A bachelor pass in matric is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) that meets the national requirement for degree study. At NSC level you need 40% in your Home Language, at least 50% in four subjects excluding Life Orientation, 30% in one other subject, and a pass in six of your seven subjects. For university admission, the minimum is 30% in the language of learning and teaching plus 50% or more in four recognised 20-credit subjects.
A bachelors pass makes you eligible to apply for a degree. It does not give you a place. Each university adds its own subject requirements and points score, and most degree programmes ask for more than the minimum.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
There are two layers, and it helps to keep them apart. The first is the pass level your NSC is awarded at. The second is the national minimum for admission to a bachelor’s degree. The Western Cape Education Department sets out the bachelor’s degree pass like this:
- 40% in your Home Language
- 50% in four subjects, excluding Life Orientation
- 30% in one other subject
- a pass in six of your seven subjects
Underneath that, you must first be awarded the NSC itself: at least 40% in three subjects, one of which is an official language at Home Language level, and at least 30% in three other subjects, with full School-Based Assessment (SBA) evidence. The Department of Basic Education publishes this in its NSC examinations FAQs.
For comparison, a diploma pass needs 40% in your Home Language and in three other subjects excluding Life Orientation, and a pass in six of seven subjects.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The Department of Basic Education sets what you need to be awarded the NSC at all. The Department of Higher Education and Training sets what that NSC must contain for degree study. The amendment to those minimum admission requirements is listed on gov.za as Government Notice 1309 in Gazette 42068.
In effect, admission to a bachelor’s degree requires an NSC with at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching, plus an achievement rating of 4 (adequate achievement, 50–59%) or better in four recognised 20-credit subjects.
The two layers differ on language: the pass level asks for 40% in your Home Language, while the admission minimum asks for 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the institution. You need to meet both.
A bachelor pass lets you apply to study towards a degree at a university, university of technology, TVET college or any accredited higher learning institution.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Life Orientation is not counted towards the diploma or bachelor’s degree pass. All your other subjects are taken into consideration. Life Orientation also cannot be one of the four 20-credit subjects at 50%, because it is a 10-credit subject.
A bachelor’s degree pass does not mean you meet a particular programme’s requirements. The Department of Basic Education notes that institution and programme needs may require additional combinations of recognised NSC subjects and levels of achievement. You can hold a bachelor pass and still not qualify for a programme because you did not take, or did not reach the required level in, a particular subject.
Universities then rank applicants by a points score, usually called the Admission Point Score (APS), calculated from your subject results. Each university has its own method and cut-offs, so work out your score using the prospectus of each university you apply to.
Documents and Application Requirements
You apply to each university directly, usually online and during Grade 12. What you normally need:
- Grade 11 final results or Grade 12 June results, which universities use for a provisional or conditional offer
- a certified copy of your ID, or passport for international applicants
- proof of payment of the application fee, where the university charges one
- your final NSC statement of results once released, and later the certificate issued by Umalusi
Holders of the older Senior Certificate need a matriculation endorsement rather than a bachelor pass. If you studied outside South Africa or under a different school system, you need an exemption certificate from the Universities South Africa Matriculation Board before registering for a first degree. The exact document list differs by university, so confirm it on the institution’s application page.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Most universities make offers on Grade 11 or mid-year Grade 12 results and confirm them against your final NSC. If your final results drop below the programme requirement or below a bachelor pass, a conditional offer can be withdrawn.
If you miss a bachelor pass, the options are:
- Re-mark or re-check: apply through your school or district office after results are released. The closing date is usually 14 days after release and is printed on the back of your statement of results
- Improve your results: the February/March supplementary examination has been phased out and is no longer available. You can register for the June NSC examination to improve your results
- Study at another level: take a higher certificate or diploma and move into a degree later where the institution allows it
- Mature age entry: the Matriculation Board offers a conditional exemption for applicants aged 23 or older, subject to each university’s own conditions
Adults aged 21 or older without an NSC can also write the amended Senior Certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bachelor pass in matric?
A bachelor’s degree pass is one of the NSC pass levels, previously known as an exemption. It is the highest pass level and makes you eligible to apply for degree study.
What does a bachelor pass mean?
It means your NSC results meet the national minimum for applying to a degree: 40% in your Home Language, 50% in four subjects excluding Life Orientation, 30% in one other subject, and a pass in six of seven subjects. It makes you eligible to apply, not guaranteed a place.
What percentage do I need for a bachelor pass, for example in Gauteng?
The percentages are national and do not change by province. You need 40% in your Home Language and 50% in four subjects excluding Life Orientation, with 30% in one other subject. Individual universities in any province then set their own higher requirements and APS cut-offs per programme.
Does the 50% for a bachelor pass include home language?
Home Language has its own minimum of 40%. If you also get 50% or more in it, it can count as one of the four 20-credit subjects at 50% for the university admission minimum. Life Orientation does not count.
Can I get a bachelor pass with Mathematical Literacy?
The official sources we use do not list Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy as compulsory for the bachelor pass itself, but many degree programmes require Mathematics. Check the subject requirements of the programme you want with the university.
Does a bachelor pass guarantee a place at university?
No. It makes you eligible to apply. Programme subject requirements, points scores and limited places decide who is admitted.
What is the difference between a bachelor pass and a diploma pass?
A bachelor pass needs 50% in four subjects excluding Life Orientation; a diploma pass needs 40% in three other subjects besides Home Language, also excluding Life Orientation. At admission level, a bachelor’s degree needs rating 4 (50–59%) or better in four 20-credit subjects and a diploma needs rating 3 (40–49%) or better, both with 30% in the language of learning and teaching.
Can I upgrade to a bachelor pass after matric?
Yes. Apply for a re-mark if you are close, or register for the June NSC examination to improve subject results. Check with your provincial education department whether you qualify.
Pass rules and exam arrangements are set in national policy and can change. Confirm them with the Department of Basic Education, and confirm programme requirements with each university you apply to. For the wider picture see admission requirements and browse all education requirements.