Latest Minimum APS Requirements for Every SA Degree (2026)

byCosby Khosa - Onecareer Editor •

Minimum APS Requirements for Every SA Degree (2026)

Minimum APS Requirements for Every SA Degree (2026)



Find the minimum APS requirements for Medicine, Engineering, Law, BCom and every popular South African degree, plus the subject rules behind them.

Most APS Requirements which general Bachelor's degrees in South Africa ask for an APS of 26–32, professional and high-demand degrees like Engineering and Law typically need 30–36, and the most competitive programs — Medicine, Actuarial Science, and Chartered Accountancy — usually require 35–42. 

Where your intended course sits inside that range depends heavily on which university you apply to, since the same degree name can carry a different APS requirement — sometimes by 8 or 10 points — from one institution to the next. Below is a field-by-field breakdown of what you actually need, the subject-level requirements that apply on top of the raw APS number, and how to read the fine print before you apply.
If you haven't worked out your own score yet, use the calculator on this page first — everything below assumes you already know your number and want to know what it actually gets you

Quick Reference: Typical APS by Field of Study

Field Typical APS Range Non-Negotiable Subject Requirements


  • Higher Certificate 15–20 Varies by program
  • Diploma (general) 18–24 Varies by progra
  • BA / Humanities 24–28 English at a solid level
  • BCom (general) 26–30 Mathematics or Math Lit, level varies
  • BCom Accounting / CA(SA) stream 30–34 Pure Mathematics required, usually Level 5+
  • BEd (Education/Teaching) 26–30 English, sometimes an interview
  • BSc (general sciences) 28–32 Mathematics and often a science subject
  • BSc Computer Science / IT 28–34 Pure Mathematics almost always required
  • Bachelor of Social Work 24–28 Often includes a screening interview
  • Psychology (as a BA/BSc major) 26–32 Varies; some programs add a selection test
  • BEng / BSc Engineering 30–35 Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Level 5–6, non-negotiable
  • Diploma in Engineering 24–27 Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Level 4+
  • LLB (Law) 26–34 English at a solid level; Mathematics OR Maths Lit accepted at most institutions
  • BPharm (Pharmacy) 27–34 Mathematics and Physical Sciences required
  • Nursing (Bachelor's) 24–30 Life Sciences typically required
  • Bachelor of Architecture 30–34 Mathematics required, plus a portfolio submission
  • MBChB (Medicine) 35–42 Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Level 5–6, non-negotiable
  • Actuarial Science 38–42 Mathematics at the very top band, non-negotiable


These are indicative ranges compiled across multiple universities' published 2026 requirements, not a single official standard — treat every number here as a planning benchmark, then confirm the exact figure against the specific university and program's current prospectus before you apply. Requirements shift slightly year to year, and a handful of institutions (UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch) don't use the standard 42-point APS scale at all, which is covered in more detail further down.

Medicine (MBChB): The Highest Bar in the Country

Medicine is the most competitive undergraduate qualification in South Africa by APS, typically requiring 35–40+ on the standard scale, alongside Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Level 5 or 6 and, in most cases, a National Benchmark Test.


Requirements vary meaningfully by university. The University of Pretoria's published minimum sits around 35, with Physical Sciences at Level 5 (60–69%) and Mathematics at Level 6 (70–79%) both required regardless of your overall total. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University sets its minimum at 38. UCT and Wits, which don't use the standard APS scale, publish their own equivalents — UCT through its Faculty Point Score system and Wits through its weighted seven-subject method — and both are widely regarded as requiring close to top marks across the board in practice, since Medicine at either institution receives many thousands of applications for a few hundred seats each year.


A few things matter more here than at almost any other field:


• Meeting the minimum APS does not put you in serious contention. Because Medicine is this oversubscribed, universities routinely select well above their stated minimum, and the published number should be read as "the absolute floor to even be considered," not a realistic admission target.
• The National Benchmark Test (NBT) is compulsory at most medical schools. It assesses academic literacy and quantitative reasoning specifically because matric marks alone have proven an unreliable predictor of readiness for medical training — a strong APS with a weak NBT can still result in rejection.


