South African Faculty & Course Requirements
General minimum APS benchmarks by faculty. Run the calculator first for a result personalised to your marks.
Every South African public university groups its qualifications into broad faculties, each with its own general entry benchmark and required subjects. The table below reflects typical, commonly published minimums. Treat it as a planning guide rather than a guarantee, since exact cut-offs vary by institution and change slightly each year. For a result matched to your own marks, head back to the APS Calculator and select "Check My Courses" next to any university you qualify for.
Entry benchmarks by faculty, lowest first
Ordered from the most accessible entry point to the most competitive. If your score sits below a faculty you want, the gap is worth knowing precisely: two points is a different problem from ten, and it changes whether rewriting a subject, taking a Higher Certificate, or applying to a university of technology is the sensible next move.
Higher Certificates (Business Studies, IT Administration, Local Governance)
Typical subject benchmarks: A National Senior Certificate pass. The lowest formal entry point into higher education, and a full qualification in its own right.
National Diplomas (Internal Auditing, Marketing, Retail Management)
Typical subject benchmarks: Mathematics (Level 3) or Mathematical Literacy (Level 5), English (Level 4). Most common at universities of technology.
Bachelor of Arts (BA General, Psychology, Social Work, Political Science)
Typical subject benchmarks: English (Level 4), primary language (Level 4). Social Work and Psychology are usually more competitive than a general BA.
BCom Degrees (Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Management)
Typical subject benchmarks: Pure Mathematics (Level 4 or 5), English (Level 4). Maths Literacy is generally not accepted for a BCom Accounting.
BSc Degrees (Computer Science, Information Technology, Biological Sciences)
Typical subject benchmarks: Pure Mathematics (Level 5), Physical Sciences or Life Sciences (Level 5).
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) / BA Law / BCom Law
Typical subject benchmarks: English Home Language (Level 5) or First Additional (Level 6). Language level matters more here than in most faculties.
BSc / BEng Degrees (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical Engineering)
Typical subject benchmarks: Pure Mathematics (Level 6), Physical Sciences (Level 6). Among the strictest subject requirements anywhere in the system.
Why Do Subject Benchmarks Matter, Not Just APS?
A high total APS alone doesn't guarantee entry. Faculties like Engineering and Health Sciences set minimum levels for specific subjects (usually Mathematics and Physical Sciences) separately from your overall score. A student with a strong APS but a Level 3 in Pure Mathematics may still be declined from a BEng programme, while qualifying easily for a Humanities degree with the same total. Always check both your overall APS and your individual subject levels against a programme's published requirements before applying.