Is 23 a good APS score?

An APS of 23 is higher than about 28% of students who used the NavyBlue APS calculator, where the middle score is 26. APS 23 covers most Diplomas at Universities of Technology and brings some extended or general degree programmes into reach.

Is 23 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 23 APS points?

Students with an APS of 23 qualified for a median of 33 programmes when they checked on NavyBlue. APS 23 covers most Diplomas at Universities of Technology and brings some extended or general degree programmes into reach.

What Can I Study With APS 23? Courses at SA Universities (2027)

NavyBlue Editorial Team

Higher Education Content

Published 16 Apr 2026Verified against university prospectuses 2027

What can I study with an APS score of 23?

APS 23 covers most Diplomas at Universities of Technology and brings some extended or general degree programmes into reach.

How an APS of 23 compares

28%

of students scored lower than 23

is the middle score, so 23 sits below it

programmes the typical student with APS 23 qualified for

Based on 12 121 students who used the NavyBlue APS calculator between June 2026 to August 2026, including 764 with an APS of exactly 23. 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 23 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 23

Course / Degree	Typical universities
Diploma (most fields)	TUT, DUT, CPUT, VUT, MUT
Extended BCom / BA / BSc	UJ, UFS, UKZN
BEd Foundation Phase (some universities)	Various universities

APS alone is not enough. Subject requirements (Maths, English, Physical Sciences) still gate specific programmes. Always verify on each university's prospectus.