A diploma pass is an NSC pass level that lets you apply for diploma study at a TVET college or university of technology. It sits below a bachelor pass, which is the level for degree study.
To get a diploma pass you need 40% in your Home Language, 40% in three other subjects excluding Life Orientation, and a pass in six of your seven subjects. For admission to a diploma, the national minimum is 30% in the language of learning and teaching plus 40% or more in four recognised 20-credit subjects.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
The National Senior Certificate is awarded at several levels, and the level you achieve determines what you can apply to study. The Western Cape Education Department lists them:
- Bachelor’s degree pass, allowing application for degree study
- Diploma pass, allowing application for a diploma at a TVET college or university of technology
- Higher certificate pass, allowing application for higher certificate study
- Special Needs Education (SNE) endorsed pass
Admission rules for diplomas apply to every institution that offers them, so check whether the university or college you want accepts your pass level for the programme.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
There are two layers. The first is the diploma pass level on your NSC:
- 40% in your Home Language
- 40% in three other subjects, excluding Life Orientation
- a pass in at least six of your seven subjects
The second is the national minimum for admission to a diploma, published by the Department of Basic Education: an NSC with at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the institution, plus an achievement rating of 3 (moderate achievement, 40–49%) or better in four recognised 20-credit subjects.
Institutions then set their own entry requirements on top of these. A diploma pass makes you eligible to apply; it does not by itself meet any particular programme’s requirements.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Life Orientation is excluded when your diploma pass is determined. Every other subject is taken into consideration.
Individual diploma programmes specify their own subjects, and this is usually what decides the outcome rather than the pass level itself. The Department of Basic Education notes that institution and programme needs may require additional combinations of recognised NSC subjects and levels of achievement. Check the subject list and points calculation published by the institution and programme you want, because methods differ between institutions.
If a programme requires a subject you did not take, ask the institution whether it offers bridging or foundation options.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications for diploma study normally require the following. The exact list differs by institution.
- Your National Senior Certificate or latest statement of results
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Proof of the application fee, where one is charged
- Your final results, used to confirm any conditional offer
- An evaluation certificate, if you hold a foreign qualification
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Diploma programmes can be oversubscribed, so meeting the minimum does not secure a place. Institutions select from the applicants who apply, and some programmes add their own assessment or portfolio requirement.
Many diplomas allow you to progress into an advanced diploma and then into postgraduate study, so a diploma pass is a different route rather than a dead end. Ask each institution what its articulation pathway looks like.
If you are close to a bachelor pass and want degree study, you can register for the June NSC examination to improve your results; the February/March supplementary examination has been phased out. See bachelor pass requirements for the degree-entry route.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a diploma pass?
It is an NSC pass level that lets you apply for diploma study at a TVET college or university of technology. It needs 40% in Home Language, 40% in three other subjects excluding Life Orientation, and a pass in six of seven subjects.
What are the requirements for a diploma pass?
At NSC level: 40% in Home Language, 40% in three other subjects excluding Life Orientation, and six of seven subjects passed. For admission, institutions apply a national minimum of 30% in the language of learning and teaching plus 40% or more in four 20-credit subjects.
Which universities accept a diploma pass in South Africa?
There is no single official list. Diplomas are offered at universities of technology, some universities and TVET colleges, and each sets its own programme requirements. Check the admissions page of the institution and the programme you want.
Can I study a degree with a diploma pass?
Not directly. A degree needs a bachelor’s degree pass. You can study a diploma and articulate into further study where the institution allows it, or improve your results to obtain a bachelor pass.
Is a diploma worth less than a degree?
They are different qualifications with different purposes. Diplomas are vocationally focused.
Do I need Mathematics for a diploma?
It depends on the programme. Subject requirements are set by each institution and programme, so check the one you want.
Where can I confirm the exact pass requirements?
The Department of Basic Education publishes the NSC requirements at its NSC examinations page. Confirm them there or with your school.
Confirm the current diploma pass requirements with the Department of Basic Education, and confirm programme requirements and articulation options with each institution. For the wider picture see admission requirements and browse all education requirements.