Are you planning to study at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2026? Whether you’re aiming for a degree in education, law, commerce, health sciences, or agriculture, one of the most important steps in your application journey is understanding the APS (Admission Point Score) required for each programme.
In this blog post, you’ll find a full list of UFS undergraduate qualifications and their minimum APS requirements, as outlined in the official 2026 Undergraduate Prospectus.
What Is APS and How Is It Calculated?
The APS (Admission Point Score) is the total points calculated from your National Senior Certificate (NSC) results in your best six subjects (excluding Life Orientation, unless it counts for a specific course).
UFS APS Calculation Table:
| NSC % | UFS APS |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | 8 |
| 80–89% | 7 |
| 70–79% | 6 |
| 60–69% | 5 |
| 50–59% | 4 |
| 40–49% | 3 |
| 30–39% | 2 |
| 0–29% | 0 |
Note: Life Orientation contributes only 1 point and only if you score 60% (Level 5) or above.
UFS APS Requirements by Programme (2026)
Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
- BAdmin (Public Sector Management): APS 30
- BCom (Accounting): APS 33
- BCom (Private Sector Management): APS 32
- BAcc (Chartered Accountancy): APS 34
Faculty of Education
- BEd Foundation Phase: APS 30
- BEd Intermediate Phase: APS 30
- BEd Senior Phase & FET (various streams): APS 30
Faculty of Humanities
- BA (General): APS 30
- BA (Language Practice & Media Studies): APS 30
- BA (Psychology and Labour Relations Management): APS 30
- BSW (Social Work): APS 30
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (extended curriculum): APS 28
Faculty of Law
- LLB (Mainstream): APS 33
- LLB (Extended Curriculum): APS 30
Faculty of Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Nursing: APS 35
- Bachelor of Optometry: APS 36
- BSc Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy: APS 34
- Bachelor of Medical Radiation Sciences (Diagnostic): APS 32
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
- BSc in Biological Sciences: APS 32
- BSc in Physical Sciences / Chemistry / Mathematics: APS 32
- BSc in Information Technology: APS 34
- BSc in Agriculture (All streams): APS 32
- BSc in Sustainable Food Systems and Development: APS 32
Faculty of Theology and Religion
- Bachelor of Theology (BTh): APS 30
- Bachelor of Divinity (BDiv): APS 32
Faculty of Architecture
- Bachelor of Architecture: APS 33 (Selection based on portfolio and interview)
Diploma and Higher Certificate Programmes
Diploma in Music
- APS Requirement: 25
- Additional: UNISA Grade 5 in instrument/voice, audition, theory test
Higher Certificate in Music Performance
- APS Requirement: 20
- Additional: Selection test and audition
Application Tips
- Applications for 2026 open in April 2025
- Apply online via: www.ufs.ac.za
- Selection programmes (Health Sciences, Music, Architecture) may close earlier than 30 September