Thinking about an overseas university application? It is important to understand the different pathways and academic levels to make the process smoother. Here’s a guide for South African students looking to study overseas.
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Academic Levels and Pathways
- Matric or Grade 12 with NSC/ IEB
If you’ve completed Grade 12 (NSC), you can consider several pathways, depending on your academic background. You can apply for direct entry into Year One of a university, International Year 1 or Foundation Pathway.
- Direct entry to year one of university if you have good marks: You need to have strong high school grades and meet the university’s specific entry requirements.
The marks will vary between UK universities, for example:
| University | Minimum grades required | English Language Proficiency |
| The University of Edinburgh | *Five subjects, four must be at Grade 6 (70%) or higher–for the Science, Engineering, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences degree program *Five subjects; three must be at Grade 6 (70%) or higher including Biology and Chemistry and one must be at Grade 7 (80%)–for the Medicine degree program | NSC or IEB grade of 4 in English OR IF NOT: IELTS score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component) |
| University of Aberdeen | A 65% average, with strong grades in subjects relevant to the program you’re applying to | NSC or IEB grade of 4 in English OR IF NOT: IELTS score of 6.0 |
| University of Sheffield | Five subjects, with at least Grade 6 (70%) and Grade 7 (80%), including any required subjects at Grade 7 (80%) where an A is necessary | NSC or IEB grade of 4 in English OR IF NOT: IELTS score of 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in each component) |
- International Year One: You can apply for this if you have completed high school but need improved marks and the English language. It is a two-semester program, the same as the first year of an undergraduate degree.
| Country | Minimum marks needed for International Year One | English Proficiency |
| UK | NSC with a minimum of 5 passes at 3 or above | Many universities may waive the need for additional English tests if the student has completed English Home Language with a minimum grade of 50% or higher in their South African Grade 12 (Matric) exams. OR IF NOT:I ELTS score of 5.5 (with no element less than 5.5, or equivalent) |
| US | NSC with an average mark of 60% or higher across four academic subjects | South Africans are typically exempted from English proficiency tests if their secondary education is conducted in English, but always check with the institution directly for confirmation. OR IF NOT: IELTS score of 6.0 overall or an equivalent score in other recognized English tests like TOEFL, PTE, or Duolingo English Test. |
| Australia | NSC with at least a 26 aggregate score in academic subjects only An average of at least 4.5 over their best five subjects in the final year, excluding Life Orientation | If you have completed at least five years of full-time study in South Africa, where most of your classes were in English, you may be eligible for an exemption. OR IF NOT: IELTS score of 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in each component) or an equivalent score in other recognized English tests like TOEFL, PTE, or Cambridge C1 Advanced |
| Canada | NSC with Level 4 average in four academic subjects | Any of the following: If your Grade 12 results show a strong performance in English or if your secondary school is recognized as providing English instruction, some universities may waive the English proficiency test requirement. You may need to submit proof of your English language proficiency (e.g., high marks in English subjects).OR IF NOT: IELTS 5.0 with no band lower than 4.5, or an equivalent score in other recognized English tests like TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, or Canadian Academic English Language |
Note- These are the general minimum requirements. For the most up-to-date information regarding your specific program and university, always verify with the institution directly.
- Foundation Pathway
| Country | Minimum marks needed | English Proficiency |
| UK | NSC with a minimum average grade of 60% across your subjects | NSC minimum grade of 4 (50%) in English OR IF NOT: IELTS 5.5 |
| US | NSC, with at least a 60% in six subjects | NSC English results (a minimum of 40% or higher) in English Home Language or First Additional Language OR IF NOT: IELTS 5.0 with no single element less than 4.5 |
| Australia | an equivalent of an Australian Year 12 qualification with an ATAR score of 50 or higher is needed | NSC English results (a minimum of 40% or higher) in English Home Language or First Additional Language OR IF NOT:IELTS 5.0 with no single element less than 4.5 |
| Canada | NSC, with an average of Level 4 in four academic subjects Some universities may require a minimum of three O-level subjects, with Mathematics being mandatory | NSC minimum grade of 4 (50%) in English OR IF NOT:IELTS score of 5.5 overall, with no band below 5.0 |
Note- These are the general minimum requirements. For the most up-to-date information regarding your specific program and university, always verify with the institution directly.
