University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Undergraduate Prospectus Summary
This prospectus covers undergraduate study across four Colleges and five campuses: Edgewood (Education), Howard College (Law, Engineering, Nursing, Humanities), Medical School (Medicine), Pietermaritzburg (Agriculture, Science, Humanities, Law, Management), and Westville (Science, Management, Health Sciences).
Application Fee
South African applicants (via CAO, on time): R250
South African applicants (via CAO, from 1 November 2026): R470
Returning UKZN students (direct to UKZN): R210 (late: R420)
SADC and African international applicants: R490
International applicants outside Africa: US$153
Closing Dates
MBChB (Medicine): 30 June 2026 — earliest deadline in the prospectus. UKZN does not consider international applications for Medicine.
All other programmes (Semester 1, 2027): 30 September 2026
Semester 2 entry: 30 April 2027 (limited spaces, apply directly to UKZN)
No walk-in applications in January 2027.
APS Calculation — One Rule That Matters
UKZN excludes Life Orientation from your APS. You will need to recalculate without it — your LO mark counts as zero. The maximum APS is 48. Selection runs from 48 downward until spaces are filled, so the published minimums are floors, not targets. Aim well above them.
College Breakdown
College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science
APS range: 26–48 depending on programme
Engineering degrees: Maths and Physical Science at Level 5 (65%+) required. English and LO at Level 4.
BSc Agric programmes: Maths, English, LO at Level 4 plus Agricultural Science, Life Science, or Physical Science at Level 4.
BSc Stream (Mathematics track): Maths Level 5 required.
Engineering Access Programme (APS 28): Alternative entry for Quintile 1–2 school applicants. Maths, Physical Science, and English at Level 4 minimum. Very limited places.
College of Health Sciences
APS range: 30–48 for most programmes
MBChB: Maths, Physical Science, Life Science, and English at Level 5 with at least 65% aggregate. Six-year degree. No international applications considered.
Pharmacy and Optometry: APS 33–48. Life Science, Physical Science, Maths, and English at Level 4.
Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Audiology, Speech-Language Therapy: APS 30–48. Maths and Life Science or Physical Science at Level 3. Choices 1 to 3 on your CAO form only.
All Health Sciences programmes: Must be listed in your top three CAO choices to be considered.
College of Humanities
APS range: 20–48
BEd (Foundation Phase): isiZulu at Level 4 required — the only undergraduate programme at UKZN with a specific language requirement beyond English.
BA/BSoc Sc (General): APS 28+. One designated subject at Level 5.
BA Music Foundation (APS 22): Access route for students with no formal musical training. Audition required for all music programmes.
Extended Curriculum (BSoc Sc): APS 20+, Quintile 1–2 schools only.
College of Law and Management Studies
APS range: 26–48
LLB: English Home Language Level 5 or First Additional Language Level 6. Maths Level 3 or Mathematical Literacy Level 5.
BCom (General): Maths at Level 4, English and LO at Level 4. APS 30+.
Bachelor of Business Science (Finance/Investment Science): Maths at Level 6. APS 33+. The most demanding Commerce entry requirement.
BCom Extended Curriculum (4 years): APS 26–28, Quintile 1–3 schools preferred.
The VarsityToolkit Insider Tip
UKZN does not require or consider NBT results — stated explicitly in the prospectus. If another source tells you to write the NBT for a UKZN application, that information is wrong. Do not spend time or money on it for this institution.
What UKZN does require that catches applicants off guard: Health Sciences programmes only consider you if the programme appears in your top three CAO choices. If you list a Health Sciences programme fourth or later, your application will not be processed for that programme — regardless of your APS. With six choices available on CAO, the temptation is to load Health Sciences options across all six. You cannot. Prioritise carefully and confirm your three Health Sciences choices are positions one, two, and three before submitting.