Nelson Mandela University Admission / Entry Requirements
Your admission to Nelson Mandela University is dependent on you meeting the specific admission requirements / APS for your chosen qualification. If you don’t meet these requirements, you may want to consider alternative qualifications or possibly, if you qualify, an extended programme (refer to the college admission requirements), enabling you to register for limited modules in your first year.
Here are the Nelson Mandela University Admission Requirements:
Entry requirements
- The table below explains how well you will need to do in your school subjects to meet the minimum entry requirements for each type of qualification.
- It is important to note that the table refers to minimum entry requirements.
- The university may add additional requirements for specific programmes.
| Qualification | Minimum Statutory Entry Requirement |
|---|---|
| Higher Certificate | Pass NSC, with a minimum of 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the higher education institution, together with any other university requirements. |
| Diploma | Pass NSC with: An achievement rating of 3 (40 -49 %) or better in four subjects, together with any other university requirements. |
| Bachelors Degree | Pass NSC with: An achievement rating of 4 (50 – 59 %) or better in four subjects from the designated list, together with any other university requirements. |
Designated subjects
- Applicants who wish to enroll for a degree programme need to ensure that four of their seven subjects are from the designated list.
- The list already includes three of the four compulsory subjects for obtaining the NSC, namely, Languages, Maths or Maths Literacy.
- A learner must then select one or more subjects from the list below, provided that they are not from the same group in order to apply for a degree programme.
| Accounting | Languages |
| Agricultural Sciences | Life Sciences |
| Business Studies | Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy |
| Dramatic Arts | Music |
| Economics | Physical Sciences |
| Engineering Graphics and Design | Religion Studies |
| Geography | Visual Arts |
| History | Consumer Studies |
| Information Technology |
How to calculate your Admission Point Score (APS)
- The APS system allocates point values to the levels of achievement obtained for your matric subjects.
- Write down your relevant NSC subjects and the levels obtained.
- Allocate points according to the table below.
- Add up the number of points you have to calculate your APS.
- Alternatively, use our online APS calculator
Table A: School Performance Score (SPS)
| NSC | NSC % | APS | APS Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 90 -100 % | ||
| 7 | 80 -100 % | 7 | 80 -89 % |
| 6 | 70 -79 % | 6 | 70 -79 % |
| 5 | 60 -69 % | 5 | 60 -69 % |
| 4 | 50 -59 % | 4 | 50 -59 % |
| 3 | 40 -49 % | 3 | 40 -49 % |
| 2 | 30 -39 % | 2 | 30 -39 % |
| 1 | 0 -29 % | 0 | 0 -29 % |
Example 1
To enrol for the Diploma (Analytical Chemistry) you need an Admission Point Score (APS) of at least 34, as well as a National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass in Mathematics & Physical Science on at least a level 4 (50 – 59 %).
| NSC Subject | NSC % | Level | APS Points allocated |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 65 % | 5 | 5 |
| Xhosa | 60 % | 5 | 5 |
| Mathematics | 70 % | 6 | 6 |
| Geography | 55 % | 4 | 4 |
| History | 80 % | 7 | 7 |
| Life Orientation | 74 % | 6 | 6 |
| Physical Science | 71 % | 6 | 6 |
| Admission Point Score | 39 |
This applicant has met the minimum requirements for admission to the Diploma (Analytical Chemistry).
Example 2
To enrol for the BCom (Accounting) you need an Admission Point Score (APS) of at least 38, as well as four subjects from the designated list and a pass in Mathematics on at least level 5 (60 69 %).
| Matric Subject | NSC % | Level | APS Points Allocated |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 70 % | 6 | 6 |
| Afrikaans | 80 % | 7 | 7 |
| Mathematics | 69 % | 5 | 5 |
| Accounting | 65 % | 5 | 5 |
| Life Orientation | 60 % | 5 | 5 |
| Physical Science | 74 % | 6 | 6 |
| Life Sciences | 81 % | 7 | 7 |
| Admission Point Score | 41 |
This student has met the minimum admission requirements for the BCom (Accounting) programme.
Additional requirements
In addition to the minimum APS requirement, additional subject requirements have been set. These include:
- Mathematics: This is required for certain programmes. Only performance in the core Mathematics topics (papers 1 and 2) will be used when making admission decisions. However, school learners are encouraged to also take the optional Mathematics topics. In certain programmes, applicants who have Mathematical Literacy instead of Mathematics may be admitted to a programme where a Mathematics entry requirement has been set. In this instance, additional modules may be added to the programme, which may extend the length of the programme.
- Mathematical Literacy: In view of the importance of quantitative literacy for success at Higher Education studies, a minimum of a 3 (40-49%) for Mathematical Literacy is preferred for likely admission to National Higher Certificate and National Diploma programmes and a 4 (50-59%) for likely admission to degree programmes where Mathematics is not a requirement, unless otherwise indicated.