{"id":470,"date":"2026-02-24T01:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T01:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/?p=470"},"modified":"2026-02-22T19:24:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T19:24:48","slug":"ump-nbt-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/ump-nbt-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"UMP NBT Requirements 2027: Admission Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) is a growing public university in Mpumalanga, South Africa, offering undergraduate degrees and diplomas across faculties such as Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Education, Humanities, Commerce and Management, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many prospective students want to know whether writing the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) is part of the admission <\/a>process for the 2027 academic year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are NBTs Compulsory for UMP Admission in 2027?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes. The University of Mpumalanga requires applicants to write the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) if they want their application to be considered for undergraduate admission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UMP\u2019s online application instructions and some official admissions guides state that applicants must take the NBT before being considered for admission to its programmes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applicants are expected to complete and submit their NBT results along with their application documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

List of Faculties or Programmes Where NBTs Apply<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At UMP, the NBT requirement applies broadly to undergraduate programmes. This means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. All faculties generally expect applicants to have written the NBTs as part of the admissions process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Agriculture and Natural Sciences, including programmes like the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, fall under this requirement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Commerce, Management, Humanities, Education and other degree and diploma programmes also require NBT submission for full application processing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    There are no clear faculty exemptions published in the official or admissions guidance. All first\u2011time undergraduate applicants should plan to take the NBT before final selection decisions are made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Comparison Between NBT Scores and APS Scores<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    At UMP, your Admission Point Score (APS) is a key academic measure used in decision\u2011making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    APS is calculated from your National Senior Certificate (NSC) results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It reflects your performance in your core subjects and indicates whether you meet the minimum academic thresholds for your chosen qualification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Higher APS points improve your chances of admission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    NBT scores are separate from APS calculations. The NBTs assess your academic literacy, quantitative literacy, and mathematics readiness independently of your school performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While APS determines whether you meet UMP\u2019s baseline academic requirements, taking the NBT and submitting your results is a formal admission guideline at UMP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The NBT result does not contribute points to your APS total but is used alongside APS and subject results when the university processes your application for the 2027 academic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here is the difference in function:<\/p>\n\n\n\n