Admission requirements at the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) vary by faculty and programme, but there’s a common baseline every applicant needs to meet before faculty-specific requirements are even considered. Once you know where you stand, head to our UMP application guide to start your submission.
General minimum requirements
- A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with admission requirements for degree or diploma study, or an equivalent qualification (e.g. IEB, Senior Certificate for mature applicants)
- Specific subject passes required by your chosen programme (e.g. Mathematics for ICT and Science programmes, English for Social Sciences and Education)
- A minimum Admission Point Score (APS) set by the individual programme — APS requirements differ significantly between a Higher Certificate, a Diploma, and a Bachelor’s degree, with degrees generally requiring a higher APS
Documents to submit
- Certified copy of your ID/passport
- Certified copy of your NSC or latest available results
- Proof of application fee payment
- For international applicants: a study permit application will be required after admission, plus SAQA evaluation of foreign qualifications
Faculty-specific notes
UMP is organised into three faculties — Education; Agriculture and Natural Sciences; and Economics, Development and Business Sciences. Programmes inside Agriculture and Natural Sciences (particularly BSc-track degrees and ICT) tend to set Mathematics and Science subject minimums, while Education and Social Sciences programmes weight English and Life Orientation more heavily. See our full list of UMP qualifications by faculty and our 2027 available courses guide to match your subjects to a programme. APS cut-offs are reviewed and can move each year depending on demand, so always check the specific programme page on ump.ac.za.
Mature age and alternative entry
Applicants who do not have a standard NSC but are 23 or older by the start of the academic year may qualify for admission through UMP’s mature age assessment process — contact the Admissions Office directly for this route.
APS and subject requirements change by programme and by year — treat the figures above as a starting point and confirm your specific programme’s requirements on the official UMP website before applying.