Prospective teachers applying to the University of South Africa want a straightforward answer to one question: what APS score do you need to study a teaching qualification at UNISA? This article sets out the exact APS requirements for each Bachelor of Education stream, explains how UNISA calculates the score, and covers the alternative entry routes available to applicants who fall short of the minimum.
What APS Means and How UNISA Uses It
APS stands for Admission Point Score, sometimes shown on UNISA’s own qualification pages as “APS/AS.” It is a numerical value that converts a student’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) results into points, giving the university a standardised way to assess whether an applicant meets the minimum academic bar for a specific qualification.
UNISA calculates APS from an applicant’s best six NSC subjects, using the achievement level of each subject rather than the raw percentage. Life Orientation is generally excluded from this calculation for degree-purpose applications, though it still needs to be passed as part of the NSC. Each subject’s achievement level, ranging from Level 1 (the lowest) to Level 7 (the highest), converts directly into an equivalent number of points, and the six subject scores are added together to produce the final APS.
The table below shows how NSC achievement levels typically convert into APS points.
| NSC Achievement Level | Percentage Range | APS Points |
|---|---|---|
| Level 7 | 80–100% | 7 |
| Level 6 | 70–79% | 6 |
| Level 5 | 60–69% | 5 |
| Level 4 | 50–59% | 4 |
| Level 3 | 40–49% | 3 |
| Level 2 | 30–39% | 2 |
| Level 1 | 0–29% | 1 |
A student’s APS is therefore the sum of six achievement-level scores, meaning the maximum possible APS under this system sits at 42 (seven subjects at Level 7 each, minus Life Orientation from the count). Most teaching-qualification applicants land well below this ceiling, since UNISA’s minimum thresholds for Bachelor of Education programmes are set considerably lower than for competitive professional degrees like medicine or engineering.
APS Requirements for UNISA’s Bachelor of Education Degrees
UNISA’s current four-year Bachelor of Education (BEd) qualifications require an APS/AS of 23 across all three teaching phases. This applies consistently whether the applicant is aiming for Foundation Phase, Intermediate Phase, or Senior Phase and Further Education and Training (FET) Phase teaching.
| BEd Qualification | Grades Covered | Qualification Code | APS/AS Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEd in Foundation Phase Teaching | Grade R to Grade 3 | 90102 | 23 |
| BEd in Intermediate Phase Teaching | Grade 4 to Grade 7 | 90103 | 23 |
| BEd in Senior Phase and FET Teaching | Grade 7 to Grade 12 (subject-dependent) | 90104 | 23 |
An APS of 23 is achievable with a solid, though not exceptional, matric result. For example, six subjects each passed at Level 4 (50–59%) would produce an APS of exactly 24, already above the minimum. A mix of some Level 3 and some Level 4 results across six subjects can still reach 23, which makes the BEd accessible to a wide range of NSC graduates compared with more selective residential universities.
Meeting the APS minimum is necessary but not automatically sufficient. Each BEd stream carries additional subject-specific requirements tied to the language of instruction and, for certain streams, mathematics or specific subject combinations. An applicant needs to satisfy both the overall APS threshold and any stream-specific subject conditions before an offer is made.
Language and Subject Requirements Alongside APS
Because teaching is a profession built on communication, UNISA sets a minimum language requirement in addition to the APS score. Applicants generally need at least a Level 4 (50%) pass in the language of teaching and learning, which is the language the qualification is delivered in, most commonly English.
For Intermediate Phase streams that include Mathematics or Natural Sciences and Technology as a teaching subject, applicants also need a minimum result in Mathematics, typically 40% for Mathematics or 50% for Mathematical Literacy, depending on the specific stream and subject combination chosen. Applicants targeting Senior Phase or FET streams with subjects like Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Accounting, or a specific home language need to check the subject-specific admission notes for that particular stream code, since these requirements differ from one subject combination to another.
APS for UNISA’s Postgraduate Teaching Qualifications
Students who already hold a non-education Bachelor’s degree and want to become teachers through a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) face a different admission logic. Since the PGCE is a postgraduate qualification, it does not use an NSC-based APS score in the same way as the BEd. Instead, UNISA lists an APS/AS figure calculated from the completed undergraduate qualification and its relevant subject content at second- or third-year level. For most PGCE streams at UNISA, this figure sits around 50, reflecting the fact that the applicant is being assessed on degree-level academic performance rather than matric results.
