Bachelor of Nursing
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Faculty of Health & Wellness Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+Maths Lit 60%+Technical Maths 60%+English 50%+Life Sciences 50%+Physical Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
What you need in matric
You must have
- English
- Life Sciences
Also good to have
- Mathematics (some degrees need it)
- Physical Sciences
- Life Orientation
University requirements
Compare the APS and subject requirements for programmes that can lead to Nurse. Universities use different APS scales, so check your marks against each university separately.
Bachelor of Nursing
DegreePeople who are interested in the medical field, are compassionate, and enjoy helping people.
APS 30
Bachelor of Nursing (ECP)
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Faculty of Health & Wellness Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 40%+Maths Lit 50%+Technical Maths 50%+English 50%+Life Sciences 50%+Physical Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor in Nursing
Durban University of Technology
Faculty of Health Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+Maths Lit 70%+English 50%+Life Sciences 50%+Physical Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Nursing
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Faculty of Health Sciences4 years
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+Technical Maths 50%+Maths Lit 65%+English 50%+Life Sciences 60%+Physical Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Nursing Extended Curriculum
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Faculty of Health Sciences5 years
Subject requirements
Maths 35%+Technical Maths 35%+Maths Lit 55%+English 50%+Life Sciences 50%+Physical Sciences 40%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Nursing
North West University
Faculty of Health Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+English 50%+Physical Sciences 50%+Life Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Nursing
Stellenbosch University
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences4 years
Subject requirements
Maths 40%+Maths Lit 70%+English 50%+Life Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Nursing
Tshwane University of Technology
Code BPNS20Faculty of Science4 years
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+Technical Maths 50%+English 50%+Life Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Campus: Pretoria Campus
Bachelor Of Nursing
University of Fort Hare
Faculty of Health Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths Lit 60%+Maths 50%+English 50%+Physical Sciences 50%+Life Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Nursing
University of Johannesburg
Faculty of Health Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+English 60%+Physical Sciences 50%+Life Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Nursing
University of Kwazulu Natal
College of Health Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 40%+Maths Lit 40%+English HL 50%+English FAL 50%+Life Sciences 50%+
Bachelor of Nursing
University of Limpopo
Faculty of Health Sciences4 years
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+English HL 50%+English FAL 50%+Physical Sciences 60%+Life Sciences 60%+
Bachelor of Nursing
University of Venda
Code SHBBNFaculty of Health Sciences4 years
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+English HL 50%+English FAL 59%+Life Sciences 50%+Physical Sciences 50%+
Bachelor of Nursing
University of the Free State
Faculty of Health Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 40%+Maths Lit 70%+English 50%+Life Sciences 60%+Physical Sciences 50%+
Nursing
University of the Witwatersrand
Faculty of Health Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+English 50%+Life Sciences 50%+Physical Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL, MAT
Bachelor of Nursing
Walter Sisulu University
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+English HL 50%+English FAL 50%+Physical Sciences 50%+Life Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL, MAT
Ways to become a nurse
The best way is first. If your marks are not enough for one way, try the next one down.
DegreeNQF 84 years480 creditsBest way
Bachelor of Nursing
To get in: About 30 APS or more. English, Life Sciences, A degree pass in matric. Many nursing degrees also want Mathematics. The marks change from one university to the next.
Many universities offer the Bachelor of Nursing. It is the top nursing qualification and also trains you as a midwife. You register as a professional nurse and can also work as a midwife.
Register as a student nurse with SANC when you start. Register as a professional nurse when you finish.
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DiplomaNQF 63 years360 credits
Diploma in Nursing
To get in: About 25 APS or more. English, Life Sciences, A diploma pass in matric. You need lower marks than the degree.
Public colleges of nursing and some universities offer this. Each province has a college of nursing, and training there is usually free. You register as a general nurse (staff nurse).
Public colleges of nursing: Gauteng College of Nursing (campuses include Chris Hani Baragwanath and Ann Latsky), Western Cape College of Nursing, Free State School of Nursing, KwaZulu-Natal College of Nursing
You apply to a public college of nursing through your provincial Department of Health, not on the college website. Applications open at set times, often around September for the next year.
You can study further, up to the degree and to speciality nursing.
Higher certificateNQF 51 year120 credits
Higher Certificate in Nursing
To get in: About 19 APS or more. English, Life Sciences or Physical Science, A matric certificate. You need about 19 points, much lower than the degree.
Nursing colleges and some TVET colleges offer this. You register as an auxiliary nurse and work under other nurses. You work as an auxiliary nurse.
It can lead to the diploma and then the degree.
Marks too low for the degree or diploma? Start here with about 19 points. You work, learn, and move up.
If you don’t get in yet
Are your marks too low for the nursing degree? You still have real ways in.
Start with the Diploma in Nursing
Nursing colleges and some universities offer a three-year Diploma in Nursing. It needs lower marks than the degree. You register as a general nurse, and you can study up to the degree later.
Start as an auxiliary nurse
Do the one-year Higher Certificate in Nursing. You need about 19 points. You work as an auxiliary nurse, then move up to the diploma and the degree.
Upgrade your matric
You can upgrade your matric: rewrite subjects like Life Sciences to get better marks. The government runs a free Second Chance programme. Then you can apply again.
Get ready to apply →How to sign up to work
You sign up with the South African Nursing Council (SANC).
- You must register with SANC. You cannot work as a nurse or use the title without it.
- Register as a student nurse when you start. Register in your nurse category when you finish.
- You must study at a SANC-accredited university or nursing college. Check it is accredited before you pay.
- After the degree, professional nurses do one year of paid community service.
- You pay a fee to SANC each year to stay registered.
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