North-West University (NWU)

Written by Mohapi · Last updated 15 August 2026 · How these figures are checked

NWU excludes Life Orientation from your APS and then, at most faculties, quietly asks for 60% in it anyway. That combination catches people out.

The language requirement is higher than the national floor

This is the detail most likely to cost someone a place, because it is stricter than the rule people have read elsewhere.

Nationally, the minimum for degree study is 30% in the language of learning and teaching. At NWU, subject-specific faculty requirements include the language of learning and teaching at 50%.

So a learner who scraped 35% in English, comfortably clearing the national floor, does not clear NWU's. Check this before anything else if your language mark is marginal.

NWU also states the minimum for degree studies as an NSC with at least 50% in four 20-credit NSC subjects. Which is the national Bachelor's pass rule. See Bachelor's, Diploma or Higher Certificate pass? for what that means in practice.

Grade 11 results are enough to apply

NWU accepts Grade 11 results for the initial application and provides its own APS calculator for working out where you stand. That is genuinely useful. It means you can apply early in your matric year and get a conditional position rather than waiting for finals.

Your final offer is confirmed against your actual NSC results, so a drop between Grade 11 and matric can change the outcome. Treat an early offer as conditional, because it is.

Three campuses, and they are not interchangeable

NWU operates in Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark.

Admission requirements for the same qualification can differ between campuses, and not every campus offers every programme. This is the most common practical mistake with NWU: applying for a qualification without checking which campus teaches it, and on what terms.

The campuses are also a long way apart. Potchefstroom to Mahikeng is roughly 200km, so this is not a detail you can sort out after you arrive.

Distance learning as well

NWU runs a substantial open distance learning operation, particularly in education. If you are already teaching and want to upgrade, or you cannot relocate, this is worth looking at alongside UNISA. Requirements and delivery differ from the contact programmes.

Applying

• Apply directly to NWU. It is not part of the CAO.
• Check your language mark against 50% before assuming you qualify.
• Confirm which campus offers your programme, and what it requires there.
• Use NWU's own APS calculator rather than a generic one, since it applies NWU's rules directly.
• Residence and funding are separate applications.

Application fees and closing dates are set per cycle and are not stated here. Confirm on the NWU site.

Who NWU genuinely suits

• Learners in the North West, northern Free State or Vaal region who want a public university close to home.
• Anyone going into teaching, where NWU's education faculty is one of the largest in the country.
• Students who want to apply early on Grade 11 results and know where they stand.
• Working adults considering distance study, particularly in education.

What people get wrong when applying to NWU