How Stellenbosch University Calculates APS (And Why It Is Different From Every Other University)

If you are calculating your APS for Stellenbosch University the same way you would for Wits or UP, you are doing it wrong.

Stellenbosch does not use the standard 1 to 7 point conversion system that most South African universities use. It has its own method, and if you do not understand how it works before you apply, you could easily think you qualify when you do not, or worse, think you do not qualify when you actually do.

This article explains the Stellenbosch APS calculation from start to finish, with a worked example and the minimum scores required by faculty.

Stellenbosch Does Not Use APS Points. It Uses a Percentage Aggregate.

Most South African universities convert your subject percentages into points on a 1 to 7 scale, then add those points together to get your APS. Stellenbosch skips the conversion completely.

Stellenbosch no longer uses a traditional APS. It uses a percentage aggregate across your best 6 NSC subjects, excluding Life Orientation, for a score out of 100%.

So instead of getting a number like 32 or 38 out of 42, your Stellenbosch score is expressed as a percentage, something like 68% or 74%. That percentage is what the university uses to assess whether you qualify for your chosen programme.

This is why Stellenbosch requirements are listed differently from other universities. When a faculty says it requires a minimum aggregate of 70%, they are talking about your average percentage across your six best subjects, not a points total.

The Formula

Stellenbosch uses the highest score in your Language of Learning and Teaching (either English or Afrikaans) plus your five best results in 20-credit NSC subjects, excluding Life Orientation, Advanced Mathematics, Mathematics 3, and any other non-NSC subjects.

Written simply, it looks like this:

Your Language mark (English or Afrikaans) + your 5 best subject percentages = total out of 600, divided by 6 to get your percentage average.

So if your six subject percentages are 75, 68, 72, 60, 65, and 58, you add those together to get 398, then divide by 6. Your Stellenbosch aggregate is 66.3%.

The formula is: sum of your 6 best subject percentages, divided by 600, multiplied by 100 to give you your final percentage aggregate.

What About Engineering and Science?

These two faculties work slightly differently because Mathematics is weighted more heavily.

For Engineering and Science, a weighted formula is used where your Mathematics mark is counted twice and the total is divided by 7.

So if you are applying for Engineering, your Mathematics percentage appears in the calculation twice. That means a strong Maths mark boosts your aggregate significantly, and a weak Maths mark pulls it down more than any other subject would.

Life Orientation Does Not Count at Stellenbosch

This is worth saying plainly because students sometimes assume differently.

Life Orientation will not be considered as part of your average at Stellenbosch University. It does not matter what you scored. It is excluded from the calculation entirely, with no bonus points, no partial credit, nothing.

You can read more about which universities do and do not include Life Orientation in this article: Which South African Universities Include Life Orientation in APS.

What Percentage Do You Need by Faculty?

Most degrees at Stellenbosch need around 60% to 70% aggregate, while selection programmes like Medicine and Actuarial Sciences need mid-80s or higher, with strong Mathematics and Physical Sciences.

Here is a general breakdown by faculty:

National Benchmark Tests (NBTs)

Stellenbosch is one of the universities that takes the NBT seriously.

Applicants to the Faculty of Law must complete their NBTs by the end of July 2026. Applicants following certain international curricula must complete their NBTs by the end of September 2026.

If you are applying for Law at Stellenbosch, getting your NBT done in time is not optional. Missing that deadline can disqualify your application regardless of your aggregate.

A Worked Example

Say your matric results look like this:

• English Home Language: 72%

• Mathematics: 65%

• Life Sciences: 68%

• History: 70%

• Business Studies: 60%

• Life Orientation: 75% (excluded)

• Geography: 58%

Your six best subjects excluding Life Orientation are: 72, 70, 68, 65, 60, 58.

Add them: 72 + 70 + 68 + 65 + 60 + 58 = 393.

Divide by 6: 393 / 6 = 65.5%.

Your Stellenbosch aggregate is 65.5%. That puts you in range for Arts, Education, and AgriSciences, but below the threshold for Law, Engineering, and Science at most faculties.

Skip the Manual Calculation

The easiest way to work out your Stellenbosch aggregate without doing the arithmetic yourself is to use the VarsityToolkit SU APS calculator. It is built specifically for the Stellenbosch formula and shows your result instantly

You can also compare your score across all 26 South African universities at once here.

What If Your Aggregate Is Not High Enough?

Two options, and both are worth considering seriously.

The first is to rewrite specific matric subjects to improve your average. Even pushing one subject from 60% to 70% changes your aggregate meaningfully. Because Stellenbosch uses raw percentages rather than points, improvements translate directly into a higher score.

The second is to apply to a related programme at a different university with a lower entry requirement, build your academic record, and transfer or reapply later. It is a longer path, but it is a real one.

If you have already applied to Stellenbosch and received a rejection, this article covers what to do next without panicking: How to Handle University Rejection and Keep Going.

And if you are still deciding whether Stellenbosch is the right fit for you at all, this is worth reading first: How to Choose the Right Course for University Without Regretting It Later.