Logistics and supply chain management requirements depend on which rung of the qualification ladder you start on. A higher certificate needs only a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a higher certificate pass. A diploma needs a diploma pass and usually accepts Mathematical Literacy. A BCom degree needs a bachelor’s pass and Mathematics, with an APS of about 27 to 30 at the universities below. An advanced diploma or postgraduate diploma needs a relevant qualification at the level below it, not matric results.
This page looks at logistics and supply chain management courses level by level, so you can see where your results get you in now and how to move up later.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- Higher certificate (NQF 5): The IIE’s Higher Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management asks for an NSC with a higher certificate pass and English at 30%, or an NC(V) with a higher certificate pass and English at 40%.
- Diploma (NQF 6): Vaal University of Technology (VUT) asks for English 4, Mathematics or Technical Mathematics 3 or Mathematical Literacy 4, one other subject at 4, and an APS of 20 (Mathematics) or 21 (Mathematical Literacy). VUT also accepts a business-related N6, an NC(V) Level 4, or a logistics or supply chain higher certificate.
- Advanced diploma (NQF 7): a relevant diploma or equivalent NQF level 6 qualification of at least 360 credits (VUT).
- BCom degree (NQF 7): University of Pretoria (UP): English 5, Mathematics 4, APS 30. University of Johannesburg (UJ): English 5, Mathematics or Technical Mathematics 4, APS 27. Neither accepts Mathematical Literacy.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Higher certificate in logistics and supply chain management
This is the lowest-barrier entry point. The IIE qualification is 120 credits at NQF level 5, offered by IIE Rosebank College as a one-year programme and online through Emeris (formerly IIE Varsity College) over two years part time. It covers purchasing, transport economics and operations management and includes work-integrated learning. International applicants need a SAQA evaluation showing NSC-level equivalence and at least 30% for English, or equivalent.
Diploma
VUT’s Diploma in Logistics runs for three years full time on campus. Besides matric, VUT lists two routes that suit people who did not take the NSC route: any business-related N6 (NATED) qualification or NC(V) Level 4 from a TVET college, or an NQF level 5 higher certificate in logistics or a supply chain field from an accredited public or private institution.
Advanced diploma in logistics and supply chain management
An advanced diploma is a one-year NQF level 7 qualification for diploma holders. At VUT it covers advanced logistics management, advanced transport economics, supply chain management, procurement management and research methodology. You need a relevant diploma (or older National Diploma) or an equivalent NQF level 6 qualification with at least 360 credits.
Bachelor’s degree in logistics and supply chain management
For a BCom you need an NSC with a bachelor’s pass (or an equivalent qualification) and Mathematics. Public universities name their degrees differently, so search for more than one title. UP offers a BCom specialising in Supply Chain Management, and UJ offers a BCom in Transport and Logistics Management.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Mathematics decides which level is open to you. Both BCom programmes above require Mathematics. VUT’s diploma accepts Mathematical Literacy but sets a higher level for it (4, against 3 for Mathematics) and a higher APS. The IIE higher certificate lists no Mathematics requirement.
- UP BCom specialising in Supply Chain Management (07130067): English Home Language or First Additional Language 5, Mathematics 4, APS 30, Life Orientation excluded. It takes three years full time and covers sourcing and supply, production and operations, warehousing, transport and supply chain strategy.
- UJ BCom in Transport and Logistics Management (B34TLQ): APS 27, English 5 (60%), Mathematics or Technical Mathematics 4 (50%). It takes three years full time at the Auckland Park Kingsway campus and is NQF level 7.
- VUT Diploma in Logistics: English 4, Mathematics or Technical Mathematics 3, or Mathematical Literacy 4, one other subject 4, APS 20 or 21, Life Orientation excluded.
Each university calculates its APS with its own table, so a score that works at one institution may not transfer to another. UP says its BCom in Supply Chain Management is accredited at Level 4 as Candidate European Junior Logistician (cEJLog) under the European Logistics Association framework. This matters if you want an internationally recognised logistics credential later.
After the advanced diploma, VUT’s route continues to a Postgraduate Diploma in Logistics, which needs a relevant advanced diploma or an equivalent NQF level 7 qualification. It then leads to a Master of Management in Supply Chain Management, which needs a 60% average in a relevant NQF level 8 qualification and 60% in research methodology or the research project.
Documents and Application Requirements
Apply directly to each institution online. Have these ready:
- A copy of your ID or passport
- Final Grade 11 results if you are in Grade 12 (UP ranks applicants on these), or your final NSC results if you have finished school
- For advanced or postgraduate diplomas: your diploma or degree certificate and academic record
- For N6, NC(V) or higher certificate routes into a diploma: the relevant certificates and results
- For foreign school qualifications: a SAQA evaluation or the equivalence the institution asks for
Closing dates differ by institution. For 2027 entry, UP’s closing date for its BCom in Supply Chain Management is 30 June 2026 for South African and international applicants. UJ lists applications for its BCom in Transport and Logistics Management as open from 1 April to 31 October 2026. Emeris takes online students in January and July.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Meeting the minimum is not enough at the degree level. UP ranks applications on final Grade 11 or 12 results, considers them after the closing date, and says the minimum does not guarantee a place. Applicants hear back by mid-August and must accept or reject an offer by 30 September. UJ selects on academic merit.
If your Mathematics mark or APS rules out a degree, starting lower costs you little time. A higher certificate can lead into a VUT diploma, and the diploma leads into the advanced diploma. On the IIE side, the higher certificate articulates into IIE degrees, including a Bachelor of Business Administration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
If you are mainly interested in procurement and supply chain planning rather than transport and logistics, compare the programmes on our supply chain management requirements page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for a BCom in logistics and supply chain management?
An NSC with a bachelor’s pass, Mathematics and a strong English mark. UP asks for English 5, Mathematics 4 and an APS of 30. UJ asks for English 5, Mathematics or Technical Mathematics 4 and an APS of 27.
Can I study logistics and supply chain management without Mathematics?
Yes, below degree level. VUT’s diploma accepts Mathematical Literacy at level 4, and the IIE higher certificate lists no Mathematics requirement. The BCom degrees listed here do not accept Mathematical Literacy.
Can I get into a logistics diploma with N6 or NC(V)?
At VUT, yes. It accepts any business-related N6 qualification or an NC(V) Level 4 from a TVET college for its Diploma in Logistics.
What do I need for an advanced diploma in logistics?
A relevant diploma, or an equivalent NQF level 6 qualification with at least 360 credits. Matric results alone do not qualify you.
How long does a logistics and supply chain degree take?
The UP and UJ BCom programmes take three years full time. A diploma also takes three years, and an advanced diploma adds one more year.
Which professional bodies should I know about?
VUT advises advanced diploma and postgraduate students to join the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). Membership is advisable but not compulsory.
Requirements, APS minimums and closing dates change every admissions cycle. Before you apply, confirm them with the institution: UP’s BCom in Supply Chain Management page, UJ’s BCom in Transport and Logistics Management page, VUT’s Faculty of Management Sciences prospectus or the IIE higher certificate page at Emeris.
See also admission requirements.