Nelson Mandela University does not use an APS. It ranks applicants on an Applicant Score (AS), which adds up your actual percentages instead of converting them to levels. That is why the requirements in Mandela University’s 2027 undergraduate guides read 390, 410 or 430 rather than 30-something. Before you compare programmes, work out your own AS the way the guides do.
Calculating your Applicant Score out of 600
- Add the percentages of six 20-credit subjects, for a score out of 600. Life Orientation does not count because it carries only 10 credits.
- Three subjects must be among the six: your home language, your first additional language, and Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy or Technical Mathematics.
- Learners from quintile 1, 2 or 3 schools who score 50% or more in Life Orientation get 7 extra points.
- Most programmes print three AS columns, one each for Mathematics, Technical Mathematics and Maths Literacy. A dash in a column means the university does not accept that maths subject for the programme.
- Use your Grade 11 final, Grade 12 June or Grade 12 September results. The university does not accept March results.
The university makes conditional offers on these school results and final decisions in January, once your matric results arrive. Applicants with the highest AS get places first. The application page states that Mandela University no longer runs admission tests, so if your AS falls short, choose a different qualification. A few programmes still ask for a portfolio, an audition video or a medical report.
Minimum scores for five much-wanted degrees
These figures come from the 2027 faculty guides, which state that their information was correct as of April 2026. Each degree also needs the NSC bachelor’s pass.
- MBChB: AS 430 with Mathematics, and the other maths subjects are not accepted. You need English (home or first additional language), Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences each at 60% (Health Sciences guide).
- BPharm: AS 410 with Mathematics. Applications closed on 30 June 2026.
- Bachelor of Nursing (four years): AS 370 with Mathematics, or 385 with Technical Mathematics or Maths Literacy. You need Mathematics 50% (or Technical Mathematics or Maths Literacy 65%), Life Sciences 60% and Physical Sciences 50%. The five-year extended curriculum asks for AS 330 (345 for the other two maths subjects), with Mathematics 35%, Life Sciences 50% and Physical Sciences 40%.
- LLB: AS 390 with Mathematics only, English at 65% as a home language or 70% as a first additional language, and Mathematics at 50% (Law guide).
- BCom (Accounting), chartered accountant stream: AS 410 with Mathematics at 60%. Gqeberha offers it full-time or part-time, and the George Campus full-time only (Business and Economic Sciences guide).
Three 2027 deadlines, all now behind us
Mandela University opened its own online application for 2027 on 13 April 2026, and it does not use the CAO. Its academic admission page sets three dates. MBChB, BPharm, diagnostic Radiography and Nursing closed on 30 June 2026. Early applications for everything else were due by 3 August 2026, and the university then took late applications on merit until 30 September 2026. Housing applications also closed on 30 September. Faculties may close a programme early once it is full. Our university closing dates list shows which other institutions are still open.
Which 2027 guide to open
Mandela University publishes one general 2027 Nelson Mandela University Undergraduate Guide (PDF) and eight faculty guides. For the figures above, open the 2027 Faculty of Health Sciences UG Guide (PDF), the 2027 Faculty of Law UG Guide (PDF) and the 2027 Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences UG Guide (PDF). George Campus has a guide of its own. All of them are listed on the university’s Quick guides page, next to older 2026 prospectuses that you can ignore. The files are large, from about 8 MB to 19 MB, so use Wi-Fi if you can.
South African citizens pay no application fee, and only international applicants are charged one. Our Nelson Mandela University application guide explains the online form. For admissions questions, call 041 504 1111 or email info@mandela.ac.za.
Does a higher Life Orientation mark raise my AS?
Only if you attend a quintile 1, 2 or 3 school and score at least 50% in Life Orientation, which adds 7 points. Everyone else’s AS leaves Life Orientation out.