Destination South Africa

Destination

South Africa

Using your Cambridge

qualiﬁcations to study

in South Africa

Destination South Africa – Using your Cambridge qualiﬁcations to study in South Africa

About us

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the University of

Cambridge. We prepare school students for life, helping them develop an informed

curiosity and a lasting passion for learning.

Our international qualiﬁcations are recognised by the world’s best universities and

employers, giving students a wide range of options in their education and career.

As a not-for-proﬁt organisation, we devote our resources to delivering high-quality

educational programmes that can unlock learners’ potential.

Find out more about us at www.cambridgeinternational.org

Cambridge Assessment English

Our sister organisation, Cambridge Assessment English, help millions of people

learn English and prove their skills to the world. They provide the world’s leading

range of qualiﬁcations and tests for learners and teachers of English. Globally

recognised by more than 20,000 leading universities, employers and governments,

these research-based assessments are a mark of excellence that open doors.

Find out more about Cambridge Assessment English Recognition by visiting their

website at www.cambridgeenglish.org/recognition

Contents

A pathway to success using Cambridge International AS & A Levels ...................1

Why choose to study at a South African university? ..............................................2

Meeting the conditions and requirements for a certiﬁcate of exemption ............3

Applying for a certiﬁcate of exemption ................................................................... 4

Student success stories ...............................................................................................5

What qualiﬁcations do I need to get a place

on a course at a South African university? ...............................................................6

How do I apply to study at a South African university? .........................................7

Public universities in South Africa ............................................................................. 8

Learn more

....................................................................................................... 10

1Destination South Africa – Using your Cambridge qualiﬁcations to study in South Africa

Cambridge International AS & A Levels are recognised as a passport to success in

education, university and employment. They are valued by South African education

institutions as academically rigorous qualiﬁcations that equip students with the skills

they need to succeed.

At Cambridge International, we work closely with

universities worldwide to make sure we are preparing

students to succeed at university and beyond. Our

aim is not just to help students get in to university –

we want to make sure that students holding

Cambridge qualiﬁcations are well equipped with the

necessary academic skills to do well in their studies.

South Africa is a top destination country for many

students from Sub-Saharan Africa who want to

further their studies after completing their Cambridge

International AS & A Levels. In order to study a

Bachelor’s degree at a South African university, a

student with Cambridge International AS & A Levels

will need to qualify for a certiﬁcate of complete or

conditional exemption issued by Universities South

Africa (USAf) – a membership organisation

representing South Africa’s public universities.

See page 3 for more information.

A certiﬁcate of exemption will be granted to holders

of Cambridge International AS & A Levels and the

Cambridge Advanced International Certiﬁcate of

Education (AICE) Diploma, provided they meet the

minimum qualiﬁcation combinations and the subject

group requirements. A certiﬁcate of exemption is

required to pursue ﬁrst degree studies at a South

African university but it does not guarantee

acceptance at a university. Each programme will have

entry requirements over and above those of the

requirements to obtain a certiﬁcate of exemption.

Did you know?

We work with over 100 independent

schools to offer Cambridge qualiﬁcations in

South Africa and over 800 schools across

Sub-Saharan Africa.

A pathway to success using

Cambridge International AS & A Levels

Candidates wanting to apply to study a certiﬁcate or

diploma at a South African higher education

institution or a TVET College (Technical and

Vocational Education and Training) will be required to

apply to the South African Qualiﬁcations Authority

(SAQA) for an evaluation against the National Senior

Certiﬁcate, without exemption.

For more information please go to www.saqa.org.za

Please note: All information is correct at March 2019. For the latest information and statements

on South African universities accepting Cambridge qualiﬁcations, search our recognition database at

http://recognition.cambridgeinternational.org

2 Destination South Africa – Using your Cambridge qualiﬁcations to study in South Africa

Universities across South Africa welcome applications

from Cambridge students. Cambridge International

AS & A Levels are widely accepted for direct entry to

undergraduate degree courses as long as a certiﬁcate

of exemption has been issued by Universities South

Africa and the faculty entry requirements have been

met. In recent years, South African universities have

featured in the top 200 universities in the annual

Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

In 2015 foreign students accounted for nearly 8 per

cent of the total enrolments at public higher

education institutions in South Africa. More than a

third (37.9 per cent) of foreign national students were

from Zimbabwe, while 2 per cent were from the

United States of America and 2.1 per cent from Kenya

Facts and ﬁgures

• There are 26 public universities and over

90 private higher education institutions in

South Africa.

