College of Economic and Management Sciences

If you don’t meet the minimum admission requirements…

If you don’t meet the minimum admission requirements for your qualification of choice, you might want to consider starting with a relevant lower-level qualification (eg a higher certificate or diploma) and then continuing with the degree on completion of your lower-level qualification. Work through the admission requirements for each level of qualification (eg degree, diploma and higher certificate) to determine whether you will be able to apply for a lower-level qualification related to your interests. Remember to keep in mind your career vision and goals, and how any qualification will contribute to these.    Click Here to Apply Now

Extended bachelor degrees (4-year programme)

(360-credit curriculum that includes 5 compulsory foundation modules in the first year. This degree can be completed in 4 years. This curriculum is extended with 5 modules that will improve your chances of success significantly.)

Minimum requirements	Language requirement	Mathematics requirement	Additional requirements
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with degree endorsement	At least 50% in the language of teaching and learning	At least 40% in Mathematics	Applicants who do not meet the Mathematics requirement of the 3-year programme, but who have achieved between 40% and 49%, will be placed in this extended 4-year programme. The programme will require students to complete the following modules before they can commence with a 3-year programme: ENG1513 – Foundations in English for University Study FAC1500 – Basic Accounting FBN1501 – Business Numerical Skills A FBN1502 – Business Numerical Skills B FEC1501 – Understanding the Economy
A Senior Certificate with matriculation exemption or who qualify for exemption from the Matriculation Board	At least a D symbol on HG or C symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning	At least an E symbol on HG or a D symbol on SG in Mathematics	Applicants who do not meet the Mathematics requirement of the 3-year programme, but who have achieved between 40% and 49%, will be placed in this extended 4-year programme. The programme will require students to complete the following modules before they can commence with a 3-year programme: ENG1513 – Foundations in English for University Study FAC1500 – Basic Accounting FBN1501 – Business Numerical Skills A FBN1502 – Business Numerical Skills B FEC1501 – Understanding the Economy
An appropriate diploma offered by the College of Economic and Management Sciences
An appropriate higher certificate offered by the College of Economic and Management Sciences			Click Here to Apply Now
Applicants who do not comply with the above requirements for admission to the 4-year bachelor degree curriculum should consider applying for a lower-level qualification, such as a higher certificate or diploma, for which they meet the statutory and additional requirements. Click Here to Apply Now

Bachelor degrees (3-year programme)

(360-credit curriculum that can be completed in 3 years)

Minimum requirements	Language requirement	Mathematics requirement	Additional requirements
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with degree endorsement	At least 50% in the language of teaching and learning	At least 50% in Mathematics	Applicants who do not meet the Mathematics requirement, but who have achieved between 40% and 49% for Mathematics, will be placed in the extended 4-year programme (see above)
A Senior Certificate with matriculation exemption or who qualify for exemption from the Matriculation Board	At least a D symbol on HG or a C symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning	At least a D symbol on HG or a C symbol on SG in Mathematics	Applicants who do not meet the Mathematics requirement, but who have achieved between 40% and 49% for Mathematics, will be placed in the extended 4-year programme (see above)
An appropriate diploma offered by the College of Economic and Management Sciences
An appropriate higher certificate offered by the College of Economic and Management Sciences			Click Here to Apply Now
Applicants who do not meet the minimum Mathematics requirement indicated above, but who a mark of between 40% and 49% (E symbol on HG), should still apply for this bachelor degree. Once you have applied, you will be redirected through the selection process to the extended bachelor degree curriculum (4 years) listed below.

Diplomas

Minimum requirements	Language requirement	Mathematics requirement	Additional requirements
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with diploma endorsement	At least 50% in the language of teaching and learning	At least 40% in Mathematics	Or at least 70% in Maths Literacy
A Senior Certificate (SC)	At least a D symbol in the language of teaching and learning	At least an E symbol in Mathematics
An appropriate higher certificate
Applicants who do not comply with the above requirements for admission to the diploma should consider applying for any of the higher certificates offered by the college.  Click Here to Apply Now

Diploma in Tourism Management

Minimum requirements	Language requirement	Mathematics requirement	Additional requirements
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with diploma endorsement	At least 50% in the language of teaching and learning	None	None
A Senior Certificate (SC)	At least a D symbol on HG or a C symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning, or the equivalent of 50%	None	None
An appropriate higher certificate
Applicants who do not comply with the above requirements for admission to the diploma should consider applying for any of the higher certificates offered by the college.  Click Here to Apply Now

Higher Certificates in Economic and Management Sciences, Banking, Marketing, Insurance, Retailing & Tourism Management

Minimum requirements	Language requirement	Mathematics requirement	Additional requirements
A National Senior Certificate (NSC)	At least 30% in the language of teaching and learning	None	Selection for higher certificate studies will be limited and aligned to vocational subject choices obtained in the NCV Level 4
A National Senior Certificate (Vocational)	At least an F symbol in the language of teaching and learning	None	Selection for higher certificate studies will be limited and aligned to vocational subject choices obtained in the NCV Level 4

Higher Certificate in Supervisory Management

Minimum requirements	Language requirement	Mathematics requirement	Additional requirements
A National Senior Certificate (NSC)	At least 30% in the language of teaching and learning	30% in Mathematics	Or at least 70% in Maths Literacy
A National Senior Certificate Level 4	At least an F symbol in the language of teaching and learning	An F symbol in Mathematics	Or at least 70% in Maths Literacy

Identifying other study options if you don’t meet the admission requirements for your qualification of choice

It may be that you do not meet the admission requirements for any qualification at Unisa. You now need to explore options to help you meet the admission requirements for your chosen qualification, or you could reconsider your career goals and how you will plan your career. Read more…

Applying for credits from other higher education institutions

Unisa may recognise previous learning from previous formal education. This will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Not all credits achieved at other institutions will count towards a Unisa qualification. Your request for exemption(s) will only be considered once we have received your completed DSAR04 form and a certified copy of an official academic record, a conduct certificate and, in some cases, the syllabus. In the case of international qualifications, SAQA evaluation and the syllabus are required. NB: No exemptions will be finalised on an academic record during the application period.

You must meet the admission requirements for the qualification for which you are applying for credits and/or exemptions. A maximum of 50% of the prescribed credits may be awarded in the form of credits and exemptions. No exemptions will be granted for Unisa’s signature modules. Unisa reserves the right to grant and/or decline applications for exemptions or credit transfers.

I wrote matric before 2025/2026. Do I qualify?

If you do NOT hold a Senior Certificate with an endorsement indicating that you have been exempted from the matriculation requirement, please refer to the documents below to ascertain whether or not you are eligible to apply for admission to undergraduate degree studies (not applicable to students who wrote the National Senior Certificate examinations from 2008):  Click Here to Apply Now

• I have Senior Certificate, National Certificate Vocational or Foreign Certificate Equivalent tables of National Senior Certificate (from 2009) against Senior Certificate, National Certificate Vocational and Foreign Certificates (PDF)
• I don’t have a Senior Certificate with matric endorsement. Can I apply for bachelor degree studies? Admission to the bachelor degree (excluding the BTech, diploma & higher certificate) (PDF)
• I have a National Certificate Vocational (NCV), level 4. What can I apply for? Admission in 2025/2026 for holders of the National Certificate Vocational (NCV), level 4 (PDF)