17 University Courses You Can Apply for in 2025 with a Low APS Score

17 University Courses You Can Apply for in 2025 with a Low APS Score

Have you been searching for courses with a low APS score you can study in South Africa? Then you’ve come to the right place.

In this post, we will be sharing a few courses you can do at universities such as NWU, TUT, and more with a low APS course. 

Let’s get started.

Low APS Score Courses at UJ

FACULTY OF ART, DESIGN, AND ARCHITECTURE (FADA)

Course Name: FASHION PRODUCTION

Qualification Type: Diploma

Duration: 3 Years

Qualification Code: D8FP1Q 

Minimum APS: 20 with Maths OR 21 with Maths Lit 

English 4: (50%+) 

Additional Language 4: (50%+) 

Mathematics: (40%+) 

Mathematical Literacy:4 (50%+) 

Technical Mathematics: Not accepted

Campus where offered: APB

Possible careers: Fashion Production Graduates can be involved in the business, manufacturing, retail, and quality assurance aspects of the clothing industry.

Course Name: JEWELLERY DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE 

Qualification Type: Diploma

Duration: 3 Years

Qualification Code: D8JD1Q 1

Minimum APS Score: 18 with Maths OR 19 with Maths Lit OR 20 with Tech Maths 

English: 4 (50%+)

Additional Language:  4 (50%+) 

Mathematics: 3 (40%+) 

Mathematical Literacy: 4 (50%+) 

Technical Mathematics: 5 (60%+) 

Campus where offered: APB 

Possible Careers: Jewellery Designers and Manufacturers process designs and concepts in high-end commercial and contemporary commercial manufacturing processes.

Low APS Score Courses at TUT

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT 

Course Name: INDUSTRIAL DESIGN 

Qualification Type: Diploma

Duration: 3 Years

Qualification code: DIND18 

NQF Level: 6 (360 credits)

Minimum APS Score: at least 21

Campus where offered: Pretoria Campus 

Possible careers: Junior industrial designer, member of design and development team, junior design

Course Name: Construction Engineering

Qualification Type: Higher Certificate

Duration: 1 Year

Qualification code: HCCE18

NQF Level: 5 (140 credits)

Minimum APS Score: 20 - Excluding LO

Campus where offered: Pretoria and eMalahleni Campuses

Possible careers: Design, planning, construction, and maintenance of specialized field systems related to electrical engineering.

Course Name: Industrial Engineering

Qualification Type: Higher Certificate 

Duration: 1 Year

NQF Level: 5 (140 credits) 

Qualification code: HCIE18 

Minimum APS Score: 20 Excluding LO

Subjects: English OR Additional Language Subject -  4

                  Mathematic OR Technical Mathematics - Level 4

                  Physical Sciences OR Technical Sciences -Level 3

Campus where offered: Pretoria Campus

Possible Careers: Possible careers: Technician, manager, entrepreneur, and consultant.

FACULTY OF SCIENCES 

Course Name: Dental Assisting 

Qualification Type: Higher Certificate 

Duration: 1 to 2 years

Qualification code: HCDA01

Minimum APS Score: 18  Excluding LO

Subjects: English - Level 4

                 Mathematics -  Level 3

                 OR Mathematical Literacy -  Level 4 

                 Level 3 on any other subject

Campus where offered: Pretoria Campus

Possible careers: Assisting in a dental practice, assisting a dentist, infection control, stock control, and accounts. 

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

Course Name: Law

Qualification Type: Diploma

Duration: 3 years

NQF Level: 6 (360 credits)

Qualification code: DPLW20

Minimum APS Score: 20  Excluding LO

Subjects: English - Level 4

                 Bachelor’s degree or diploma pass

Campus where offered: Soshanguve South and Mbombela Campuses

Possible careers: Costs consultants at cost consulting firms, cost consultant proprietors, paralegals in law firms, paralegals at justice centers (Legal Aid Board), paralegals at the office of the Master of the Supreme Court, paralegals at the Deeds’ Office, paralegals at private companies such as Scorpion Legal Protection.

Find more here: TUT2025 Prospectus.

