UNISA Admission Requirements with Exact Documents You Need

Before you apply to the University of South Africa (UNISA), you need to make sure you meet the minimum admission requirements for your chosen programme. You also need to have the correct documents ready before starting your online application.

This page covers both: what you need to qualify, and exactly what documents to submit.

General Admission Requirements

To be considered for a UNISA undergraduate programme, you must have:

• A National Senior Certificate (NSC / Matric) with a Bachelor’s, Diploma, or Higher Certificate pass, depending on the level of study
• The minimum APS score specified for your chosen programme
• The required subject combinations relevant to your field of study
• In some cases, proof of English proficiency

Applicants with foreign qualifications must have them evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before applying.

Minimum APS Requirements by Qualification Level

Each programme sets its own minimum APS. Always confirm the exact requirement for your chosen qualification on the UNISA website.

Programme-Specific Admission Requirements (Examples)

College of Accounting Sciences

• Bachelor of Accounting Sciences: NSC with Mathematics, minimum APS 23+

College of Business and Economics

• BCom Business Management: NSC with Mathematics (not Maths Literacy), minimum APS 23+
• BCom Human Resource Management: NSC with Mathematics, minimum APS 23+

College of Education

• BEd Foundation Phase Teaching: NSC with English, minimum APS 23
• BEd Senior Phase and FET Teaching: NSC with relevant subject specialisation, minimum APS 23

College of Human Sciences

• Bachelor of Arts (General): NSC with English and relevant humanities subjects, minimum APS 21+
• BA Criminology: NSC pass with minimum APS 21+

College of Science, Engineering and Technology

• BSc General: NSC with Mathematics and Physical Sciences, minimum APS 23+
• Bachelor of Information Technology: NSC with Mathematics, minimum APS 23+

Note: The College of Science, Engineering and Technology may require a letter of permission from the department before submitting your application.

Documents Required for Application

All Applicants Must Submit

1. Certified copy of South African ID (green barcoded ID book or smart ID card)
2. Certified copy of your National Senior Certificate (Matric) — or most recent school report (Grade 11 if Grade 12 results are not yet available)
3. Proof of payment of the application fee (approximately R140 to R150)

Additional Documents (Where Applicable)

• Foreign nationals: Valid passport and SAQA evaluation of qualifications
• Students with prior tertiary studies: Official academic record / transcript from previous institution
• Postgraduate applicants: Certified copy of degree or diploma and full academic transcript
• Master’s / Doctoral applicants: Research proposal aligned with UNISA’s research focus areas
• Mature students (23+): Evidence of prior learning or relevant work experience

Document Format Requirements

• File format: PDF (preferred), JPEG also accepted
• Maximum file size: 2 MB per document
• All documents must be certified (see below)
• Scanned documents must be clear and fully legible — blurry or partial documents will be rejected

How to Certify Your Documents

Documents must be certified by one of the following:

• Commissioner of Oaths (available at police stations)
• Magistrate’s office
• Post Office
• Bank (for specific document types)

Certification must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.

Common Reasons Applications Are Rejected

• Uncertified or expired certifications
• Missing documents
• Files that exceed the 2 MB limit or are illegible
• Not meeting the minimum APS score for the chosen programme
• Applying after the deadline without a late application slot available
• Applying for more than one qualification in the same application cycle