Verified against university prospectuses 2027
Published by NavyBlue Editorial Team
What can I study with an APS score of 20?
APS 20 typically meets the minimum for a Higher Certificate at most SA universities and for foundation or extended degree programmes. You still have strong paths into formal higher education.
How an APS of 20 compares
of students scored lower than 20
is the middle score, so 20 sits below it
programmes the typical student with APS 20 qualified for
Based on 20 190 students who used the NavyBlue APS calculator between June 2026 to October 2026, including 940 with an APS of exactly 20. Marks are entered by students and are not verified. This shows how you compare to other people using this calculator, not to all South African matrics: students who look up an APS calculator are more likely to be unsure whether they qualify.
Wondering how 20 compares generally? What counts as a good APS score in South Africa explains why the same number means different things at different universities.
Courses typically available at APS 20
| Course / Degree | Typical universities |
|---|---|
| Higher Certificate (most subjects) | UNISA, Univen, TUT, DUT |
| Extended / Foundation BA | UJ, UFH, UniVen |
| TVET Diplomas | Various TVET colleges |
APS alone is not enough. Subject requirements (Maths, English, Physical Sciences) still gate specific programmes. Always verify on each university's prospectus.
Universities to consider with APS 20
Next steps
- Check Higher Certificate APS minimums at each university's prospectus.
- Apply to 3+ institutions to widen your options.
- Look at UNISA's Higher Certificate pathway to build toward a degree.
Other APS brackets
Questions students ask about this score
Is 20 a good APS score?
An APS of 20 is higher than about 15% of students who used the NavyBlue APS calculator, where the middle score is 25. APS 20 typically meets the minimum for a Higher Certificate at most SA universities and for foundation or extended degree programmes. You still have strong paths into formal higher education.
Is 20 APS a Bachelor pass?
No, these are two different things. A Bachelor pass is decided by your subject results against the NSC pass rules, while your APS is a points total universities use to rank applicants. You can earn a Bachelor pass and still fall short of a programme's APS cutoff, and a good APS does not by itself give you a Bachelor pass.
What can I study with 20 APS points?
Students with an APS of 20 qualified for a median of 23 programmes when they checked on NavyBlue. APS 20 typically meets the minimum for a Higher Certificate at most SA universities and for foundation or extended degree programmes. You still have strong paths into formal higher education.
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