APS stands for Admission Point Score, a points-based system used by South African universities to decide whether you qualify for admission into a specific course. It is calculated from your final school exam results and is one of the first things universities check when reviewing your application.
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When Do You Need Your APS?
You’ll need your APS score in two key stages:
- During university application, often in Grade 12, when you submit your provisional marks.
- After your final results, universities confirm if you still meet the required APS before offering final acceptance.
How to Get Your APS Score
You can calculate your APS in three simple steps or use the APS calculator on most South African university websites. The general steps are:
- Look at your final exam results for your best 6 subjects (including compulsory subjects like English, and sometimes Maths or Life Orientation, depending on the course).
- Convert each percentage into a point score using the university’s APS conversion table.
- Add up the points to get your total APS.
Note: Each university may have slight differences in how they count Life Orientation or additional subjects
APS SCORE CONVERSION TABLE (MOST COMMON SCALE)
| Percentage | Points |
| 80–100% | 7 |
| 70–79% | 6 |
| 60–69% | 5 |
| 50–59% | 4 |
| 40–49% | 3 |
| 30–39% | 2 |
| 0–29% | 1 |
Example APS Calculation
If your results are:
- English HL: 75% → 6 points
- Mathematics: 68% → 5 points
- Life Sciences: 82% → 7 points
- Physical Sciences: 77% → 6 points
- Geography: 64% → 5 points
- Life Orientation (LO): 80% → 3 points (if counted)
Total APS (excluding LO): 6 + 5 + 7 + 6 + 5 = 29 points
Total APS (including LO): 29 + 3 = 32 points
What is the Purpose of an APS Score?
Your APS helps universities:
- Compare applicants fairly
- Ensure you meet the academic standard for your chosen course
- Select the best candidates when there’s limited space
Highest APS Score in South Africa
It depends on the scoring system:
- Most universities use a 42-point system (7 points × 6 subjects). In that case, the highest APS is 42.
- Some institutions include 7 subjects (maximum 49 points).
- Life Orientation is often capped at a maximum of 3 points or excluded entirely from the total.
APS Requirements for Popular Universities
Below are general APS requirements for some universities in South Africa (these can change each year):
| University | General APS for Degree | Notes |
| University of Pretoria | 30–36+ | Depends on faculty & course |
| Stellenbosch University | 32–36+ | Certain courses need a higher APS |
| University of Cape Town | 30–40+ | Uses a points system with additional weighting |
| University of Johannesburg | 26–36+ | Varies per course |
| UNISA | 20–30+ | Also considers NSC subject requirements |
What is “APS University”?
There’s no actual institution called APS University. The term is often used when referring to APS requirements for different universities.
For example, people might say “Wits APS is 42 for Medicine”, meaning the University of the Witwatersrand requires a high APS for that course.
IMPORTANT:
- A high APS improves your chances of getting into competitive programmes.
- If your APS is too low, consider a Higher Certificate or Extended Programme as a pathway.
