WSU APS 2027: How to Calculate Points for All Campuses
Admission to Walter Sisulu University (WSU) for the 2027 academic year depends on your National Senior Certificate (NSC) results and your Admission Point Score (APS).
Check Your Personalized Bursary Options
Step 1: Choose Study Level
Step 2: Choose Field of Study
Step 3: Describe Your Interest
Tell us if you want bursaries, scholarships, admissions, or student loans?
WSU uses the APS system to assess qualifications for higher certificate, diploma, and bachelor’s degree programmes at campuses such as Mthatha, East London, Butterworth, and Queenstown.
WSU uses the APS, alongside specific programme requirements, to decide if you qualify for a course.
The English language mark is especially important because it must meet the minimum requirement for all certificate, diploma, and degree qualifications.
Life Orientation is usually not included in the APS calculation except for programmes in the Faculty of Education, where Life Orientation may count if specified.
Step‑by‑Step Instructions to Calculate Your APS
- Step 1: Get your NSC results
After you complete Grade 12, obtain your official NSC certificate showing percentages for each subject. - Step 2: List all your NSC subject percentages
Enter the marks you received for each subject you sat for, such as English, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and others. - Step 3: Convert each percentage to APS points
Use the WSU APS conversion table below to turn each subject percentage into a point score. - Step 4: Exclude Life Orientation (if not required)
Unless you apply for a qualification that specially includes Life Orientation (such as certain Education programmes), do not include Life Orientation in your APS calculation. - Step 5: Choose your best six subjects
Select the six subjects with the highest APS points, including one language (English or another home language) and your best other subjects that meet programme needs. - Step 6: Add the APS points together
Total the APS points of the six chosen subjects to get your overall APS score. - Step 7: Compare your APS with programme requirements
Each programme at WSU has a minimum APS requirement. Make sure your score meets or exceeds the listed requirement.
WSU APS Table (NSC % to APS Points)
Below is the official WSU APS conversion table used to calculate points for NSC results:
| NSC Percentage | WSU APS Points |
| 90 ‑ 100 | 8 |
| 80 ‑ 89 | 7 |
| 70 ‑ 79 | 6 |
| 60 ‑ 69 | 5 |
| 50 ‑ 59 | 4 |
| 40 ‑ 49 | 3 |
| 30 ‑ 39 | 2 |
| 0 ‑ 29 | 1 |
This table applies to National Senior Certificate results and converts your NSC mark in each subject into APS points.
Use this table to assign points for your subjects when calculating the APS score.
Example APS Calculation
Suppose your Grade 12 NSC results (selected subjects) look like this:
- English Home Language: 78% → 6 APS points
- Mathematics: 64% → 5 APS points
- Physical Sciences: 71% → 6 APS points
- Life Sciences: 58% → 4 APS points
- Geography: 62% → 5 APS points
- Accounting: 55% → 4 APS points
Using the WSU APS table, this gives: 6 + 5 + 6 + 4 + 5 + 4 = 30 APS points.
If Life Orientation is included for a qualification that requires it, add the Life Orientation APS according to the specific rule, but most qualifications at WSU exclude it.
General Admission Requirements for WSU
WSU programmes usually require the following baseline admission conditions:
- Higher Certificate: NSC with at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching (usually English). Additional subjects may be required depending on the programme.
- Diploma Programmes: NSC with at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching and an achievement rating of 3 (40‑49%) or better in four recognised 20‑credit subjects (excluding Life Orientation).
- Bachelor’s Degree: NSC with at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching and an achievement rating of 4 (50‑59%) or better in four recognised 20‑credit subjects (excluding Life Orientation).
These requirements form the minimum eligibility for programmes.
You must also meet the specified APS score and any subject requirements listed for your chosen programme.
APS Requirements for Popular WSU Programmes
WSU does not publish a single APS requirement for all programmes.
Different faculties and qualifications require different APS scores.
Below are typical APS requirements used at WSU campuses for 2027 based on official prospectus information and recent faculty guidelines:
| Qualification Type | Minimum APS Needed |
| Higher Certificate | 18‑20 |
| Diploma | 22‑26 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 26‑30 |
| Faculty of Education | 24‑28 (may include Life Orientation) |
These values are indicative. Specific programmes such as Engineering, Health Sciences, or Accounting may require higher APS with specific subject passes such as Mathematics or Physical Sciences.
Always check the current WSU faculty prospectus for exact details.
Subject Requirements and Notes
- English proficiency is a requirement for all programmes, and you must meet the minimum language mark regardless of APS.
- Certain programmes require Mathematics or Physical Sciences at specific levels.
- Life Orientation is generally not counted in APS except where the faculty prospectus specifically states so (for example, some Education qualifications).
