University APS requirements: where to check official rules (South Africa)
APS rules can differ by university and sometimes by faculty/programme. The safest method is always:
- Check your university’s official entry requirements page
- Confirm whether Life Orientation is included or excluded
- Confirm whether they count best 6 or best 7 subjects
- Confirm required subjects (Maths/Science/Languages)
- Use an APS calculator to estimate your score
👉 Try the UniHelp APS Calculator:
https://your-site/tools/aps-calculator
Official links (recommended starting points)
UCT (University of Cape Town)
- UCT APS calculator (official):
https://publicaccess.uct.ac.za/psc/public/EMPLOYEE/SA/c/UCT_PUBLIC_MENU.UCT_SS_APS_CALC.GBL
Tip: UCT may use faculty/programme scoring rules, so always read the programme requirements carefully.
Wits (University of the Witwatersrand)
- Entry requirements (official):
https://www.wits.ac.za/undergraduate/entry-requirements/ - Admission Requirements (NSC) section (official):
https://www.wits.ac.za/undergraduate/entry-requirements/admission-requirements-nsc/
Tip: Wits provides guidance on how they calculate APS and what subjects must be included.
UP (University of Pretoria)
- Admission Information (official):
https://www.up.ac.za/students/admission-information - Explore programmes (official):
https://www.up.ac.za/programmes
Tip: UP programme pages often show minimum APS and subject requirements.
Why your APS might differ between universities
APS differences happen because universities may:
- exclude or include Life Orientation
- count best 6 vs best 7 subjects
- weight certain subjects more (for some programmes)
- require minimum % in specific subjects (Maths/Science/Language)
That’s why it’s smart to estimate your APS in a “common” way, then confirm the official rules.
Quick checklist before you apply anywhere
- ✅ Do I meet the minimum APS for the programme?
- ✅ Do I have the required subjects?
- ✅ Do I have the required minimum percentages in those subjects?
- ✅ Is LO included or excluded for that university/programme?
- ✅ Do they count best 6 or best 7?
Next step: calculate your APS now
👉 Use the APS Calculator:
Try the APS Calculator
And if you’re unsure about your pathway after Matric: