If you already know your Admission Point Score (APS) and want to know what’s realistically within reach, this guide flips the usual faculty listing around: instead of browsing faculty by faculty, find your score range below and see what opens up.
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) runs more than 400 programmes, and APS requirements swing widely, from Higher Certificates that accept a score in the high teens, right up to Engineering degrees in the mid-30s. Knowing where you land on that scale narrows things down fast.
First, How TUT Calculates Your APS
TUT works from your NSC (Matric) Grade 12 results, taking your best six subjects and leaving Life Orientation out of the total. A general Bachelor’s degree at TUT calls for an APS of around 26, though the real range across programmes runs from about 18 to 34.
Score Band: 18–20 (Entry-Level Options)
At this range, Higher Certificates are your main route in, along with a handful of Diplomas that set a lower bar:
- Higher Certificate in Information Technology (APS 18)
- Higher Certificate in Music (APS 18)
- Diploma in Fine and Applied Arts (APS 20)
- Diploma in Civil Engineering (APS 20)
- Diploma in Law (APS 20)
- Diploma in Policing (APS 20)
Most of these also serve as a stepping stone: pass well, and you can progress into a related Diploma or Degree afterward.
Score Band: 21–24 (Standard Diploma Range)
This is where most of TUT’s Diploma programmes sit:
- Diploma in Geology (APS 21)
- Diploma in Interior Design (APS 22)
- Diploma in Human Resources Management (APS 22)
- Diploma in Accounting (APS 22, with Accounting or Mathematics)
- Diploma in Economics (APS 22, with Mathematics)
- Diploma in Journalism (APS 22)
- Diploma in Industrial Engineering (APS 24)
- Diploma in Biotechnology (APS 24)
- Diploma in Sport Management (APS 24)
A number of these accept Mathematical Literacy in place of pure Mathematics, usually at two or three points higher on the APS scale.
Score Band: 25–27 (Competitive Diplomas & Entry-Level Degrees)
- Diploma in Architecture (APS 25)
- Diploma in Information Technology (Software Development/Support) (APS 25)
- Diploma in Multimedia Computing (APS 26)
General Bachelor’s degrees also start clustering here, around APS 26, before the more selective Engineering and technical degrees push the requirement higher still.
Score Band: 28+ (Engineering & Selective Degrees)
- BEngTech in Civil Engineering (APS 28)
- BEngTech in Mechanical Engineering (APS 28)
- Most other Engineering degrees (APS 28–34)
These programmes also carry firm subject-level requirements, typically English Level 4 and Mathematics or Physical Science at Level 5, not just a headline APS number.
Below the Minimum? Your Options Still Open Up
A low APS doesn’t close the door. Common routes in:
- Higher Certificate first. Several accept scores as low as 18, then articulate into a Diploma or Degree once you’ve built a track record.
- Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP). A 4- or 5-year structured version of a Bachelor’s degree, built for students just under the standard cutoff.
- Diploma instead of Degree. Same field, lower entry bar, with the option to progress later.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Relevant work experience can substitute for formal marks, via the Office of the Registrar.
Two Subjects That Matter as Much as Your APS Total
However you plan to apply, keep two subject-level rules in mind:
- Mathematics vs. Mathematical Literacy. Engineering, ICT, and most Science programmes want pure Mathematics. Business, Humanities, and Education programmes are generally more flexible, though often at a slightly higher APS if you’re relying on Mathematical Literacy.
- Portfolio and assessment requirements. Arts and Design programmes, and some Humanities programmes like Language Practice, add a creative portfolio, potential assessment, or interview on top of your APS. A qualifying score alone isn’t a guarantee in these fields.
Where to Apply Once You Know Your Range
- Confirm your exact APS using your six best subjects.
- Match it against the bands above to shortlist realistic programmes.
- Check subject-level requirements for your shortlist, not just the headline APS.
- Apply online at www.tut.ac.za, paying the R240 non-refundable application fee.
- If your APS falls short anywhere, look at the Higher Certificate, ECP, or RPL routes above rather than ruling the field out entirely.