UNISA Admission Requirement For Education

Your admission to Unisa is dependent on you meeting the minimum admission requirements for your chosen qualification and college. Meeting these minimum requirements does not, however, mean that your application will automatically be accepted, as each application will be considered individually.

If you don’t meet the minimum admission requirements…

If you don’t meet the minimum admission requirements for your qualification of choice, you might want to consider starting with a relevant lower-level qualification (eg a higher certificate or diploma) and then continuing with the degree on completion of your lower-level qualification. Work through the admission requirements for each level of qualification (eg degree, diploma and higher certificate) to determine whether you will be able to apply for a lower-level qualification related to your interests. Remember to keep in mind your career vision and goals, and how any qualification will contribute to these.

Bachelor degree

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS	LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT	MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENT	ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with degree endorsement	50% in the language of teaching and learning	50% in Mathematics – this only applies to students who wish to select teaching subjects from the following fields: Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Accounting and Agriculture	None
A Senior Certificate (SC) with matriculation exemption or qualify for the exemption from the Matriculation Board	A D symbol on HG or a C symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning	A D symbol on HG or a C symbol on SG in Mathematics – this only applies to students who wish to select teaching subjects from the following fields: Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Accounting and Agriculture	None
A National Certificate (Vocational) (NCV) level 4 Certificate with 60% in three fundamental subjects, including the language of teaching and learning in higher education institutions	60% in the language of teaching and learning 70% in four vocational subjects chosen from the NCV level 4 subjects. Subjects under the following categories are approved as eligible for a BEd degree: All official languages at First Additional Language level Agriculture and Nature Conservation Business, Commerce and Management Sciences Services Education, Training and Development	None	None
Applicants who have not obtained at least 50% in the language of teaching and learning, but who meet all other requirements for degree studies, may still be admitted, on the following conditions: Applicants will be limited to the following 48 credits at NQF level 5 in their first period of study: Two language proficiency modules – ENG1511 and ENN103F Two (12 credits) modules from their chosen programme All 48 credits must be passed before the student can continue with the degree curriculum.

Higher Certificates

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS	LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT	MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENT	ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
A National Senior Certificate (NSC)	An equivalent of at least 30% in the language of teaching and learning	None	None
A Senior Certificate (SC)	At least an F symbol on HG or an E symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning	None	None

Identifying other study options if you don’t meet the admission requirements for your qualification of choice

What should you do if you do not meet the admission requirements for any undergraduate qualification at Unisa?

You now need to explore options outside of Unisa to help you meet the admission requirements for your chosen qualification or you could reconsider your career goals and how you will plan your career.

Where to start?

If you have not completed matric or your results do not grant you admission to Unisa, you may want to consider other study alternatives related to your career goals. You will need to do research to help you explore the different options you have based on your circumstances and what you want.

Upgrading your National Senior Certificate or Senior Certificate

If you completed your Senior Certificate before 2008, you may contact your local district of the Department of Education for more information about completing the Amended Senior Certificate or search for institutions that offer tuition for this online. Click here for the Department of Education’s contact information.
You can search for institutions that offer contact and distance learning options to complete or upgrade your NSC. Do a search online for institutions that offer this option.

It is important that you enquire about the accreditation of programmes offered by private institutions. Read this article by Umalusi before you register for a qualification or programme.

What else can you consider?

Some websites to help you get started with exploring other study options:

Explore education options at Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges.
The Department of Higher Education and Training’s register of private higher education institutions will help you to identify institutions and study options. Note that only some higher certificates and diplomas will be relevant for consideration when applying for admission to a formal Unisa qualification.

Who can you talk to if you want to reconsider you career plans?

Contact a Unisa career counsellor at [email protected] to have a conversation about your career and appropriate study options.

Applying for credits from other higher education institutions

Unisa may recognise previous learning from previous formal education. This will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Not all credits achieved at other institutions will count towards a Unisa qualification. Your request for exemption(s) will only be considered once we have received your completed DSAR04 form and a certified copy of an official academic record, a conduct certificate and, in some cases, the syllabus. In the case of international qualifications, SAQA evaluation and the syllabus are required. No exemptions will be finalised on an academic record during the application period.

You must meet the admission requirements for the qualification for which you are applying for credits and/or exemptions. A maximum of 50% of the prescribed credits may be awarded in the form of credits and exemptions. No exemptions will be granted for Unisa’s signature modules. Unisa reserves the right to grant and/or decline applications for exemptions or credit transfers.

I wrote matric before 2009. Do I qualify?

If you do NOT hold a Senior Certificate with an endorsement indicating that you have been exempted from the matriculation requirement, please refer to the documents below to ascertain whether or not you are eligible to apply for admission to undergraduate degree studies (not applicable to students who wrote the National Senior Certificate examinations from 2008):