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 APS 20? Courses at SA Universities (2027)

Q: Is 20 a good APS score?

An APS of 20 is higher than about 12% of students who used the NavyBlue APS calculator, where the middle score is 26. 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.

Q: 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.

NavyBlue Editorial Team

Higher Education Content

Published 16 Apr 2026Verified against university prospectuses 2027

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

12%

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 11 419 students who used the NavyBlue APS calculator between June 2026 to August 2026, including 451 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.