- IGCSE (equivalent to NSC Grade 10)
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is equivalent to the UK GCSE, Australia’s Year 10 Certificate, and the US and Canada’s high school diplomas. If you’ve finished your IGCSE in Grade 10, you can apply abroad via the Foundation Pathway. This means signing up for preparatory courses that can help you to have a smooth transition from high school to university.
The minimum marks required for South Africans to enter a foundation pathway can vary between universities, so it’s important to check the specific requirements for each institution. Typically, the minimum marks needed are as follows:
| Country | Grade requirement | English proficiency |
| UK | a minimum of 5 IGCSE passes at grade C or above is required | Exempted from English Language proficiency, if you completed the following:*IGCSE with English as a first language and obtained a grade C or higher in English Language *NSC with English Home Language at a grade of 50% or higher OR IF NOT: IELTS score of 5.0 (with no single element below 4.5) |
| US | Typically with a GPA equivalent to a US 3.0 or higher SAT or ACT scores (optional for some universities) – typically around 1100-1300 for SAT and 21-25 for ACT | South Africans are typically exempted from English proficiency tests if their secondary education is conducted in English, but always check with the institution directly for confirmation. OR IF NOT: IELTS score of 5.0, with no single element less than 4.5 TOEFL iBT score of 70-80 |
| Australia | at least 4 to 5 subjects at IGCSE level, with a minimum grade of C or higher in core subjects (such as English, Maths, and Science) | Exempted with English language proficiency, if you completed any of the following:*IGCSE with a grade C or higher in English Language *National Senior Certificate with a minimum of 50% or higher in English Home Language OR IF NOT: IELTS score of 5.0 (with no single element below 4.5) |
| Canada | South African National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a minimum of 60% in relevant subjects | South Africans are typically exempted from English proficiency tests if their secondary education is conducted in English, but always check with the institution directly for confirmation. OR IF NOT:IELTS score of 6.0-6.5TOEFL score of 80 to 90 |
Note- These are the general minimum requirements. For the most up-to-date information regarding your specific program and university, always verify with the institution directly.
- A Levels
- Required only for studying medicine in the UK or for applying to Oxbridge (i.e Oxford and Cambridge).
- Other UK Universities accept good Grade 12 passes (see above).
A Levels are not compulsory for South African students applying to UK universities. South African students can apply with a good Grade 12 pass (National Senior Certificate).
However, for medical studies, A Levels are commonly required. Note though that specific requirements can vary between universities. Most medical schools in the UK and Oxbridge universities require AAA grades in A Levels, including Chemistry and other science subjects.
- Bachelor’s Degree
If you have already completed a Bachelors degree, you can apply for direct entry to postgraduate programs, but you need to check for the minimum grade requirements. Please see the table below.
| Country | Grade requirement | English Language Proficiency |
| UK | A good bachelor’s degree, such as:First Class (1st): 75% or aboveUpper Second Class (2:1): around 60% to 70%Lower Second Class (2:2): around 50% to 60% | Some universities accept the NSC as sufficient proof of English proficiency, at least with a Grade 5 (60%) in English. OR IF NOT: IELTS with a score of 6.0 to 7.0 |
| US | A bachelor’s degree, with a minimum overall average of 60% or higher. | TOEFL: A score of 79 or higherIELTS: A score of 6.5 or higher, with no individual band score below 6.0 Note- NSC is generally not sufficient for postgraduate admissions in US institutions. Students are required to take IELTS or TOEFL. |
| Australia | A Bachelor’s degree, with a minimum average score of 60% or higher | Some universities accept the NSC as sufficient proof of English proficiency, at least with a Grade 5 (60%) in English. OR IF NOT: IELTS: A score of 6.0 to 7.0 |
Please note that the grade requirements mentioned above vary depending on the university.
