South African APS Calculator
There is no single APS. Universities differ on whether Life Orientation counts, so the same marks produce different scores at different institutions. Select your seven subject levels below and MatricLink works your score out both ways, then compares each one against the published minimum at every South African public university and university of technology, so you can see where you actually stand.
Baseline APS at South Africa's public universities
These are general institution-wide entry baselines, not programme requirements. Almost every university sets its real minimums per qualification, and competitive programmes select well above the baseline. Use this to work out where you are in range, then check the exact figure for the course you want on the institution's own site.
Whether Life Orientation counts differs by institution, which is why the calculator gives you two numbers. Each entry below says which of the two it compares against. These baselines are currently being re-checked against each institution's published admission requirements, and each one links to the official page so you can confirm it yourself. See the editorial policy.
Gauteng
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University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
Scored out of 49, not 42, so this 26 is a lower bar than a 26 elsewhere. Full Wits guide.
Official admissions -
University of Johannesburg (UJ)
Certificates, diplomas and degrees all offered, and more open to Mathematical Literacy than most. Full UJ guide.
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University of Pretoria (UP)
The NBT becomes compulsory if your subjects do not match the programme, whatever your total. Full UP guide.
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Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
Also discards any subject you scored a Level 1 in, rather than counting it as one point. Faculty minimums range from 19 upward. Full TUT guide.
Official admissions -
Vaal University of Technology (VUT)
Maths Literacy raises the minimum by roughly three points, and Technical Mathematics counts alongside Mathematics rather than being treated as Maths Literacy. Campuses in Vanderbijlpark, Sebokeng, Upington, Klerksdorp and Secunda. Full VUT guide.
Official admissions -
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)
Life Orientation is not ignored here: it carries a minimum of Level 3, and English a minimum of Level 4. Medicine pre-selects on Grade 11 results. Full SMU guide.
Official admissions
KwaZulu-Natal
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University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
Life Orientation still has to be passed at Level 4 as a separate requirement, and English and maths are compulsory inclusions. Applications go through the CAO. Full UKZN guide.
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Durban University of Technology (DUT)
Also excludes any second additional language, and uses its own points table rather than the standard NSC levels, so this comparison is approximate. Applications go through the CAO. Full DUT guide.
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Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)
Anything passed at level 1 or 2 is discarded. Preference goes to applicants who made MUT their first choice on the CAO form, so your ordering matters here. Full MUT guide.
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University of Zululand (UNIZULU)
Needs level 4 in two languages, not one, and 60% in Grade 12 Maths before you may take any Mathematics module. Applications go through the CAO. Full UNIZULU guide.
Official admissions
Western Cape
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University of Cape Town (UCT)
UCT uses a Faculty Points Score, not an APS, and it is calculated out of 600, 800 or 900 depending on the faculty. The NBT is compulsory for South African applicants. Treat this comparison as rough only. Full UCT guide.
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Stellenbosch University (SU)
Stellenbosch does not calculate an APS at all. It uses an average of your six best subjects excluding LO, plus faculty selection scores. This comparison is an approximation only. Full Stellenbosch guide.
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University of the Western Cape (UWC)
UWC counts Life Orientation, on a seven-subject scale that runs to 8 points. Your real UWC score is higher than the figure shown here. Full UWC guide.
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Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
Its accounting diploma is published at 38 on CPUT’s scale. Extended Curriculum Programmes sit several points lower. Work your score out from CPUT’s prospectus. Full CPUT guide.
Official admissions
Eastern Cape
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Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
NMU uses an Applicant Score out of 600, built from percentages, not an APS. Learners from quintile 1–3 schools get 7 bonus points for 50%+ in Life Orientation. This comparison is rough only. Full NMU guide.
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Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
Except in Education, where Life Orientation is counted alongside English, a second language and your four best subjects. Campuses in Mthatha, East London, Butterworth and Komani. Full WSU guide.
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University of Fort Hare (UFH)
Bachelor's entry also needs 50% in English and 50% in Life Orientation as separate conditions, though it does allow one subject at 30–39%. Campuses in Alice and East London. Full Fort Hare guide.
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Rhodes University (RU)
Works in percentages, and any subject below 40% scores nothing at all. Life Orientation earns no points but must still be at 50%. Small and fully residential in Makhanda. Full Rhodes guide.
Official admissions
Free State
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University of the Free State (UFS)
The only institution here that part-counts Life Orientation: one point at 60%+, nothing below, and no more however high you scored. Any subject under 30% scores zero. South Campus takes lower entry scores than the main campus. Full UFS guide.
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Central University of Technology (CUT)
Life Orientation must be at level 4 and is capped at one point however high you scored. English at 50%. Use CUT’s own course calculator. Full CUT guide.