The core requirement for PGCE admission is an appropriate accredited Bachelor’s degree, generally 360 or 480 credits, with specific school-subject content completed to the required academic year level. A graduate wanting to teach Life Sciences at PGCE level, for instance, needs Life Sciences completed to at least second- or third-year university level, not simply a general degree. Applicants who do not meet these subject-content requirements are usually advised to apply for a BEd degree instead, since the BEd builds subject content into the four-year curriculum from the start.
APS for the Higher Certificate in Education (Access Route)
Applicants whose APS falls below 23 are not automatically excluded from a teaching career at UNISA. The Higher Certificate in Education, a one-year NQF Level 5 qualification, requires a considerably lower APS/AS of 18 and functions as a formal access route into the BEd programmes.
The Higher Certificate is offered in three streams:
- Foundation Phase and Intermediate Phase (FIP) stream, which includes a compulsory Mathematics for Teachers module and leads into the BEd Foundation Phase or BEd Intermediate Phase
- Senior Phase/FET (SPF) stream, which leads into the corresponding BEd Senior Phase and FET streams
- Senior Phase Mathematics and Science Education (SMS) stream, aimed at students wanting to meet Senior Phase Mathematics or Science subject requirements specifically
Completing a Higher Certificate stream satisfies the admission requirement for the matching BEd phase, even if the student’s original NSC-based APS was below 23. It is worth noting that Higher Certificate places are limited, and UNISA generally prioritises applicants who achieve an average of 65% or higher in the Higher Certificate when allocating spaces in the subsequent BEd programme, so the access route works best for students who commit fully to that first year.
Honours-Level APS for Qualified Teachers
Teachers who already hold a four-year professional teaching qualification and want to pursue further study through a Bachelor of Education Honours degree face a different APS scale again. UNISA lists an APS/AS of 60 for its BEd Honours programme, calculated from the applicant’s academic performance in their prior degree rather than matric results. The core requirement is a minimum average of 60% for the NQF Level 7 modules in an existing four-year teaching degree, or an appropriate Bachelor’s degree combined with a recognised professional teaching qualification at the same average.
How UNISA’s APS Requirements Compare to Other South African Universities
UNISA’s APS threshold for BEd degrees sits on the more accessible end of the national range. Several contact universities set their minimum BEd APS requirements higher, particularly for competitive campuses or specific specialisations.
| University | Typical BEd APS Requirement |
|---|---|
| UNISA | 23 |
| University of Pretoria | 28 |
| University of Johannesburg | 26 and above |
| Nelson Mandela University | 27–30 |
| University of the Witwatersrand | 34 (highly competitive) |
This comparison illustrates why UNISA remains a popular choice for students whose matric results fall short of contact-university requirements, without meaning the qualification itself is any less rigorous once a student is admitted and progressing through the four-year curriculum.
What Happens After Meeting the APS Requirement
Meeting the APS score and subject requirements makes an applicant eligible for consideration, but it does not guarantee a space in the programme. UNISA allocates a limited number of places each intake, and popular BEd streams can receive more qualifying applicants than available spaces, particularly for Foundation Phase and Intermediate Phase teaching. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements should still apply within the official application window and expect that a strong academic profile, including results above the minimum APS, improves the chance of receiving an offer where demand exceeds capacity.
Successful applicants who register for any UNISA BEd degree must also register with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) from their first year of study, since SACE registration is a professional requirement for anyone completing an initial teacher education qualification in South Africa, independent of the APS or admission process itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum APS score for a BEd at UNISA?
The minimum APS/AS is 23 for all three UNISA BEd streams: Foundation Phase, Intermediate Phase, and Senior Phase and FET Teaching.
Can I study education at UNISA if my APS is below 23?
Yes, through the Higher Certificate in Education, which requires an APS/AS of only 18 and serves as a recognised access route into the matching BEd stream once completed.
Does UNISA calculate APS the same way as other South African universities?
The underlying method, converting NSC achievement levels into points across six subjects, is broadly consistent across South African universities, but each institution and qualification sets its own minimum threshold, so the same APS can meet UNISA’s requirement while falling short elsewhere.
Is Life Orientation included in the APS calculation for UNISA’s BEd programmes?
No. Life Orientation is generally excluded from the APS calculation, which is based on the applicant’s best six other NSC subjects.
Do I need a specific APS for a PGCE at UNISA?
The PGCE is postgraduate, so admission is based primarily on holding an appropriate Bachelor’s degree with the required subject content at second- or third-year level, rather than an NSC-based APS score.