| 1. |
This circular repeals and replaces Circular 0033/2008, dated 19 September 2008, which provided the revised minimum admission requirements for higher education. |
| 2. |
The policy for the Minimum Admission Requirements for Higher Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor’s Degree Programmes requiring a National Senior Certificate was promulgated as published in Government Gazette No. 31231 of 11 July 2008, and came into effect in January 2009. |
| 3. |
The policy categorises subjects listed in the National Curriculum Statement into two lists, namely a designated subject list and a non-designated subject list. The designated subjects are those subjects, if achieved at 50% and above, that qualify a learner for admission to a Bachelor’s degree programme of study at a Higher Education Institution (HEI). |
| 4. |
However, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has since revoked the list of designated subjects for the National Senior Certificate (NSC), in Circular S8 of 2018, dated 14 September 2018. |
| 5. |
The minimum admission requirements for a Bachelor’s degree programme remain the same, namely, a NSC with a minimum of 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the HEI, coupled with an achievement rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50-59%) or better in any four 20-credit-bearing NSC subjects. |
| 6. |
The only difference is that a learner can now offer any four 20-credit-bearing NSC subjects in the NSC examination from the list of approved subjects stipulated in the National Policy Pertaining to the Programme and Promotion Requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R–12, published in Government Gazette No. 36042 of 28 December 2012. |
| 7. |
The only subject that is not a 20-credit-bearing NSC subject is Life Orientation. |
| 8. |
Adequate Achievement in at least four 20-credit-bearing NSC subjects provides the primary basis for admission to a Bachelor’s degree programme. But an HEI is entitled to specify an appropriate level of subject achievement or specific subject requirements for a particular programme at the institution. |
| 9. |
The revocation of the designated list comes into effect on 01 October 2018 and will be applicable to candidates registered for the 2018 and subsequent NSC examinations. This will include both full- and part-time candidates. |
| 10. |
The revocation of the designated list will not be applied retrospectively to candidates who registered for the NSC in previous years. However, candidates who registered for the NSC examinations in previous years and register to satisfy the NSC requirements or improve their NSC status must obtain a minimum of 30% in one of the subjects registered post 01 October 2018, to qualify for admission to a Bachelor’s degree programme, provided they satisfy all the other requirements for admission to the Bachelor’s degree programme. |
| 11. |
Learners in Grade 9 in 2018, who will be selecting subjects for Grade 10 in 2019, must be made aware of this dispensation as they will be eligible to select any of the 20-credit-bearing NSC subjects for admission to a Bachelor’s degree programme. |
| 12. |
The revocation of the designated list does not affect the admission criteria for admission to diploma or certificate programmes, which remain as follows: |
| 12.1 |
The minimum admission requirement to a Higher Certificate is a NSC as certified by Umalusi, with a minimum of 30% in the language of learning and teaching at the chosen HEI. |
| 12.2 |
The minimum admission requirement to a Diploma is a NSC as certified by Umalusi, with a minimum of 30% in the language of learning and teaching at the chosen HEI, as well as an achievement rating of 3 (Moderate Achievement, 40-49%) or better in four recognised 20-credit-bearing NSC subjects. |
| 13. |
Principals are therefore kindly requested to bring the contents of this circular to the attention of their staff, parents and learners who will be affected by this new dispensation. |
SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2018:10:26
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