A bachelor pass in matric is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) that meets the national minimum for admission to a bachelor’s degree. The requirements are: pass the NSC, get at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the university you apply to, and get at least 50% in four 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
To get a bachelor’s pass, you need all of the following on your final NSC results:
- An NSC pass: 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 in your subjects
- At least 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the higher education institution, which is English at most universities
- At least 50% (achievement rating 4, adequate achievement) in four 20-credit subjects
For comparison, a diploma pass needs 40% in four 20-credit subjects plus the 30% language requirement, and a higher certificate pass needs the NSC with 30% in the language of learning and teaching.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Two sets of rules combine to make a bachelor pass. 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 degree rule currently in force comes from Government Notice 1309 in Gazette 42068, published on 30 November 2018 and effective from 1 August 2018. It reads, in effect: 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.
Before that amendment, the four subjects had to come from a designated list. That list no longer applies, so any four 20-credit subjects in your NSC package can make up the bachelor’s pass.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Which subjects count toward the four at 50%:
- Your Home Language: yes, it is a 20-credit subject, so a mark of 50% or more in it counts as one of the four
- Your First Additional Language: yes, on the same basis
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy: either counts toward the bachelor pass itself
- Life Orientation: no. It is a 10-credit subject, so it cannot be one of the four
A bachelor’s degree pass does not mean you meet a particular programme’s requirements. The same gazette confirms that universities may set their own subject and achievement levels, for example requiring Mathematics and Physical Sciences for a BSc. You can hold a bachelor pass and still not qualify for a programme because you took Mathematical Literacy or missed a subject mark.
Universities then rank you by a points score, usually called the Admission Point Score (APS), calculated from your subject results. Each university has its own method. UCT, for example, adds up six subjects excluding Life Orientation but including English and any required subjects. Work out your score for each university using its own prospectus.
Documents and Application Requirements
You apply to each university directly, usually online and during Grade 12. What you 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.
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 DBE says 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. Instead, you can register for the May/June NSC examination if you qualify
- 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, which follows the same CAPS curriculum as schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bachelor pass in matric?
It is the NSC result that makes you eligible to apply for a bachelor’s degree: an NSC pass with at least 30% in the university’s language of learning and teaching and at least 50% in four 20-credit subjects.
Does the 50% for a bachelor pass include home language?
Yes. Your Home Language is a 20-credit subject, so if you get 50% or more in it, it counts as one of the four subjects. Life Orientation does not count because it carries only 10 credits.
Can I get a bachelor pass with Mathematical Literacy?
Yes. The bachelor pass itself does not require Mathematics. Many degree programmes do, though, so check the subject requirements of the programme you want.
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% or more in four 20-credit subjects; a diploma pass needs 40% or more in four. Both also need 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 May/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.