To study at the Limpopo College of Nursing you need a National Senior Certificate with a Bachelor’s Degree pass (or an older Senior Certificate with endorsement), at least 24 points on the college’s rating scale excluding Life Orientation, the compulsory subjects at the required levels, and South African citizenship. Those are the requirements the Limpopo Department of Health published for the 2026 intake in Circular 44 of 2025.
The Limpopo College of Nursing is run by the Limpopo Department of Health, not by a university. Its entry-level programme is the three-year Diploma in Nursing (General), and requirements are set per intake in the department’s official advertisement, so check the current circular before you apply.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
For the 2026 intake, the advertisement set out the following.
- Programme: Diploma in Nursing (General), three years, NQF Level 6, 364 credits, taught in English
- Pass: Senior Certificate with endorsement (matric exemption) or National Senior Certificate with a Bachelor’s Degree pass
- Points: a minimum of 24 on the college’s rating scale, excluding Life Orientation
- Subjects: English, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics at Level 4 (HG E on the old Senior Certificate), with Mathematical Literacy listed at Level 5
- Citizenship: you must be a South African citizen
- Fee: a non-refundable administration fee of R150; no cash is accepted
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The minimum academic level is a Bachelor’s Degree pass on the National Senior Certificate. A Higher Certificate or Diploma pass does not meet the requirement, even though the qualification you study towards is a diploma. Applicants who wrote the old Senior Certificate need an endorsement (matric exemption).
The Diploma in Nursing (General) is offered under South African Nursing Council Regulation R.171 of 8 March 2013. On completion you receive a diploma endorsed by the moderating higher education institution, which allows you to register with the South African Nursing Council in the general nursing category. This is the college’s entry-level qualification; the college’s page describes it as accredited to offer this three-year diploma.
Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place. The college’s brochure states that it has a set number of first-year places approved by the Department of Health and that it may choose not to select an applicant who qualifies.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
The 2026 advertisement listed these minimum levels for compulsory subjects.
- English: HG E or Level 4
- Biology or Life Sciences: HG E or Level 4
- Physical Sciences: HG E or Level 4
- Mathematics: HG E or Level 4
- Mathematical Literacy: Level 5
The 24-point minimum is calculated on the college’s own rating scale, which is published with the application form, not on a university’s APS table. Leave Life Orientation out when you work it out. Because the scale belongs to the college, a score you calculated for a university application may not match; complete the college’s rating scale and submit it with your application.
Requirements change between intakes. The college’s older brochure, for example, listed Mathematics as compulsory and did not mention Mathematical Literacy, while the 2026 advertisement listed both. Always work from the circular for the year you are applying for.
Documents and Application Requirements
For 2026 the process ran online through the Limpopo Department of Health.
- Download the prospectus, the rating scale and application form, and (if you are applying through recognition of prior learning) the RPL application form from the links in the official advertisement on the Limpopo Department of Health website.
- Complete and sign the application form and the rating scale.
- Pay the R150 administration fee as instructed in the prospectus.
- Upload the completed forms through the department’s vacancy application link for your district. The 2026 references were LDH/09/001 (Capricorn), LDH/09/002 (Mopani), LDH/09/003 (Sekhukhune), LDH/09/004 (Vhembe) and LDH/09/005 (Waterberg).
The college’s brochure lists the supporting documents it expects. Check the current prospectus for the final list, but prepare:
- A certified copy of your Senior Certificate or National Senior Certificate (current Grade 12 learners: latest results and a school testimonial showing your subjects)
- A certified copy of your identity document, and your marriage certificate where applicable
- The completed rating scale
- Proof of residence
- Certified proof of current SANC registration, if you are an enrolled nurse or enrolled nursing auxiliary
- Proof of payment of the administration fee
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
The 2026 intake closed on 30 November 2025. Application windows have moved between years (the college’s older brochure gave 1 April to the last working day of August), so watch the Limpopo Department of Health website and its official social media channels for the next circular.
The 2026 advertisement named four teaching campuses: Giyani, Sovenga, Thohoyandou and Sekhukhune. The college’s own page also lists a Waterberg campus, and applications were taken for all five districts. Clinical placements run across the province’s hospitals and primary health care facilities, which may be far from your campus.
Successful candidates are contacted by phone or email, using the details on the application, and must sign an agreement with the Limpopo Department of Health for the bursary allowance. Read that agreement carefully before signing, including any service obligation it contains. The brochure also states that the college verifies Grade 12 results after the intake and will de-register a student whose results are not authentic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to Limpopo College of Nursing with Maths Lit?
For the 2026 intake, yes. The advertisement listed Mathematical Literacy at Level 5, one level higher than the Level 4 required for Mathematics. You still need Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and English at Level 4 and a Bachelor’s Degree pass. Earlier brochures did not list Maths Lit, so confirm it in the circular for your intake.
What is the entry level at Limpopo College of Nursing?
The entry-level programme is the three-year Diploma in Nursing (General) at NQF Level 6. You enter it directly from Grade 12 with a Bachelor’s Degree pass and at least 24 rating-scale points.
Do I need Physical Sciences?
Yes. Physical Sciences at Level 4 was a compulsory subject in the 2026 advertisement, alongside English and Life Sciences.
Can I apply if I am not a South African citizen?
No. The advertisement states that applicants must be South African citizens.
Who runs the Limpopo College of Nursing?
The Limpopo Department of Health. The college was formed by combining the former Lebowa, Gazankulu and Venda nursing colleges, and its central office is at 34 Hans van Rensburg Street, Polokwane.
How will I know if I have been selected?
The college contacts successful candidates by phone or email, using the details you give on the application, so make sure they are correct and that you check them.
Confirm current entry requirements, campuses and closing dates with the Limpopo College of Nursing Student Affairs Office (015 291 1120) or on the Limpopo Department of Health website, and confirm accreditation with the South African Nursing Council, since only an accredited programme leads to registration. See nursing college requirements. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.