APS Score Requirements for Every SA University (2026 Comparison Table)
A comprehensive comparison of APS score requirements across South Africa's top 10 universities for 2026 — covering Medicine, Engineering, BCom, Law, BSc, BA, and Education programmes.
By Milah Galant in Education · 9 min read
Key Takeaways
- APS (Admission Point Score) requirements vary significantly between universities — a programme that needs 42 at UCT might only need 30 at UFS
- Life Orientation is excluded from APS calculations at most universities, so your score is based on your best 6 qualifying subjects
- Medicine and Engineering have the highest APS requirements (typically 38-45), while Education and some BA programmes start from 24-28
- Meeting the minimum APS does not guarantee admission — popular programmes are competitive and may require higher scores than the published minimum
- Early application gives you a significant advantage — some universities offer provisional acceptance to early applicants before final matric results
If you're in Grade 12 — or a parent helping your child plan for university — the APS score is the number that matters most. It's the gateway to every undergraduate programme in South Africa, and understanding what each university requires can be the difference between a successful application and a rejection letter.
This guide gives you a complete, side-by-side comparison of APS requirements at South Africa's top 10 universities for 2026. Bookmark it, share it, and use it to plan strategically.
## What Is an APS Score?
APS stands for Admission Point Score. It's a numerical value calculated from your matric results that universities use to determine whether you meet the minimum requirements for a specific programme.
Each subject you pass in matric earns a point value from 1 to 7, based on your percentage. Your APS is the total of your best subjects — typically your top 6, excluding Life Orientation.
Not sure how your marks translate into APS points? Our step-by-step guide on [how to calculate APS score](/blog/how-to-calculate-aps-score) walks you through the conversion table and includes worked examples for different pass types.
**Important:** Different universities calculate APS slightly differently. Some include Life Orientation (weighted at 50%), some exclude it entirely, and some use their own points systems. Always verify with the specific university's admissions office.
## APS Conversion Table (Quick Reference)
Before diving into university requirements, here's how your percentages convert to APS points:
| Matric Percentage | Achievement Level | APS Points |
|-------------------|-------------------|------------|
| 80-100% | 7 (Outstanding) | 7 |
| 70-79% | 6 (Meritorious) | 6 |
| 60-69% | 5 (Substantial) | 5 |
| 50-59% | 4 (Adequate) | 4 |
| 40-49% | 3 (Moderate) | 3 |
| 30-39% | 2 (Elementary) | 2 |
| 0-29% | 1 (Not Achieved) | 1 |
Your APS is the sum of your points for your best 6 subjects (excluding Life Orientation at most universities). Maximum possible APS = 42 (7 x 6 subjects).
## University-by-University APS Requirements (2026)
Below are the minimum APS requirements for popular programmes at each of the top 10 South African universities. These are indicative minimums — actual admission may require higher scores due to competition.
### 1. University of Cape Town (UCT)
UCT uses its own Faculty Points Score system, but these approximate APS equivalents give you a realistic benchmark.
| Programme | Min APS | Specific Subject Requirements |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------|
| MBChB (Medicine) | 42+ | Maths 7, Physical Sciences 6, English 5 |
| BSc Engineering | 40+ | Maths 7, Physical Sciences 6 |
| BCom (Accounting) | 38+ | Maths 6, English 5 |
| BCom (General) | 35+ | Maths 5, English 5 |
| BA (Humanities) | 33+ | English 5, any language 4 |
| BSc (General) | 36+ | Maths 6, one Science 5 |
| LLB (Law) | 38+ | English 6 |
| BEd (Education) | 30+ | English 4, one language 4 |
### 2. University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
| Programme | Min APS | Specific Subject Requirements |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------|
| MBChB (Medicine) | 42+ | Maths 6, Physical Sciences 6, English 5 |
| BSc Engineering | 38+ | Maths 6, Physical Sciences 6 |
| BCom (Accounting) | 36+ | Maths 5, English 5 |
| BCom (General) | 34+ | Maths 4, English 4 |
| BA (Humanities) | 32+ | English 5 |
| BSc (General) | 34+ | Maths 5, one Science 5 |
| LLB (Law) | 37+ | English 5 |
| BEd (Education) | 28+ | English 4 |
### 3. Stellenbosch University (SU)
Stellenbosch uses a composite index that includes NBT scores. These APS figures are approximate minimums.