• Pure Mathematics is required; Mathematical Literacy is not accepted anywhere. This is a hard line, not a preference.
• Life Sciences (Biology) is a stated requirement at some universities (Stellenbosch, Nelson Mandela University, UFS) and only a strong recommendation at others (Wits, UP) — check this specifically for your target institution, since assuming it's optional everywhere is a common and costly mistake.
• Application deadlines for Medicine close months earlier than general degree applications — several universities close MBChB applications by May or June of the year before intake, well before the general application window closes.
If your APS realistically falls short, the Graduate Entry Medical Program (GEMP) route — completing a BSc first, then applying to a shortened graduate-entry medical degree — is a recognized and reasonably common alternative path into the profession.

Engineering: A Wide Range Depending on the Route

Engineering requirements vary more by qualification type than almost any other field: roughly 24 for a three-year engineering diploma, around 30 for a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BEng Tech), and 32–35 for a full Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree, with Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Level 5 (60%) non-negotiable at every level.


The distinction between these three qualification types matters more than the APS number itself. A BEng is the traditional four-to-five-year professional engineering degree, typically requiring an APS in the low-to-mid 30s alongside Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Level 5, sometimes Level 6 for more selective programs or institutions. A BEng Tech (Bachelor of Engineering Technology) is a related but distinct qualification, usually requiring a somewhat lower APS — around 30 at several universities of technology — with the same core subject minimums. Engineering diplomas sit lowest, generally around 24, and remain a genuine route into the profession, with articulation pathways into a full degree available at many institutions for students who perform well.


Two subject-level rules apply almost universally in Engineering, regardless of your total APS:


• Mathematics must be Pure Mathematics. Mathematical Literacy and, at most institutions, Technical Mathematics are not accepted for a BEng, though Technical Mathematics is sometimes accepted for BEng Tech and diploma-level programs.
• Physical Sciences (or Technical Sciences, for some technology-focused programs) is required at Level 5 or higher, independent of your overall APS total.


If you're a few points short of a BEng's requirement, the four-year extended BEng program offered at several universities is specifically designed for students who narrowly miss the standard cutoff, with the same end qualification and additional first-year academic support.

Law (LLB): More Variation Than Almost Any Other Field

LLB requirements are unusually wide-ranging across universities — from around 20 at UNISA to 32–34 at more selective traditional universities — with English at a solid level and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy generally accepted.


This spread is worth understanding rather than treating LLB as a single fixed benchmark. UNISA's distance-learning LLB sets a comparatively accessible minimum APS around 20, reflecting its broader access mandate. UKZN's LLB requires a minimum composite APS of 32 (Life Orientation excluded), alongside English at Level 5–6 and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy at a specified level. UJ's LLB sits around 31–32 depending on whether you took Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy. More selective traditional universities' direct-entry LLB programs commonly land in the low-to-mid 30s.


A structural point worth knowing if you're weighing your options: many universities offer LLB as either a direct four-year route straight from matric, or a combined route — a three-year BA (Law) or BCom (Law) first, followed by a two-year LLB. The combined route sometimes carries a lower entry APS for the initial degree, takes an extra year overall, but results in two separate qualifications and is often recommended for students who want a stronger academic foundation before tackling the LLB's heavier legal coursework.


Unlike Engineering or Medicine, LLB does not have a single non-negotiable subject requirement beyond English — Mathematical Literacy is accepted at the great majority of institutions, which makes Law comparatively more accessible to students who didn't take Pure Mathematics.

Commerce, Accounting, and the CA(SA) Route

General BCom degrees typically require an APS of 26–30, but the Accounting stream leading toward Chartered Accountant (SA) status usually asks for 30–34, with Pure Mathematics at Level 5 or higher as a firm requirement.
This is one of the more commonly misunderstood requirements, because "BCom" covers a wide range of majors with genuinely different entry bars. A general BCom (Marketing, Human Resources, or similar) commonly sits around 26–28 at most contact universities. BCom Accounting Sciences — the stream that leads toward the CA(SA) qualification via SAICA-accredited coursework — is meaningfully more competitive, typically 30–34, precisely because it feeds into one of the most sought-after professional qualifications in the country.
The subject rule that trips up the most applicants here: Mathematical Literacy is not accepted for the Accounting Sciences stream at almost any university, even though it's often accepted for general BCom majors like Marketing or HR Management. If you're aiming for CA(SA) eventually, Pure Mathematics at Level 5 (60%) or higher is close to a universal requirement, not a preference

