The minister of Higher Education and Training, Naledi Pandor, has lowered the minimum admission requirements for a Bachelor’s degree in South Africa.
BusinessTech reports that according to the latest government gazette Pandor wants changes to university admission standards after consulting the Council on Higher Education. She will apply these changes retroactively from 1 August 2018.
The new minimum admission requirement is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with:
- A minimum of 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the higher education institution as certified by Umalusi.
- An achievement rating of 50 – 59% or better in four 20-credit NSC subjects.
- A 20-credit NSC subject is a subject recognised for the seven-subject NSC package, which is where the biggest change comes in.
In March 2018, the Department of Higher Education revoked the country’s designated list of subjects, effectively making all 20 credit-bearing subjects offered as part of the NSC now have equal status (excluding Life Orientation).
Previously, for a Bachelor’s entry, matrics would have to have passed four subjects from a designated list of 18 – these were:
Accounting, Agricultural Sciences, Business Studies, Dramatic Arts, Economics, Engineering Graphics and Design, Geography, History, Consumer Studies, Information Technology, Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Music, Physical Sciences, Religion Studies, Visual Arts.
Now, of a pupil’s seven subjects in matric, all they require for Bachelor entry is 30% in the respective language, and higher than 50% for any four other subjects, excluding Life Orientation.
These requirements work with the pass requirements to achieve the NSC, making the following the minimum requirements to gain entry to a Bachelor’s Degree programme:
- Pass one official language at Home Language level at 40% or more.
- Pass 4 subjects at 50% or more (excluding Life Orientation).
- Pass 2 other subjects at a minimum of 30%.
- Meet the language requirement for entry to further study (30% or more).
“Adequate achievement in the NSC and in at least four 20-credit NSC subjects provides the primary basis for admission to a Bachelor’s Degree programme,” the gazette states.
