VerifiedSefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) adds up seven subjects, including Life Orientation, for its health programmes, on a 7-point scale. Each programme also sets a minimum level for each subject, and Life Orientation has its own minimum. The figures below come from SMU’s 2026/2027 Undergraduate Prospectus and its schools’ admission pages.
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How to calculate your SMU APS
- Convert each of your seven subject marks, including Life Orientation, into points with the table below.
- Check that each subject meets the programme’s minimum level, not just the total.
- Add the seven scores. BSc programmes in the School of Science and Technology are the exception: they use six subjects without Life Orientation.
SMU APS table
| NSC mark | APS points |
|---|---|
| 80–100% | 7 |
| 70–79% | 6 |
| 60–69% | 5 |
| 50–59% | 4 |
| 40–49% | 3 |
| 30–39% | 2 |
| 0–29% | 1 |
The School of Pharmacy’s own admission page uses an 8-point table (90–100% = 8), which differs from the prospectus. If you are applying for BPharm, check with the school.
Minimum APS for SMU health programmes
| Programme | Minimum APS | Subject minimums |
|---|---|---|
| BSc (Dietetics) | 25 | Maths, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, English 4; LO 3; two others 3 |
| Bachelor of Occupational Therapy | 25 | Maths, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, English 4; LO 3; two others 3 |
| Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology | 25 | Maths, English, Life Sciences and another language 4; LO 3 |
| Bachelor of Audiology | 25 | Maths, English, Life Sciences and another language 4; LO 3 |
| Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery | 25 or 26 (see below) | Maths, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, English 4; LO 3 |
| BSc (Physiotherapy) | 28 | All seven subjects at 4, including LO |
| BPharm | 32 | Maths, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, English 5; LO 4; two others 4 |
| BDS (Dentistry) | 37 | Maths, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences 6; English 5; LO 5 |
| MBChB (Medicine) | 38 | English, Maths, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences 6; LO 5 |
SMU publishes the nursing requirement two ways: the Health Care Sciences admission page gives an APS of 25, while the table in the 2026/2027 prospectus adds up to 26 with the first additional subject at level 4. Aim for the higher figure. Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology do not require Physical Sciences. SMU does not ask for the National Benchmark Tests.
Selection
Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place: all SMU programmes are selected competitively, Physiotherapy and BPharm give preference to first-choice applicants, and Dentistry pre-selects on Grade 11 results. Nursing graduates register with the South African Nursing Council; most other programmes lead to HPCSA registration.
Applying for 2027
Applications for 2027 opened on 1 April 2026 and closed on 31 July 2026 for undergraduate programmes. The non-refundable fee is R300, with your ID number as the reference, and you may choose at most two programmes. See the Health Care Sciences admission requirements and our SMU fees guide.