your matric certificates, or your foreign school-leaving certificates
- Applicants with other tertiary study: certified official academic records from every institution you registered at
Some programmes need extra material, such as a portfolio, essay, audition or application exercise (Architectural Studies), or a job-shadowing certificate (Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dentistry, Oral Health Sciences). See the Wits additional requirements page.
A note on the prospectus: Wits publishes its admission requirements as the guideline pages above for the current intake. Older editions, such as the 2023 and 2024 prospectuses, are out of date, so use the current requirements for the year you are applying.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
You may apply for a maximum of three programmes. For the 2027 intake, applications for Health Sciences, Architectural Studies, Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology and BA Film and TV closed on 30 June 2026, and all other undergraduate programmes closed on 30 September 2026. Applications for 2027 are now closed, and the dates for the next intake are not yet published on the Wits site.
Wits will not engage with third-party agents who apply on your behalf, so complete your own application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a single Wits APS?
No. Wits publishes the Admission Points Score per programme, together with any wait-listing band. The BCom and BCom with Law examples above show how it differs.
What are the Wits faculties?
Commerce, Law and Management; Engineering and the Built Environment; Health Sciences; Humanities; and Science.
Where do I find the Wits prospectus?
Wits publishes faculty admission requirements as prospectus pages 16 to 25 through its admission requirements (NSC) page, and programme detail is on the course finder. Check the year shown before you rely on any figure.
Do I need to write the NBT?
Yes for Science, Health Sciences, and Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Health Sciences and Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology applicants write by 15 August, and Science applicants should write before the end of October. For other faculties, check your programme’s requirements.
When should I apply?
Applications for the 2027 intake have closed. For a future intake, apply as soon as applications open, because Health Sciences and some other programmes close earlier than the rest.
Does meeting the minimum guarantee a place?
No. Wits states that meeting the requirements does not guarantee a place, and selection depends on available places, results and other entry requirements.
Confirm requirements with the Wits Student Call Centre on +27 (0)11 717 1888 or at the Wits applications page. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.