Is 38 a good APS score?

An APS of 38 is higher than about 94% of students who used the NavyBlue APS calculator, where the middle score is 26. APS 38 is competitive enough for BCom Chartered Accountancy at top tier, advanced engineering streams and BSc programmes with Honours-track intent.

Is 38 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 38? Courses at SA Universities (2027)

Q: What can I study with 38 APS points?

Students with an APS of 38 qualified for a median of 77 programmes when they checked on NavyBlue. APS 38 is competitive enough for BCom Chartered Accountancy at top tier, advanced engineering streams and BSc programmes with Honours-track intent.

NavyBlue Editorial Team

Higher Education Content

Published 16 Apr 2026Verified against university prospectuses 2027

What can I study with an APS score of 38?

APS 38 is competitive enough for BCom Chartered Accountancy at top tier, advanced engineering streams and BSc programmes with Honours-track intent.

How an APS of 38 compares

94%

of students scored lower than 38

is the middle score, so 38 sits above it

programmes the typical student with APS 38 qualified for

Based on 11 419 students who used the NavyBlue APS calculator between June 2026 to August 2026, including 143 with an APS of exactly 38. 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 38 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 38

Course / Degree	Typical universities
BCom Chartered Accountancy	UP, UJ, Wits, Stellenbosch
BEng (competitive streams)	Wits, UCT, UP
BSc Actuarial Sciences	UP, NWU

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