• The academic year usually starts in

January/February.

• The costs of studying in South Africa depend on

the institution and the level of study chosen; the

ﬁrst year of a degree in Humanities can cost on

average US $2800* and in Engineering and the

Built Environment, US $3500*.

*Fees vary from institution to institution.

Why choose to study at a South African university?

There are many reasons to consider studying at undergraduate level in South Africa.

South Africa is home to some of Africa’s leading universities and they welcome

applications from international students.

The students who thrive at university are those who come to us with not

only a strong academic background, but also strong personal attributes and a

desire to get the most out of the institution. In our experience, Cambridge schools

in southern Africa prepare their students well for further study.

Carl Herman, Director of Admissions, University of Cape Town, South Africa

According to a study of international students in

South Africa, undertaken by Lee and Sehoole,

affordable fees, government subsidies for students

from the region, the strong reputation of higher

education and currency of its qualiﬁcations are

major pull factors for students wanting to study in

South Africa.

The primary economic reason to study in South

Africa is affordable fees compared to the United

States and United Kingdom. Another important

factor is the SADC protocol – under which regional

students pay the same fees as local students and are

subsidised by the South African government.

Also mentioned were proximity to home and the

cost of living, bursary and scholarship requirements,

future job prospects and the search for better

living conditions

Students from other parts of the world are liable for

international fees but these are more affordable in

comparison to other countries. The lower cost of living

is also an attraction for international students

www.dhet.gov.za/DHET%20Statistics%20Publication/Statistics%20on%20Post-

School%20Education%20and%20Training%20in%20South%20Africa%202015.pdf

www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20140905134914811

www.iapo.uct.ac.za/iapo/app/fees

3Destination South Africa – Using your Cambridge qualiﬁcations to study in South Africa

You need to apply to Universities South Africa (USAf)

for a certiﬁcate of exemption. You must have a

Senior Certiﬁcate without endorsement in South

Africa or an equivalent school-leaving qualiﬁcation,

such as Cambridge International AS & A Levels in

order to apply.

Meeting the conditions and requirements for a

certiﬁcate of exemption

Cambridge students need to apply for a certiﬁcate of exemption in order to pursue a

ﬁrst degree at a South African university.

You must also meet the requirements of the

regulations published in the Government Notice,

Department of Education, Higher Education Act (Act

101 of 1997) No. 1317 dated 5 December 2008, if you

wish to pursue ﬁrst degree studies at a South African

university with Cambridge International AS & A Levels.

Cambridge International A Level exemptions

• Four subject option

Three subjects at Cambridge International

A Level (A*–E) plus one subject at Cambridge

IGCSE

(Grade A*–C).

• Five subject option

Two subjects at A Level (A*–E) plus three

subjects at Cambridge IGCSE (Grade A*–C).

Cambridge International AS Level exemptions

• Four subjects passed at Cambridge International

AS Level (Grade AD) plus one subject at

Cambridge IGCSE (Grade A*–C).

• The two-sitting rule applies to this exemption

(see below); need not be consecutive years.

• Two languages must be passed for complete

exemption.

Qualiﬁcation combinations

You must meet the minimum qualiﬁcation combinations and subject group requirements

to obtain the certiﬁcate of exemption. The following options are available:

What is the two-sitting rule?

In terms of Cambridge qualiﬁcations, the two-sitting rule for USAf exemption applies to Cambridge International

AS Levels and the Cambridge AICE Diploma.

Candidates qualifying for the exemptions for Bachelor degree purposes need to meet the minimum qualiﬁcation

combination requirement in two examination sittings, e.g. four AS Levels and one IGCSE. Examinations taken

within a 12-month period are regarded as ONE sitting.

