The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) uses a 7-point APS scale and, in the rule it publishes, counts the seven prescribed NSC subjects with Life Orientation’s points halved. If you took extra electives, the four compulsory subjects and your best three electives are used. UMP does not publish a year-labelled 2027 prospectus; the minimums below come from its programme pages, which are the most current source.
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How to calculate your UMP APS
- Convert each subject mark into points with the table below.
- Halve the points for Life Orientation.
- Add the seven prescribed subjects: your four compulsory subjects and your best three electives.
UMP 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 |
Example
English 65% (5), siSwati 72% (6), Mathematics 55% (4), Life Sciences 61% (5), Geography 58% (4), Agricultural Sciences 50% (4) and Life Orientation 75% (6, halved to 3) give an APS of 31.
Minimum APS for UMP programmes
| Programme | Minimum APS | Key subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Certificate in Event Management | 19 (21 with Maths Literacy) | English 4 |
| Higher Certificate in ICT User Support | 20 (22 with Maths Literacy) | English 4 |
| Diploma in Entrepreneurship | 22 (26 with Maths Literacy) | English 4, a commerce subject 4 |
| Diploma in Agriculture (Plant Production) | 23 (24 with Maths Literacy) | English 4; Agriculture, Geography or Life Sciences 4 |
| Diploma in ICT (Applications Development) | 24 | English 4; Maths 3 or Maths Literacy 6 |
| Diploma in Animal Production | 24 (27 with Maths Literacy) | Physical Sciences 3; Life Sciences or Agriculture 4 |
| Diploma in Culinary Arts | 26 (27 with Maths Literacy) | English 4 |
| Diploma in Nature Conservation | 28 | English 4; Maths 2 or Maths Literacy 4; Life Sciences 4 |
| BEd Foundation Phase Teaching | 26 (27 with Maths Literacy) | Language of teaching 5, another language 4 |
| B Agric (Extension and Rural Resource Management) | 26 (28 with Maths Literacy) | Maths 4; a science 4 |
| BA (General) | 28 | English 4; Maths 2 or Maths Literacy 3 |
| BSc | 30 | Maths 4 or Maths Literacy 6; two of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Geography at 4 |
| BSc Forestry, BSc Environmental Science | 30 | Maths 4 plus science subjects |
| BCom | 30 | English 4; Mathematics 4 (Maths Literacy not accepted) |
| BSc in Agriculture | 32 | Maths 4; two sciences or Geography at 4 |
| Bachelor of ICT, B Admin, BA Media, Bachelor of Social Work | 32 | English 4 |
| LLB | 33 | English 4, another language 4, Maths 3 or Maths Literacy 4 |
UMP’s own pages disagree on the Diploma in Hospitality Management: the main programme page gives 24 (25 with Maths Literacy), while a revised-curriculum page gives 26 (27). Confirm with UMP before you rely on either.
Faculties
UMP has three faculties: Agriculture and Natural Sciences; Economics, Development and Business Sciences; and Education. ICT, hospitality and social sciences are schools within them.
Applying for 2027
Applications for 2027 opened on 1 June 2026. Undergraduate applications close on 30 November 2026. The non-refundable fee is R200 for South Africans, R400 for SADC applicants and R550 for other international applicants; use your ID or student number as the reference. You can choose at most two programmes. Some programmes, such as the LLB and several BSc degrees, select monthly, so apply early. Apply on UMP’s online applications page. See also our UMP fees guide.

