University Courses Requirements

Admission Requirements: Each university has its own general admission requirements. The two predominant general requirements for admission to a course at a South African university are:

• A South African Senior Certificate (or equivalent)
• Proficiency in the language(s) of tuition

In addition to the general admission requirements, there are additional entry requirements for each course. These requirements are usually determined by the relevant faculties. Bachelor’s Degrees: The requirements for admission to a Bachelor’s degree programme is usually more or less as follows:

• A National Senior Certificate with university exemption (or the equivalent).
• Proficiency in the language of tuition.
• Applicants must have attained the minimum required marks for the school subjects listed as prerequisites for the course that they intend to study. Grade 11 marks will be used where applicants have not yet written their final Grade 12 exams.
• Students may be required to write National Benchmark Tests or other admission tests in order to assess their level of competence.
• Due to the vast number of applications, there is a selection process involved. Students who meet the minimum admission requirements are not guaranteed a place in a particular programme.

Further Information:

• Applicants who do not meet the minimum admission requirements for the programme of their choice may be placed in an Extended Degree Programme at some universities. The Extended Degree Programme takes an additional year to complete. Some universities have bridging courses for students who do not meet the minimum admission requirements for the programmes that they would like to study. These courses usually take approximately one year to complete. They are sometimes called Foundation Programmes or University Preparation Programmes.
• Applicants who are 23 years of age or older may, in some circumstances, apply for mature age exemptions if they do not have a Senior Certificate.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be applicable for admission to certain courses. This applies particularly in the context of postgraduate courses.

Where to find the Admission Requirements for University Courses: Most universities have websites where you can find all the admission information that you need. The home page will normally provide you with a link to the general university admission requirements, while the requirements for each course can usually be found under the relevant faculty. Alternatively, you can obtain brochures from the universities, or you can consult a student advisor or career counselor.   College Courses | University Courses