Where a subject is only examined in either the November or the June series, the following or preceding November

or June series will be regarded as the same sitting, e.g. we do not offer Afrikaans Language in the June series and

Portuguese Language in the November series.

You can ﬁnd more on the conditions and subject requirements to gain exemption for entry to South African public

universities on our website at www.cambridgeinternational.org/universities-south-africa-brochure

4 Destination South Africa – Using your Cambridge qualiﬁcations to study in South Africa

USAf will grant matriculation exemption certiﬁcates

to holders of Cambridge qualiﬁcations provided they

meet the requirements we explained on page 3.

You can apply online for a certiﬁcate of exemption at

http://mbit-application.hesa.org.za/assessment.

Alternatively, you can download the M30e application

form from USAf’s website and return it to them in

person, by post, courier, fax or email. All original

documents to support your application, such as

certiﬁcates, must be couriered to USAf and you

must ensure they are certiﬁed by a public notary,

the registrar of the university or the South African

Embassy/High Commission in a foreign country.

A non-refundable exemption fee is payable up front

for all applications. Payment can be made by cheque,

credit card, debit card, Electronic funds/bank transfer

or postal order. All cheques and postal orders must

be made payable to the Matriculation Board. The

surname and initials of the applicant must be clearly

indicated on the electronic payment instruction so

the fee can be linked to the applicant.

Applying for a certiﬁcate of exemption

Cambridge students need to apply directly to Universities South Africa (USAf) for a

certiﬁcate of exemption, or your chosen university might apply on your behalf.

Some universities will submit applications for

certiﬁcates of exemption directly to USAf on your

behalf. Please make sure you submit copies of the

following documents (certiﬁed by the university

concerned, a South African foreign mission or a public

notary) to the university if they offer this service:

• form M30e

• copies of educational qualiﬁcations

• copy of proof of identity, passport or birth

certiﬁcate

• exemption application fee – conﬁrm current fee

at https://mb.usaf.ac.za

• sworn English translation of documents, where

applicable.

USAf’s recognition of Cambridge qualiﬁcations

applies to all universities in South Africa. Please note

that a complete or conditional exemption does not

guarantee your admission to a university as you

may not have satisﬁed the programme or faculty

entry requirements.

Conditional exemption certiﬁcates

USAf may grant a certiﬁcate of conditional exemption to an applicant who lacks one requirement in meeting the

exemption conditions. This is solely at the discretion of USAf. You can ﬁnd more about complete or conditional

exemptions at www.cambridgeinternational.org/universities-south-africa-brochure

5Destination South Africa – Using your Cambridge qualiﬁcations to study in South Africa

Coba Kellerman is studying for her Master’s in Urban

and Regional Planning at Stellenbosch University,

after completing a BSc in Geo-Informatics and BSc

Hons in Geo-Informatics. She was previously a

student at El Shaddai Christian School, Durbanville.

“

Following the Cambridge curriculum at school

taught me how to absorb information faster and to

build on existing knowledge. I gained time

management skills through my experience, and I am

grateful for learning how to push myself to achieve

my potential. I enjoyed my Cambridge studies

because the curriculum allowed me to study fewer

subjects, but in a more focused and in-depth way,

rather than studying the surface of many subjects.

My Cambridge studies and the pace at which I had to

study prepared me well for tertiary education and

opened many doors. I often felt more conﬁdent

about university assignments and the workload than

fellow university students in some of my classes.

”

Daniel Johnson is in the ﬁrst year of a BSc degree at

the University of Cape Town. He is majoring in Physics

and Astrophysics and would like to go into research

in one of these ﬁelds. He was previously a student at

St Charles College, South Africa.

“

My studies taught me the value of not only

working hard, but also of taking an active interest

in my subjects. Cambridge syllabuses build a

foundation for later studies, rather than treating

the work we do as isolated and irrelevant in the

bigger picture. The work we did in preparation for

our Cambridge exams was more advanced than

that covered by other syllabuses, and so I have had

a very noticeable advantage over other people on

my course. While [the qualiﬁcations were]

challenging at times, I always felt the work I was

doing was meaningful, and was helping to prepare

me for university, a feeling which was often not

shared by my friends in the local education

systems. I appreciated knowing that the work

we did was of an international

standard. The content was

interesting, and presented in a

way which made sense, so I was

very grateful for choosing

Cambridge programmes.