| Programme | Min APS | Specific Subject Requirements |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------|
| MBChB (Medicine) | 42+ | Maths 6, Physical Sciences 6, English/Afrikaans 5 |
| BEng (Engineering) | 38+ | Maths 7, Physical Sciences 6 |
| BCom (Accounting) | 36+ | Maths 6, English/Afrikaans 5 |
| BCom (General) | 33+ | Maths 5, English/Afrikaans 4 |
| BA (Humanities) | 30+ | English/Afrikaans 5 |
| BSc (General) | 33+ | Maths 5, one Science 5 |
| LLB (Law) | 36+ | English/Afrikaans 6 |
| BEd (Education) | 28+ | English/Afrikaans 4 |
### 4. University of Pretoria (UP)
| Programme | Min APS | Specific Subject Requirements |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------|
| MBChB (Medicine) | 40+ | Maths 6, Physical Sciences 6, English 5 |
| BEng (Engineering) | 35+ | Maths 6, Physical Sciences 5 |
| BCom (Accounting) | 34+ | Maths 5, English 5 |
| BCom (General) | 30+ | Maths 4, English 4 |
| BA (Humanities) | 28+ | English 4 |
| BSc (General) | 32+ | Maths 5, one Science 5 |
| LLB (Law) | 35+ | English 5 |
| BEd (Education) | 26+ | English 4 |
### 5. University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
| Programme | Min APS | Specific Subject Requirements |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------|
| MBChB (Medicine) | 40+ | Maths 6, Physical Sciences 6, English 5, Life Sciences 6 |
| BSc Engineering | 36+ | Maths 6, Physical Sciences 5 |
| BCom (Accounting) | 32+ | Maths 5, English 4 |
| BCom (General) | 28+ | Maths 4, English 4 |
| BA (Humanities) | 28+ | English 4 |
| BSc (General) | 30+ | Maths 5, one Science 4 |
| LLB (Law) | 33+ | English 5 |
| BEd (Education) | 26+ | English 4 |
### 6. University of Johannesburg (UJ)
| Programme | Min APS | Specific Subject Requirements |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------|
| Medicine | Not offered | — |
| BEng/BEngTech | 32+ | Maths 5, Physical Sciences 5 |
| BCom (Accounting) | 32+ | Maths 5, English 4 |
| BCom (General) | 28+ | Maths 4, English 4 |
| BA (Humanities) | 26+ | English 4 |
| BSc (General) | 28+ | Maths 5, one Science 4 |
| LLB (Law) | 33+ | English 5 |
| BEd (Education) | 26+ | English 4 |
### 7. North-West University (NWU)
| Programme | Min APS | Specific Subject Requirements |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------|
| MBChB (Medicine) | 38+ | Maths 6, Physical Sciences 5, Life Sciences 5, English 5 |
| BEng (Engineering) | 32+ | Maths 6, Physical Sciences 5 |
| BCom (Accounting) | 30+ | Maths 5, English 4 |
| BCom (General) | 26+ | Maths 4, English 4 |
| BA (Humanities) | 24+ | English 4 |
| BSc (General) | 28+ | Maths 5, one Science 4 |
| LLB (Law) | 30+ | English 5 |
| BEd (Education) | 24+ | English 4 |
### 8. University of the Free State (UFS)
| Programme | Min APS | Specific Subject Requirements |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------|
| MBChB (Medicine) | 38+ | Maths 5, Physical Sciences 5, Life Sciences 5, English 5 |
| BEng (Engineering) | 30+ | Maths 5, Physical Sciences 5 |
| BCom (Accounting) | 30+ | Maths 5, English 4 |
| BCom (General) | 26+ | Maths 4, English 4 |
| BA (Humanities) | 24+ | English 4 |
| BSc (General) | 28+ | Maths 5, one Science 4 |
| LLB (Law) | 30+ | English 5 |
| BEd (Education) | 24+ | English 4 |
### 9. Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
| Programme | Min APS | Specific Subject Requirements |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------|
| Medicine | Not offered | — |
| BEng/BEngTech | 30+ | Maths 5, Physical Sciences 4 |
| BCom (Accounting) | 30+ | Maths 5, English 4 |
| BCom (General) | 26+ | Maths 4, English 4 |
| BA (Humanities) | 24+ | English 4 |
| BSc (General) | 27+ | Maths 5, one Science 4 |
| LLB (Law) | 30+ | English 5 |
| BEd (Education) | 24+ | English 4 |
### 10. University of the Western Cape (UWC)
| Programme | Min APS | Specific Subject Requirements |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------------|
| Medicine (Dentistry available) | 38+ | Maths 5, Physical Sciences 5, Life Sciences 5, English 5 |
| BSc (General) | 28+ | Maths 5, one Science 4 |
| BCom (Accounting) | 30+ | Maths 5, English 4 |
| BCom (General) | 26+ | Maths 4, English 4 |
| BA (Humanities) | 24+ | English 4 |
| LLB (Law) | 30+ | English 5 |
