NMU Admission Requirements for 2027 — Undergraduate Entry

NMU's admission system is built on the Applicant Score (AS), a number out of 600 calculated from a student's six best Grade 12 subjects (excluding Life Orientation). Every programme publishes a minimum AS, and each programme further specifies the subjects and minimum percentages required regardless of overall score.

How to calculate your Applicant Score (AS):

Add the percentages for your six best Grade 12 NSC 20-credit subjects. Life Orientation is excluded because it is a 10-credit subject. Your calculation must include:

Your Home Language
Your First Additional Language
Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, or Technical Mathematics

If you take seven NSC subjects, sum the best six (excluding Life Orientation). If you take eight or more, use the three compulsory/fundamental subjects, then add any subjects required by the programme, and then fill up to six using your next highest percentages. Applicants from Quintile 1–3 (non-fee-paying) schools who score 50% or higher for Life Orientation receive an additional 7 points added to their final AS — recognising the systemic challenges of under-resourced schooling environments.

Minimum statutory entry requirements by qualification level:

Higher Certificate: NSC pass with at least 30% in the language of instruction
Diploma: NSC pass with at least 30% in the language of instruction, plus achievement rating of 3 (40–49%) or better in four recognised NSC 20-credit subjects
Bachelor's Degree: NSC pass with at least 30% in the language of instruction, plus achievement rating of 4 (50–59%) or better in four NSC 20-credit subjects

Meeting these statutory minimums alone does not guarantee admission. NMU's own programme-specific AS requirements and subject thresholds apply on top of these.

Programme-specific requirements at a glance:

MBChB — Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Most competitive programme):

Minimum AS: 430
Online applications close 30 June 2026 — this is a hard deadline
Required subjects: English (Home/1st Add Lang) ≥ 60%; Mathematics ≥ 60%; Physical Sciences ≥ 60%; Life Sciences ≥ 60%
Admission subject to departmental selection after academic screening

BPharm — Bachelor of Pharmacy:

Minimum AS: 410
Online applications close 30 June 2026
Required: NSC Home/instruction language ≥ 50%; Mathematics ≥ 60%; Physical Sciences ≥ 60%
Admission subject to departmental selection

Bachelor of Radiography in Diagnostic (BRad):

Minimum AS: 390
Online applications close 30 June 2026
Required: Mathematics ≥ 50%; Physical Sciences ≥ 50%; Life Sciences ≥ 50%
Applicants must be physically fit and submit a satisfactory medical report before registration

BEng (Mechatronics) — highest engineering entry bar:

Minimum AS: 410
Required: Mathematics ≥ 60%; Physical Sciences ≥ 65%
Note: Completing the HCert Mechatronics Engineering at NMU with a 75% average (including 75% for MAT1011 and 65% for PHY1001) may qualify you for entry — but no credits from the HCert will be transferred

Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, Marine — all streams):

Minimum AS: 370
Required: Mathematics ≥ 60% (or Technical Maths ≥ 60%); Physical Sciences ≥ 50% (or Technical Sciences ≥ 50%)
Alternative pathway: HCert Mechatronics Engineering or HCert Renewable Energy Engineering (both from NMU) with 60% average and 60% for MAT1011

LLB (Bachelor of Laws — standard 4-year):

Minimum AS: 390 (Maths Lit: 385; Tech Maths: 385)
Required: English (Home Lang) ≥ 65% or English (1st Add Lang) ≥ 70%; Mathematics ≥ 50%
LLB Extended (5 years): AS 370; English (Home) ≥ 60% or (1st Add) ≥ 65%

BCom (Accounting Science — Chartered Accounting pathway):

Standard BCom Accounting: AS 410; Mathematics ≥ 60%
BCom Accounting Science (all 4-year variants): AS 410; Mathematics ≥ 65%
BCom Accounting Science (Law specialisation): AS 410; English (Home) ≥ 65% or (1st Add) ≥ 70%; Mathematics ≥ 65%

BCom General (Business Management) and related degrees:

Standard: AS 390; Mathematics ≥ 50%
Extended Curriculum: AS 370; Mathematics ≥ 45%

Bachelor of Nursing:

AS: 370 (Maths Lit: 385; Tech Maths: 385)
Required: Mathematics ≥ 50% (or Maths Lit ≥ 65%); Physical Sciences ≥ 50%; Life Sciences ≥ 60%
Extended Curriculum: AS 330; lower subject thresholds apply

BEd programmes (Foundation, Intermediate, Senior/FET Phases):

All require English and Afrikaans or isiXhosa ≥ 50% each (Home or 1st Add Lang)
Foundation Phase: AS 350; Mathematics ≥ 45% or Maths Lit ≥ 60%
Intermediate Phase: AS 370; same language and maths thresholds
Senior/FET Phase: AS 390; subject requirements vary by stream (Commerce, Science, Humanities)

BSc (Biological, Environmental, Physical and Mathematical Sciences):

BSc Biological/Environmental/Applied Maths/Mathematical Stats: AS 410; Mathematics ≥ 60–65%
BSc Extended Curriculum (Biological/Environmental): AS 370; Mathematics ≥ 50%

Bachelor of Health Science (Biokinetics):

AS: 370 (Maths Lit: 385; Tech Maths: 385)
Required: Mathematics ≥ 50% (or Maths Lit ≥ 65%); Life Sciences ≥ 50%; Medical report required

General Arts and Humanities (BA, BA Media, BSocSci, BSocWork):

AS: 350–370 (depending on programme); any one NSC Home/1st Add Lang ≥ 60%; Mathematics ≥ 35%
BSocWork: Mathematics ≥ 40% or Maths Lit ≥ 65%

Important note on Technical Mathematics and Technical Sciences: NMU accepts Technical Maths and Technical Sciences as substitutes for Mathematics and Physical Sciences across all Engineering Technology and most other programmes where these subjects appear as entry requirements. Technical Maths and Technical Science cannot substitute for Mathematics and Physical Sciences in programmes like MBChB, BPharm, or standard BSc degrees.

International and foreign qualification holders:

Use NMU's published equivalency conversion table to map your results to the NSC achievement standard before calculating your AS. You must also apply to the Matriculation Board for a certificate of exemption at mb.usaf.ac.za.

Nelson Mandela University

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