”

Cullen Stewart-Burger is

studying Electronic Engineering

at Stellenbosch University. He

was previously a student at St

Charles College, South Africa.

“

The way in which the Cambridge curriculum

focuses on conceptual understanding, and trains

learners to apply their knowledge and understanding

to their studies made studying for my Cambridge

qualiﬁcations a positive experience. Grasping an

understanding of new work is always an extremely

rewarding experience. Always being able to see the

relevance or applications of what I was studying also

contributed to the positive experience.

The Cambridge system helped prepare me for

university in three major ways:

Firstly, the content of the courses offered by

Cambridge International is very in depth. In practice,

this has made the adjustment phase from high

school to university signiﬁcantly easier for me than

for my peers that came through other education

systems. There are many other ways in which one

has to adapt when beginning university. Having

already covered some of the ﬁrst-year syllabus gave

me a sort of buffer period in which I could adjust to

the other aspects of university life without

academic stress.

Secondly, my Cambridge studies prepared me for

the high workload experienced at university. The

manageable increase in workload moving from

Cambridge studies into university made for a

smooth transition.

Lastly, Cambridge studies focus on methods of

thinking and understanding, rather than merely

content. These tools have enabled me to better

cope with my university studies and I am conﬁdent

that they will continue to aid me throughout both

my studies and career.

”

Student success stories

A passport to study in South Africa

6 Destination South Africa – Using your Cambridge qualiﬁcations to study in South Africa

What qualiﬁcations do I need to get a place on a

course at a South African university?

Entry requirements

Universities in South Africa are autonomous and can

set their own entry requirements. You’ll have to

achieve certain exam grades and you may need

qualiﬁcations in particular subjects to ensure you

have the right skills and knowledge to successfully

complete the course.

Universities list the entry requirements for each of their

courses on their websites alongside other requirements,

such as an admissions test or an interview. Check the

entry requirements for each of your selected courses

carefully since these vary from university to university,

even for the same course of study.

Applying with Cambridge International

AS & A Levels

You need to make sure that your choice of Cambridge

International AS & A Level subjects meets the

minimum requirements for the certiﬁcate of

exemption and the entry requirements for your

intended degree course. This is especially important

if you have a speciﬁc career path in mind such as

medicine, engineering or law. A number of courses

have subject-speciﬁc requirements, so bear this in

mind when selecting your university course. Check

the entry requirements carefully for your chosen

course before submitting your application.

Do I need to sit an admissions test?

You may be asked to take the National Benchmark

Tests (NBT). The NBTs measure your academic

readiness for university. The NBTs are used by many

universities in South Africa to help them interpret school

leaving results. Some institutions use the NBTs for

admission and others use them to determine whether

you will need extra academic support during your

studies. You need to ask the institution you are applying

to whether you are required to take the tests. Go to

www.nbt.ac.za for further information.

Do I need to calculate my Admissions Point

Score (APS)?

Some universities use a point score as a basis for

admission to a programme. Applicants may be

required to meet the stated APS of the speciﬁc faculty

or programme. Meeting the minimum APS for a

particular programme does not guarantee admission.

The APS is most often calculated using six subjects

but this varies from university to university. The APS

conversion table below is an indication of how

subjects at Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge

International AS & A Level are rated. This may also

vary slightly from university to university.

Demonstrating your English Language ability

The International English Language Testing System

(IELTS) is the most common way of demonstrating

your English language ability. Find out from the

institution you are applying to what their English

language proﬁciency requirement is as these vary

between universities and according to the course you

want to study. For entry into law and medicine, for

example, the English language requirements are

generally higher than other courses.

APS IGCSE/

NSSC/

O Level

HIGCSE/

NSSC HL

Level

A level

10 A

9 B

 C

7 1 A D

6 2 B E

5 A 3 C

4 B 4 D

3 C 5 E

2 D/E

1 F/G

Study visa

To apply for a student visa, you must be provisionally

accepted to study at an educational institution in

South Africa. You should carefully check student

visa information on the Department of Home

Affairs website (www.home-affairs.gov.za) and

the institutions’ websites for the English language

requirements.

