The University of Limpopo (UL) has finalized its Admission Point Score (APS) requirements for the 2027 academic year. To secure a spot at Matla a Diba (UL), meeting the minimum APS is only the first step; you must also satisfy specific subject requirements for your desired faculty. For 2027, UL continues to calculate APS based on your best six subjects, excluding Life Orientation. This guide explains exactly how to calculate your score and what the distinct faculty benchmarks are.
Quick UL APS Facts: 2027 Intake
- APS Calculation Method: Best 6 subjects ONLY.
- Life Orientation: Strictly excluded from the APS total.
- General Bachelor Degree Pass: Required for all degree programmes.
- English Requirement: Minimum Level 3 (40-49%) (unless faculty requirement is higher).
- Extended Curriculum Programmes (ECP): Available for students who meet minimums but require academic support.
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1. How to Calculate Your UL APS for 2027
The UL APS method is unique. Do not use a ‘Best 7’ or ‘Life Orientation Included’ calculator:
[Image: A simplified diagram showing a report card with seven subjects. Six subjects (English, Maths, Accounting, etc.) have green checkmarks and are added together. The seventh subject, Life Orientation, has a red ‘X’ and a large ‘0 points’ label, illustrating how the final UL APS is derived.]
Step 1: Convert Your Percentages
Use the official UL NSC conversion table to assign points to your top six subjects (excluding Life Orientation):
| Percentage Range | NSC Level | UL APS Points |
| 80% – 100% | Level 7 | 7 Points |
| 70% – 79% | Level 6 | 6 Points |
| 60% – 69% | Level 5 | 5 Points |
| 50% – 59% | Level 4 | 4 Points |
| 40% – 49% | Level 3 | 3 Points |
| 30% – 39% | Level 2 | 2 Points |
| 0% – 29% | Level 1 | 1 Point |
Step 2: Add Your Top 6 Points
Identify your six highest points (excluding LO) and sum them.
Expert APS Strategy: If you have seven subjects including LO, you must identify your worst academic subject (e.g., Geography at 45%) and replace it with your best ‘non-LO’ subject (e.g., Business Studies at 65%). NEVER include LO points in your 6-subject total.
Step 3: Check Faculty & Subject Requirements
An APS of 30 might meet the general degree requirement, but if you do not have Mathematics at Level 5 (60%+), you will not be admitted to a Bachelor of Accounting, regardless of your total score.
2. Faculty-Specific Admission Requirements for 2027
While the general Bachelor pass requires Level 4 in four subjects, individual faculties at UL set higher specific cutoffs for their competitive programmes:
Faculty of Health Sciences (Highly Competitive)
- Programmes: Medicine (MBChB), Pharmacy, Nursing.
- APS Range: 32–38+
- Core Requirements: Mathematics (Level 5+), Physical Sciences (Level 5+), Life Sciences (Level 5+).
- Selection Tests: Medicine programmes frequently require additional selection assessments.
Faculty of Science & Agriculture
- Programmes: BSc (General), BSc in Agriculture, BSc in Computer Science.
- APS Range: 28–34+
- Core Requirements: Mathematics (Level 5+), Physical Sciences (Level 5+). Technical Maths/Science are generally not accepted for degree programmes.
Faculty of Management & Law
- Programmes: Bachelor of Laws (LLB), BCom (Accounting/Economics/HR).
- APS Range: LLB (32+), BCom (28–32+)
- Core Requirements: For BCom: Mathematics (Level 4+) is mandatory. For LLB: Strong results in English and other languages.
Faculty of Humanities
- Programmes: BA (General), Bachelor of Education (BEd), Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).
- APS Range: 26–32+
- Core Requirements: Specific language requirements (Level 4+ in English) and sometimes additional selection tests (e.g., for BSW or BPsych).
[STRATEGY] The Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) Pathway
Did you miss the 2027 faculty cutoff by 1 or 2 points?
If you meet the general general admission requirements (26+ APS) but are slightly below the faculty minimum (e.g., you have a 30 APS for a 32 APS programme), you may be considered for an Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP).
This adds an extra year to your degree, focusing on foundational academic support in your first year. It is a fantastic opportunity to secure a degree from UL even if your final matric results were slightly lower than expected. Note: ECP availability is subject to placement test performance.
Important Notes for 2027 UL Applicants
- Life Orientation: Minimum Level 3 (40-49%) is required for admission, but it does not contribute to your APS.
- Provisional Admission: Early applications are often assessed using your Grade 11 final results. Final admission is only confirmed once your Grade 12 final results meet the specific requirements.
- NC(V) & Senior Certificate: Specific pathways exist for applicants with vocational qualifications or matric certificates from before 2008.
Final Thought: UL receives thousands of applications every year. Do not just aim for the minimum APS. Aim 2–3 points higher to ensure your application remains competitive during the final selection process!