If South African students do not meet the university’s grade requirements, they can consider enrolling in a pre-master’s program.
Different routes to applying to UK universities
- Honours Degree: This typically takes two to three years to complete depending on UK universities.
Grade requirement: South Africans need to have grades equivalent to A-levels.
- HND (Higher National Diploma) Route: This is a vocational qualification equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. South Africans can study this at a college in the UK. Once completed, they can progress directly into the third year of a related bachelor’s degree program at a UK university.
Grade requirement: NSC, with a minimum overall average of around 60% (Grade 5)
- Pathway Route for Highly Ranked Universities: This is an alternative entry point for South African students who do not meet the standard requirements for direct entry. This provides foundational support through small classroom settings. Once completed, students can progress to Year 1 of their degree in the same academic year (September).
Grade requirement: NSC average of at least 60% (Grade 5) across five subjects
- Master’s Year: It is typically a one-year duration wherein South African students with an appropriate Bachelor’s degree (Honours) can apply directly. Upon completion, they may have a post-graduation work visa which allows them to work in the UK for up to two years.
Grade requirement: A Bachelor’s degree with Honours (or equivalent) classified as:
- 2:1 (First Class Division) requiring around 70% or higher
- 2:2 requiring at least 60% overall
Different routes to applying to US universities
- Community College Route: This is for students who need more marks for direct admission. Students can start at a community college and transfer to a four-year institution later.
Grade requirement: A minimum GPA is typically not required, as long as you have completed a secondary education (equivalent to Grade 12). For example, Hawkeye Community College and College of Southern Nevada do not require minimum marks.
- Pathway programs: A preparatory course for South African students who lack English proficiency or pre-requisites for a master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in the US.
Grade requirement: A minimum GPA of 2.5 to 4.0 depending on the university. For example, at the University of Southern Florida, the minimum requirement is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (around 70% in South Africa), while at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the minimum GPA is 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (approximately 65% in South Africa).
- Master’s Year: In the US, it typically takes two years.
Grade requirement: A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to 65–69% in South Africa). Examples of universities that follow this requirement are the University of Southern Florida and the University of Arizona.
Different routes to applying to AUS universities
- Vocational Education and Training (VET): A skills-based program with potential for later university entry. Institutions offering these programs include TAFE (Technical and Further Education) like TAFE NSW; and Private VET Providers like Kaplan and Navitas.
Grade requirement: NSC with a pass, or some institutions require a minimum of 50% in key subjects
- Pathway programs: This is often offered by partner institutions or colleges, which can lead to entry into specific degree courses at universities such as the University of South Australia.
Grade requirement: Completed Grade 12, with a grade ranging from 60% to 70% (based on the University of Sydney and Monash University requirements)
- Master’s Program:
Grade requirement: Completed a Bachelor’s degree, with a minimum grade of 65% to 70% (based on the University of Melbourne and University of Sydney requirements)
Post-Study Work Opportunities
In the UK
- Work for two years after completing a Master’s degree
- Work for three years after completing a PhD
- Switch from a post-study work visa to a skilled worker visa if you get hired by a UK employer who is an approved sponsor
In the US
- Work up to 12 months after you graduate under Optional Practical Training (OPT), with a possibility of an extension to 24 months
- After OPT, you can work for 3 years with the possibility of an extension. This requires employer sponsorship.
In Australia
- Work up to 18 months after you graduate bachelor’s degree or higher. You can stay up to 2 to 4 years if you graduated from eligible fields such as healthcare, education, engineering and information technology.
- Opportunity for permanent residency through Australia’s Skill Select program if the necessary qualifications and skills assessments are met