7Destination South Africa – Using your Cambridge qualiﬁcations to study in South Africa

How do I apply to study at a South

African university?

Choosing a university and the course you would like to study is a very important decision.

You will need to think about the university you are most interested in, the courses offered,

the location of the university, the choice of activities on offer and the costs.

Step 1:

Choosing the university and course

• Identify your preferred destination and university.

• Decide on the institution and course.

• Check entry requirements for the course and

visa requirements (if necessary).

Step 2:

Applying

• Make your application directly to the university

well in advance of the deadline date.

• Apply for a certiﬁcate of exemption from

Universities South Africa if the university you

applied to does not do this on your behalf.

• If you are successful, you will then receive your

offer letter.

• If it is the right course for you, accept the offer

and receive conﬁrmation of enrolment.

Step 3:

Starting your course

• The academic year starts in January/February.

• Apply for a study visa if you need one.

(www.home-affairs.gov.za)

• Plan your travel.

• Check the university’s website and information

about preparations you need to make to start

your course.

Each university has their own application process,

however, all ﬁrst-time South African applicants

to institutions in KwaZulu-Natal must apply via

the Central Applications Ofﬁce (CAO).

Go to www.cao.ac.za for more information.

International applicants must apply directly to

the institutions.

The application process

8 Destination South Africa – Using your Cambridge qualiﬁcations to study in South Africa

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Western Cape

www.cput.ac.za

Central University of Technology

Free State

www.cut.ac.za

Durban University of Technology

KwaZulu-Natal

www.dut.ac.za

Nelson Mandela University

Eastern Cape and Western Cape

www.nmmu.ac.za

North-West University

North-West and Gauteng

www.nwu.ac.za

Rhodes University

Eastern Cape

www.ru.ac.za

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Gauteng

http://smu.ac.za

Stellenbosch University

Western Cape

www.sun.ac.za

Tshwane University of Technology

Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North-West

www.tut.ac.za

University of Cape Town

Western Cape

www.uct.ac.za

University of Fort Hare

Eastern Cape

www.ufh.ac.za

University of the Free State

Free State

www.ufs.ac.za

University of KwaZulu-Natal

Durban, Pinetown and Pietermaritzburg,

KwaZulu-Natal

www.ukzn.ac.za

Public universities in South Africa

The 26 public universities in South Africa recognise Cambridge International

AS & A Level qualiﬁcations for entry to Bachelor degrees.

University of Johannesburg

Johannesburg, Gauteng

www.uj.ac.za

University of Limpopo

Limpopo and Gauteng

www.ul.ac.za

University of Pretoria

Gauteng

www.up.ac.za

University of South Africa

All provinces

www.unisa.ac.za

University of Venda for Science and Technology

Limpopo

www.univen.ac.za

University of the Western Cape

Bellville, Western Cape

www.uwc.ac.za

University of the Witwatersrand

Johannesburg, Gauteng

www.wits.ac.za

University of Zululand

KwaZulu-Natal

www.unizulu.ac.za

Vaal University of Technology

Gauteng, North-West, Mpumalanga and

Northern Cape

www.vut.ac.za

Walter Sisulu University

Eastern Cape

www.wsu.ac.za

Mangosuthu University of Technology

KwaZulu-Natal

www.mut.ac.za

University of Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga

www.ump.ac.za

Sol Plaatje University

Northern Cape

www.spu.ac.za

9Destination South Africa – Using your Cambridge qualiﬁcations to study in South Africa

Cambridge Assessment International Education

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t: +44 1223 553554

www.cambridgeinternational.org

Learn more

Recognition database

You can ﬁnd more information on which universities formally

recognise Cambridge programmes and qualiﬁcations by

searching our online recognition database. Go to

www.cambridgeinternational.org/recognitionsearch

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about Cambridge exams and services on our website at

www.cambridgeinternational.org/help

Simply type your question into the search box, or use

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