Walter Sisulu University (WSU) 2027 Admissions Requirements
Walter Sisulu University has officially opened applications for the 2027 academic year. However, admission will only be considered for applicants who meet the required qualifications and minimum admission criteria.
It is therefore important for prospective students to understand the entry requirements as well as the Admission Point Score (APS) needed for their chosen programme at WSU.
In this article, we provide detailed information about the programme requirements, APS score guidelines, and specific criteria that must be met before your application can be considered for admission.
Admission Deadline
The application deadline is an important factor to consider when applying to Walter Sisulu University.
Regardless of how strong your academic results may be, late applications will not be accepted. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to submit their applications within the official application period, which runs from 1 April to 31 October 2026 for the 2027 academic year.
Applying within this timeframe is essential to ensure that your application is successfully processed and considered for admission.
Minimum Admission Requirements to Satisfy
Prospective students applying for Higher Certificate, Diploma, or Bachelor’s Degree qualifications at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) for the 2027 admission intake must meet at least the following minimum entry requirements by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) guidelines before being considered for admission.
Higher Certificate Programmes
- You need to possess at least a National Senior Certificate with at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching.
- You may be required to possess other qualifications depending on the courses of your choice.
Diploma Programmes
- NSC Requirement:
- Minimum 30% in the language of instruction.
- Minimum achievement rating of 3 (40–49%) in 4 recognised 20-credit subjects (excluding Life Orientation).
- Disclaimer: Programme-specific subject requirements may apply.
Bachelor’s Degree Programmes
- NSC Requirement:
- Minimum 30% in the language of instruction.
- Minimum achievement rating of 4 (50–59%) in 4 recognised 20-credit subjects (excluding Life Orientation).
- Disclaimer: Subject combinations may differ per programme.
International Applicants
Prospective students with qualifications obtained outside the jurisdiction of South Africa must comply with the following requirements:
- Comply with the guidelines of Higher Education South Africa (HESA).
- Submit qualifications to SAQA for benchmarking where required.
- Contact WSU’s International Office for assistance throughout the application process.
Mature Age Endorsement
Applicants with a Mature Age Endorsement must adhere to the requirements in the WSU General Prospectus.
- Diploma Applicants: Must have an NSC with a Diploma endorsement.
- Degree Applicants: Must have an NSC with a Bachelor’s endorsement.
NOTE:
- Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee automatic admission, as the availability of space in each programme plays a key role in the selection process at Walter Sisulu University. Applicants are therefore encouraged to apply early and ensure that they meet all the necessary criteria to improve their chances of being considered.
How to Calculate the Admission Point Score
The APS is used to assess eligibility for admission based on NSC/Matric results. WSU calculates the APS based on the best 6 subjects (or 7 in the case of Education qualifications, which include Life Orientation).
🔢 WSU APS Conversion Table
| NSC % Score | WSU APS |
| 90–100% | 8 |
| 80–89% | 7 |
| 70–79% | 6 |
| 60–69% | 5 |
| 50–59% | 4 |
| 40–49% | 3 |
| 30–39% | 2 |
| 0–29% | 1 |
Note: Old Senior Certificate (Matric) values are converted in line with the table above for both Higher Grade (HG) and Standard Grade (SG).
How WSU Calculates APS
Walter Sisulu University groups subjects into three categories for APS calculations:
Category 1:
- 2 Language subjects (Home Language & First Additional Language)
Category 2:
- 4 Best subjects excluding Life Orientation and the two language subjects.
Category 3:
- Life Orientation (Only included for Education Faculty applicants)
Illustrations:
If you apply for an Education programme and your results include:
- English (Home Language): 70% → 6 APS
- Afrikaans (FAL): 65% → 5 APS
- Mathematics: 75% → 6 APS
- Life Sciences: 60% → 5 APS
- History: 80% → 7 APS
- Life Orientation: 85% → 7 APS
Total APS: 6 + 5 + 6 + 5 + 7 + 7 = 36 APS
Explore WSU Faculties for 2027
Prospective students are allowed to apply for up to three study programmes, selected from any of the following faculties:
- Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment, and Information Technology
- Faculty of Management and Public Administration Sciences
- Faculty of Economic and Financial Sciences
- Faculty of Law, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Education
Expert’s Advice: Each faculty has specific qualifications and subject requirements. We recommend that you consult the 2027 WSU Prospectus, which provides a detailed breakdown of all available courses and their corresponding admission requirements
Visit the official Walter Sisulu University (WSU) website to download the 2027 Prospectus, access the online application portal, and get support on admissions, funding, and student life.
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