Education (BEd / Teaching) | APS for BCom Accounting

A Bachelor of Education typically requires an APS of 26–30, with English at a solid level and, at some universities, a compulsory interview or aptitude screening in addition to your academic marks.
Requirements are relatively consistent across institutions compared to fields like Law or Engineering, since BEd programs across South Africa follow broadly similar national accreditation standards. The specific phase you're training to teach (Foundation Phase, Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase, or FET) generally doesn't change the APS requirement much, though your subject combination in matric can affect which teaching specialisations you're eligible for later — a Mathematics or science background, for instance, opens up Senior Phase and FET teaching specializations that a purely humanities-based matric doesn't.

Computer Science, IT, and Related Technology Degrees

BSc Computer Science and equivalent Information Technology degrees generally require an APS of 28–34, and Pure Mathematics is required at almost every university offering the degree — Mathematical Literacy is not accepted.


This field sits at an interesting intersection: demand for computer science and IT graduates in South Africa is high, and several universities have responded by keeping entry requirements comparatively accessible relative to Engineering, while still holding a firm line on Mathematics. If your matric subjects included Mathematical Literacy rather than Pure Mathematics, a BSc Computer Science degree is generally not an option at most contact universities — an Information Technology diploma at a university of technology, which sometimes accepts Mathematical Literacy or Technical Mathematics, is a more realistic entry point in that case, with degree articulation available afterward at several institutions.

Health Sciences: Nursing, Pharmacy, and Allied Fields

Nursing degrees typically require an APS of 24–30 with Life Sciences generally required, while Pharmacy (BPharm) sits higher, usually 27 as a published minimum but realistically closer to 32–34 for actual selection, alongside Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Health Sciences faculties as a category tend to apply additional selection criteria beyond APS more aggressively than most other fields, since almost all of them are capacity-constrained relative to demand. It's common for a health sciences program's published minimum APS to look quite accessible, while the realistic mark needed to actually secure a place — based on how selection has played out in recent years — sits several points higher. Pharmacy is a clear example of this gap: officially 27 at some institutions, but competitive selection in practice regularly draws from the low-to-mid 30s.

Architecture: Portfolio Meets APS

Architecture programs typically require an APS of 30–34 alongside Mathematics, and almost universally require a submitted portfolio of creative or design work as part of the selection process — meeting the APS alone is not sufficient.


This is one of the few fields where your academic score is explicitly only half the picture. Architecture, along with Fine Art and Music, generally requires either a portfolio submission, an audition, or both, in addition to clearing the APS and subject threshold. A strong APS with a weak portfolio, or vice versa, can each independently be enough to miss out on a place — treat the two requirements as genuinely separate hurdles rather than assuming a high APS carries you through.

Psychology and Social Work

Psychology, typically studied as a major within a BA or BSc rather than a standalone degree, usually requires an APS of 26–32 depending on the faculty and university, while Bachelor of Social Work programs generally sit around 24–28 and frequently include a screening interview or personality assessment.


Psychology's entry requirement is effectively inherited from whichever broader degree (BA or BSc) you're registering for, since Psychology is almost always a major or specialization chosen within your first year or two of study rather than a distinct application category from matric. Social Work, by contrast, is typically its own standalone degree with its own APS requirement, and — because of the nature of the profession — several universities add a screening interview or written assessment on top of the academic criteria to gauge suitability for the field.

BA and General Humanities Degrees | APS by course South Africa

General BA degrees are among the most accessible Bachelor's-level qualifications, typically requiring an APS of 24–28, with English usually the only firm subject-level requirement.
Because BA degrees don't carry the same subject-specific prerequisites as Engineering, Computer Science, or Commerce (Accounting), they remain one of the more attainable entry points into university for students without Pure Mathematics or Physical Sciences in their subject combination. This makes BA a common and legitimate "foot in the door" route for students who want to pursue a specific major (Psychology, Political Science, Languages, or similar) that doesn't require a STEM-heavy matric background.