| BEd (Education) | 24+ | English 4 |
## Quick Comparison: APS Required for Medicine, Engineering, and BCom
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the three most competitive programmes:
| University | Medicine | Engineering | BCom (Accounting) |
|------------|----------|-------------|-------------------|
| UCT | 42+ | 40+ | 38+ |
| Wits | 42+ | 38+ | 36+ |
| Stellenbosch | 42+ | 38+ | 36+ |
| UP | 40+ | 35+ | 34+ |
| UKZN | 40+ | 36+ | 32+ |
| UJ | N/A | 32+ | 32+ |
| NWU | 38+ | 32+ | 30+ |
| UFS | 38+ | 30+ | 30+ |
| NMU | N/A | 30+ | 30+ |
| UWC | 38+ | N/A | 30+ |
**Key takeaway:** If you're aiming for Medicine or Engineering at UCT or Wits, you essentially need straight 7s (80%+) across all your subjects. At universities like NWU, UFS, and NMU, the entry bar is meaningfully lower — and the quality of education is still excellent.
## What If Your APS Is Below the Minimum?
Don't give up. You have options:
1. **Improve your marks through supplementary exams** — If you're one or two subjects away from your target APS, the [supplementary exams 2026](/blog/supplementary-exams-2026-dates-rules-how-to-register) let you rewrite and replace your weaker marks.
2. **Write the NBT** — Many universities use [NBT test 2026](/blog/nbt-test-2026-everything-you-need-to-know) results alongside your APS. A strong NBT performance can compensate for a borderline APS at some institutions. Get started with our [NBT practice questions](/blog/how-to-prepare-for-nbt-free-practice-questions).
3. **Consider an Extended Programme** — Universities like UCT, Wits, and UJ offer extended degree programmes (e.g., 4-year BSc instead of 3) with lower APS requirements. These include additional academic support in your first year.
4. **Apply to a different university** — If UCT requires 38+ for BCom but NWU requires 30+, a strategic choice of university can make all the difference. Explore the [best courses after matric](/blog/best-courses-to-study-after-matric-south-africa) to widen your options.
5. **Try a TVET pathway** — Not every career requires a university degree. Our guide on [TVET college vs university](/blog/tvet-college-vs-university) explains when a TVET qualification is actually the smarter choice — and it often is.
6. **Apply for NSFAS or bursaries** — Cost shouldn't stop you. The [NSFAS application 2026](/blog/nsfas-2026-who-qualifies-how-to-apply) guide covers who qualifies and how to apply, while our list of [bursaries for matric students 2026](/blog/top-bursaries-matric-students-south-africa-2026) covers additional funding.
## When to Apply: Don't Miss the Deadlines
APS requirements are only half the equation. If you miss the application deadline, your APS score doesn't matter. Check our complete guide to [university application 2026](/blog/university-application-deadlines-2026) deadlines for every SA university — including opening dates, closing dates, and late application windows.
## How to Boost Your APS Before Results Are Final
If you're still in Grade 12, you can actively work on raising your APS:
- **Focus on your weakest qualifying subject** — raising one subject from 50% to 60% adds a full APS point
- **Practise with [grade 12 past papers](/past-papers)** — past papers are the most effective tool for improving your matric marks
- **Use subject-specific resources** — our [grade 12 exam papers](/grade-12-exam-papers) cover every subject with instant marking and AI-powered explanations
- **Understand what pass you need** — read our guide to [matric pass requirements 2026](/blog/matric-pass-requirements-2026-bachelor-diploma-higher-certificate) to see the minimum marks for Bachelor, Diploma, and Higher Certificate passes
## A Final Word: APS Is Important — But It's Not Everything
Your APS determines which doors are open right now. But it doesn't determine your future. Students who don't get into their first-choice programme go on to successful careers every day — through alternative universities, extended programmes, TVET colleges, or by upgrading their marks and reapplying.
The key is to start preparing now, apply on time, and have a backup plan. You've got more options than you think.
[Start practising with free matric past papers with answers -->](/past-papers)