Low APS Score Courses at NWU

FACULTY OF NATURAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

Course Name:  Plant Science Crop Production 

Qualification Type: Diploma 

Duration: 3 years 

Minimum APS Score: 22 

Subjects:  English level 3

                  Physical Science level 3

                  OR Life Science level 3

                  OR Agricultural Science level 4

                  Mathematics level 3

                 OR Technical Mathematics level 4

                 OR Mathematical Literacy level 5 

Campus where offered: Mahikeng Campus

FACULTY OF ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

Course Name: Extended Bachelor of Commerce in Management Sciences 

Qualification Type: Bachelor

Duration: 4 years 

Minimum APS Score: 20 

Subjects:  English level 3 

                  Mathematics level 3

                 OR Mathematical Literacy level 4

Campus where offered: Mahikeng & Vanderbijlpark Campus

Course Name: Extended Bachelor of Administration in Human Resource Management

Qualification Type: Bachelor 

Duration: 4 years 

Minimum APS Score: 21 

Subjects:  Mathematics Level 3 OR Mathematical Literacy Level 4

Campus where offered: Mahikeng & Vanderbijlpark Campus

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Course Name:  Coaching Science 

Qualification Type: Diploma 

Duration: 2 years 

Minimum APS Score: 18

Requirements: National Senior Certificate 

                           Academic paper selection; best average mark

Campus where offered: Mahikeng & Potchefstroom

Campus

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

Course Name:   Administration in Development and Management with Local Government Management 

Qualification Type: Bachelor 

Duration: 3 years 

Minimum APS Score: 21

Subjects: English level 4

                 Mathematics level 3

                OR Mathematical Literacy level 4 

Campus where offered: Mahikeng Campus

Low APS Score Courses at DUT

FACULTY OF ACCOUNTING AND INFORMATICS

Course Name: Diploma in Business and Information Management (BIM)

Qualification Type: Diploma

Duration: 3 Years

NFQ Level: 6

Subjects: English Level 3 

                 OR English first additional language  Level 4 

                 Pass 5 subjects excluding LO

Other requirements: Diploma pass

Campus where offered: Ritson Campus (Durban) & Riverside Site, Midlands Campus (Pietermaritzburg)

FACULTY OF ARTS AND DESIGN

Course Name: Applied Arts in Commercial Photography

Qualification Type: Bachelor

Qualification Code: BACPHI

Subjects: NSC Rating Code English 3 

                  And FOUR recognized 20 credit subjects 4

Other requirements: A comprehensive test based on Photographic knowledge.  A portfolio of 3 photographic images from the following categories: Landscape, Documentary, Social, Architecture, Wildlife, Advertising

Campus where offered:  M.L. Sultan Campus

FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

Course Name: Hospitality Management 

Qualification Type: Diploma

Duration: 3 years  ( 2 years at hotel school, 1 year at learning hospitality organization)

Qualification Code: DIHSP1 

NQF Level: 6

Subjects:  English  Level 4

                  Mathematics  Level 3 

                  Mathematical  Literacy Level 3

                  Accounting  3 

                  3 recognized NSC subjects level 3

Extra requirement: All persons meeting the minimum entry requirements will be required to present themselves for an interview. Every learner will be required to have a Hepatitis A vaccination, which must comprise a primary and a booster dose. Full uniform (restaurant and kitchen) and kitchen toolkit are required for which the learners account.

Campus where offered: Ritson Campus 

Jobs: chefs, food service supervisors, front office personnel, guest relations, event coordinators, housekeepers, catering supervisors, bartenders, sommeliers, and many positions that are more relevant.

Course Name: Catering Management

Qualification Type: Diploma

Duration: 3 years

Qualification Code: DICTM1

NQF Level: 6 

Subjects: English Level 4

                Mathematics Level 2 

                Mathematical Literacy  Level 3

                Accounting  3 

               3 recognized NSC subjects level 3

Campus where offered: Ritson Campus 

Jobs:  catering manager/supervisor, chef de parties, restaurant supervisors, and event coordinators for various food service units i.e., hotels, hospitals, schools, prisons, cruise liners, universities, and canteens

FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

Course Name:  Applied Sciences

Qualification Type: Higher Certificate 

Duration:  1 year 

Qualification Code: HCIAS1 

NQF Level: 5 

Subjects: English Level 4 

                 Mathematics Level 3

                 OR Technical Mathematics 3

                 Physical Sciences Level 3

                OR Technical Mathematics     

OR N4 with Engineering Maths and Engineering Science with 50% together with English Level 4         

Campus where offered: Steve Biko Campus

If you are interested in applying to any of the mentioned courses in 2025 have a look at the opening dates here: 2025 university application dates. So that you can apply on time and secure your spot. 

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All the best with those applications.