Official admissions
Limpopo
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University of Limpopo (UL)
Life Orientation must still be at level 3, and English at level 3, for every undergraduate programme. Main campus at Mankweng near Polokwane, with a School of Medicine. Full UL guide.
Official admissions -
University of Venda (UNIVEN)
Also needs level 4 in four recognised 20-credit subjects. Runs extended programmes for applicants who miss their chosen degree but clear a Bachelor’s pass. Full UNIVEN guide.
Official admissions
Mpumalanga
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University of Mpumalanga (UMP)
The single figure here is the diploma entry point. Degrees sit six points higher. Maths Literacy raises the bar, in one band from level 4 Maths to level 6 Maths Lit. Full UMP guide.
Official admissions
North West
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North-West University (NWU)
Most faculties still recommend 60% in Life Orientation, and the language of learning must be at 50%, higher than the national 30%. Requirements differ between the Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark campuses. Full NWU guide.
Official admissions
Northern Cape
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Sol Plaatje University (SPU)
The Northern Cape’s only university, and small enough that space, not points, usually decides. SPU says outright that meeting the minimum does not mean admission. Full SPU guide.
Official admissions
Distance learning, nationwide
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University of South Africa (UNISA)
Distance learning, nationwide. The minimum differs by college and qualification. Spaces are capped, so popular qualifications close during the application window and a good score cannot buy you a place that has gone. Apply on day one. Full UNISA guide.
Official admissions
Not seeing a route that fits? Higher Certificates and diplomas open at lower scores, and a Higher Certificate is a recognised qualification in its own right as well as a way into a degree the following year.
Two routes that do not depend on your APS
Whatever number the calculator gave you, high or low, these are open to you. They are not fallbacks and they are not ranked below a university. They are different routes to a qualification, and for a lot of people they are the better one.
Public TVET colleges
Entry is not APS-based. There is no admission point score requirement for NC(V) or NATED programmes. Some of them you can enter from Grade 9, which means the route stays open even for people who left school before matric.
TVET colleges are public, state-funded, and substantially cheaper than university. NSFAS funds students at them. The focus is occupational: you learn to do a job rather than study a field.
- How the TVET route works: NC(V), NATED, and the artisan and trade test pathway
- TVET or university?. An honest comparison, including where each one is the worse choice
- NSFAS for TVET students. The rules differ from the university ones
Private colleges
Private institutions set their own entry requirements, which are frequently more accessible than public university minimums. Admission is often possible where an APS falls short, and places can still be open after public applications have closed.
They are also where learners lose the most money. A registered institution can still advertise a course that is not accredited, and the difference is not visible from the advert.
- How to check a college is accredited. Four free checks, about twenty minutes. Do this before paying anyone anything.
- Private colleges explained. What they do well, and what to watch
- What it actually costs: fees, payment plans and student loans
Frequently Asked Questions About APS Scores
What is an APS Score and how is it calculated?
An Admission Point Score (APS) is a grading system used by South African universities to determine if a matriculant qualifies for a specific degree, diploma, or higher certificate program. The score is calculated by converting your National Senior Certificate (NSC) percentage marks into point levels from 1 to 7. Your top six subjects, excluding Life Orientation for most universities, are added together to give you a total score out of 42.
How do National Senior Certificate (NSC) percentages map to APS levels?
The Department of Basic Education utilizes a standardized 7-level scale for matric results. A mark between 80% and 100% yields an APS Level 7 (Outstanding achievement). 70% to 79% gives a Level 6 (Meritorious), 60% to 69% gives a Level 5 (Substantial), 50% to 59% gives a Level 4 (Adequate), 40% to 49% gives a Level 3 (Moderate), 30% to 39% gives a Level 2 (Elementary), and anything below 30% is a Level 1 (Not achieved).
Does Life Orientation count towards my APS score?
Whether Life Orientation (LO) is counted depends entirely on the specific university's admission policy. Institutions like the University of Johannesburg (UJ), the University of Pretoria (UP), and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) strictly exclude Life Orientation from their baseline calculation. However, other institutions like Wits, TUT, and DUT do include LO or assign specific fractional points to it if you achieve a level 5 or higher. It is highly recommended to check your points both with and without LO using our diagnostic tool above.
What happens if my APS score is too low for university admission?
If your point score falls below the traditional degree requirement of 26 points, you still have excellent higher education options. Many public universities and universities of technology offer National Diplomas which typically require between 18 and 22 points. Alternatively, you can enroll in a 1-year Higher Certificate program (starting at 15 points). Passing a Higher Certificate allows you to upgrade your academic profile and apply for a full Bachelor's Degree the following academic year.