UCT National Senior Certificate Requirements
Understanding Admission Requirements and Score Calculations for NSC Holders
Minimum Admission Requirements for NSC Holders
To be eligible for admission to a Bachelor’s degree program, an NSC (National Senior Certificate) holder must have an achievement rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50-59%) or better in four subjects.
Assessment of Academic Performance For NSC applicants, three different scores are used to evaluate academic performance:
- Admission Points Score (APS)
- Faculty Points Score (FPS)
- Weighted Points Score (WPS)
APS Calculation
Add the six best subject percentages, excluding Life Orientation and Advanced Programme (AP) subjects.
Include English and any other required subjects for the intended program.
For instance, for programs requiring Mathematics and Physical Sciences, use the scores for English, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and the next best three subjects, excluding Life Orientation, to calculate the APS.
Results below 40% in any subject are not counted in the APS.
FPS Calculation
For Commerce, Engineering & the Built Environment, Humanities, or Law: The FPS equals the APS (out of 600).
For Health Sciences: The FPS includes the APS plus National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) scores (out of 900).
For Science: The FPS is out of 800 and includes double scores for Mathematics and Physical Sciences, English, and the best three remaining scores (excluding Life Orientation).
WPS Calculation (For South African applicants)
Multiply the FPS by the disadvantage factor to calculate the WPS.
The disadvantage factor ranges from 0% to 10%, except for Health Sciences applications, where it ranges from 0% to 20%.
Disadvantage Factor
The disadvantage factor is a percentage used in the WPS calculation, tailored to the applicant’s background. A Disadvantage Factor Calculator is available online for accurate computation.
Conclusion Admission to various faculties depends on these calculated scores. It’s important for NSC applicants to understand how these scores are computed and the significance of each in the admission process. Applicants are advised to utilize the available online tools, such as the Disadvantage Factor Calculator, for a better understanding of their eligibility and chances of admission.