Higher Certificates and Diplomas: The Accessible Tier - APS Requirements

Higher Certificates typically require an APS of 15–20 and Diplomas around 18–24, making them the most accessible entry point into formal post-matric qualifications, with clear articulation routes into a related Bachelor's degree for students who perform well.
This tier is consistently underused as a strategy. A Higher Certificate or Diploma is not a consolation prize — it's a genuine, accredited qualification in its own right, and strong performance in the first year of a diploma is one of the most common and reliable ways to transfer into a related Bachelor's degree, sometimes with credit for work already completed. If your APS falls meaningfully short of your first-choice degree's requirement, a diploma at the same university, in a related field, is often a more realistic and ultimately faster route to the same career outcome than waiting a year to reapply with an unchanged APS.

Why the Same Degree Needs a Different APS at Different Universities

It's worth restating a point that runs through every section above: APS requirements are set independently by each university (and often by each faculty within a university), so the same degree name can carry a meaningfully different requirement depending on where you apply. A general BCom might need 26 at one university and 30 at another. An LLB might need 20 through UNISA's distance route and 33 through a selective traditional university's direct-entry program. None of these numbers is "the" official APS for that degree — they're each that specific institution's own threshold.


This is compounded by the fact that UCT, Wits, and Stellenbosch don't use the standard 1–42 APS scale that the ranges above are built on. UCT calculates a Faculty Point Score based on actual percentages rather than converted levels; Wits uses its own weighted seven-subject scale out of 56; Stellenbosch works from your average percentage rather than a points system entirely. If one of those three is on your list, don't compare your standard-scale APS directly against their published figures — you'll need their specific method to get an accurate comparison. (Our companion guide, [APS Calculator 2026: How to Calculate Your APS Score], covers exactly how each of those methods works if you need the detail.)

Frequently Asked Questions

What APS do I need to study Medicine in South Africa? Generally 35–40+ on the standard scale, with Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Level 5 or 6 required regardless of your total, plus a National Benchmark Test at most institutions. UCT and Wits calculate their own equivalent scores rather than using the standard scale.
Can I study Engineering with Mathematical Literacy? No, not for a full Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) — Pure Mathematics is required at essentially every university. Some BEng Tech and diploma-level programs at universities of technology accept Technical Mathematics, but not Mathematical Literacy.


What is the minimum APS for a BCom degree? Around 26–30 for a general BCom major. The Accounting Sciences stream leading to CA(SA) is higher, typically 30–34, and requires Pure Mathematics rather than Mathematical Literacy.
Do I need Mathematics for a Law degree (LLB)? No — most South African universities accept either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy for LLB admission, which makes Law one of the more accessible professional degrees for students without a strong Mathematics background, provided your overall APS and English level meet the requirement.


Is a lower APS at UNISA a legitimate way into a competitive field like Law? Yes. UNISA's distance-learning model generally carries a more accessible APS requirement than the equivalent contact-university program, and the resulting qualification is fully accredited. It requires more self-directed discipline than a contact program, but it's a widely used and legitimate route, particularly for LLB.
Does meeting a course's minimum APS guarantee me a place? No, especially in oversubscribed fields like Medicine, Pharmacy, and Engineering, where actual selection frequently happens well above the published minimum. Treat the minimum APS as the threshold to be considered, not a guarantee once you clear it.


What if my APS is high enough for a degree but I don't have the required subject (e.g., Pure Mathematics)? Subject-specific requirements are usually non-negotiable regardless of your overall APS. If you don't have the required subject at the required level, look at a related qualification with a different subject profile (an IT diploma instead of a Computer Science degree, for example), or consider a bridging or foundation program that includes the missing subject.

Final Thoughts

The Bottom Line
There's no single APS number that applies across "Engineering" or "Law" or "Commerce" as a category — each university, and often each faculty within it, sets its own threshold, and the subject-specific requirements layered on top (Pure Mathematics for Engineering and Accounting Sciences, Physical Sciences for Medicine, a portfolio for Architecture) frequently matter more than the raw points total. Use the ranges above to plan realistically, but always verify the exact figure against the current prospectus for the specific university and program you're applying to before you finalise your application list.

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