Bachelor of Arts
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Faculty of Humanities
Subject requirements
Maths 35%+Technical Maths 35%+Maths Lit 55%+English 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
What you need in matric
You must have
- English
- A degree (bachelor's) pass in matric
Also good to have
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics (helps with statistics)
- A second language
University requirements
Compare the APS and subject requirements for programmes that can lead to Psychologist. Universities use different APS scales, so check your marks against each university separately.
Bachelor of Arts
DegreeAPS 350
Bachelor of Arts
The University of South Africa
College of Human Sciences
No subject marks are available for this course yet.
Bachelor Of Arts
University of Fort Hare
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Subject requirements
English 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Arts (Extended Programme)
University of Fort Hare
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Subject requirements
English 50%+
Bachelor of Arts
University of Johannesburg
Faculty of Humanities
Subject requirements
Maths Lit 50%+English 60%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Arts
University of Pretoria
Faculty of Humanities
Subject requirements
English 60%+
Bachelor of Arts
University of Venda
Code HSBBAFaculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education3 years
Subject requirements
English HL 50%+English FAL 59%+
Bachelor of Arts
University of the Western Cape
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Subject requirements
English HL 50%+English FAL 50%+Afrikaans HL 50%+Afrikaans FAL 50%+IsiNdebele HL 50%+IsiNdebele FAL 50%+IsiXhosa HL 50%+IsiXhosa FAL 50%+IsiZulu HL 50%+IsiZulu FAL 50%+Sepedi HL 50%+Sepedi FAL 50%+Sesotho HL 50%+Sesotho FAL 50%+Setswana HL 50%+Setswana FAL 50%+Siswati HL 50%+Siswati FAL 50%+Tshivenda HL 50%+Tshivenda FAL 50%+Xitsonga HL 50%+Xitsonga FAL 50%+
Bachelor of Arts
University of the Witwatersrand
Faculty of Humanities
Subject requirements
English 60%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Arts
Walter Sisulu University
Faculty of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences
Subject requirements
English HL 50%+English FAL 50%+IsiXhosa HL 50%+Sesotho HL 50%+Geography 50%+History 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Arts in Humanities
DegreeBachelor of Arts in Humanities
Stellenbosch University
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Subject requirements
English 50%+Afrikaans HL 50%+IsiNdebele HL 50%+IsiXhosa HL 50%+IsiZulu HL 50%+Sepedi HL 50%+Sesotho HL 50%+Setswana HL 50%+Siswati HL 50%+Tshivenda HL 50%+Xitsonga HL 50%+Afrikaans FAL 40%+IsiNdebele FAL 40%+IsiXhosa FAL 40%+IsiZulu FAL 40%+Sepedi FAL 40%+Sesotho FAL 40%+Setswana FAL 40%+Siswati FAL 40%+Tshivenda FAL 40%+Xitsonga FAL 40%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Psychology
DegreeBachelor of Science in Mathematics and Psychology
University of Johannesburg
Faculty of Science
Subject requirements
Maths 60%+English 60%+Physical Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL, MAT
Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Psychology
DegreeBachelor of Science in Physiology and Psychology
University of Johannesburg
Faculty of Science
Subject requirements
Maths 60%+Technical Maths 70%+English 60%+Physical Sciences 50%+Life Sciences 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL, MAT
Ways to become a psychologist
The best way is first. If your marks are not enough for one way, try the next one down.
DegreeNQF 9About 7 yearsBest way
Psychologist (Master's route)
To get in: About 30 APS or more. English, A degree pass in matric. You do a 3-year degree with Psychology, then a 1-year Honours, then you must win a place in a Master's. Master's places are very few and very hard to get.
Universities only. After the Master's you do an internship and community service, pass the HPCSA board exam, and register. You register with the HPCSA and work as a psychologist, for example clinical, counselling, or educational.
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DegreeNQF 8About 4 years
Registered Counsellor
To get in: A Psychology degree, plus a BPsych or Honours with a practical year. A shorter route in the same field. You do not need the Master's.
Universities and some private colleges. You do a practicum and pass the HPCSA board exam. You register with the HPCSA as a Registered Counsellor. You do basic counselling and support, but not the deeper therapy a psychologist does.
Master's places are very few. Many students train as a Registered Counsellor instead, work in the field, and some apply for the Master's later.
DegreeNQF 8About 4 years
Psychometrist
To get in: A Psychology degree, plus training in psychological testing. Another route that does not need the Master's.
Universities. You do a practicum and pass the HPCSA board exam. You register with the HPCSA as a Psychometrist. You give and score psychological tests.
If you don’t get in yet
Your marks matter, but the hardest step is winning a Master's place. If you do not get in, you still have good options.
Train as a Registered Counsellor
With your degree and a BPsych or Honours plus a practical year, you can register as a Registered Counsellor and work in mental health. Some apply for the Master's again later.
Work and reapply
Many people get work experience, for example as a counsellor or in research, and apply for the Master's again the next year.
Use your degree in a related field
A psychology degree also opens doors in social work, human resources, research, and teaching.
How to sign up to work
You sign up with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
- You must register with the HPCSA to work as a psychologist or counsellor. You cannot practise without it.
- You register in a category: clinical, counselling, educational, industrial, or research psychology.
- You do an internship and pass the HPCSA board exam first.
- Clinical psychologists also do a year of community service.
- You give a police clearance and pay a fee each year.
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