If you are planning to apply to the Durban University of Technology, the first number you need to know is your APS. And the first thing to understand about that number is that DUT uses the standard 1 to 7 APS scale, which makes the calculation more familiar than universities like UNIVEN or Stellenbosch that have their own unique systems.
That said, there are a few DUT-specific rules around Life Orientation, English requirements, and the CAO application process that students regularly get wrong. This guide covers all of it.
What DUT Uses to Calculate Your APS
DUT calculates APS from your best six NSC subjects, excluding Life Orientation. Your six highest scoring academic subjects are converted into points using the standard scale and added together to give your total.
One small nuance worth knowing. According to DUT's General Handbook, some specific programmes may award one bonus point if you scored Level 5 or higher in Life Orientation. This is not universal across all programmes, and the safer approach is to calculate your APS without LO first and treat any LO bonus as a potential extra rather than something to count on.
The DUT APS Conversion Table
NSC Level | Percentage | APS Points |
|---|
Level 7 | 80 - 100% | 7 |
Level 6 | 70 - 79% | 6 |
Level 5 | 60 - 69% | 5 |
Level 4 | 50 - 59% | 4 |
Level 3 | 40 - 49% | 3 |
Level 2 | 30 - 39% | 2 |
Level 1 | 0 - 29% | 0 |
Convert each of your six best subjects using this table and add the points together, and you have your DUT APS. The maximum possible score is 42 points across six subjects.
A Worked Example
Say your matric results look like this:
English Home Language: 62% = Level 5 = 5 points
Mathematics: 55% = Level 4 = 4 points
Physical Sciences: 70% = Level 6 = 6 points
Life Sciences: 48% = Level 3 = 3 points
History: 67% = Level 5 = 5 points
Business Studies: 58% = Level 4 = 4 points
Life Orientation: 75% = excluded = 0 points
Total APS: 5 + 4 + 6 + 3 + 5 + 4 = 27 points
That 27 puts you in range for several diploma programmes at DUT but below the threshold for most bachelor's degree programmes and competitive engineering courses. More on the specific requirements below.
English Is Not Optional at DUT
This is the rule that catches students off guard most often.
Almost every diploma and degree programme at DUT requires English at a minimum of Level 3 or Level 4, depending on the programme. Even if your overall APS is comfortably above the minimum, you will not be admitted if your English result does not meet the specific requirement for your chosen course.
English Home Language at Level 3 means 40% or above. English First Additional Language at Level 4 means 50% or above. Check the specific English requirement for each programme you apply for, not just the overall APS minimum.
What APS Do You Need at DUT?
DUT is a university of technology, which means it offers a strong mix of Higher Certificates, Diplomas, and Bachelor of Technology degrees. The APS requirements vary significantly by qualification type and by faculty.
Here is a general overview:
Qualification Type | Typical Minimum APS |
|---|
Higher Certificate | 16 - 20 |
Diploma | 20 - 27 |
Bachelor's Degree | 28 - 32 |
Engineering (Diploma) | 24 - 26 |
Engineering (Degree) | 28+ |
Health Sciences (Diploma) | 24+ |
IT (Diploma) | 20 - 24 |
Design (Graphic, Fashion) | 22 - 24 + portfolio |
Two things to keep in mind with this table. First, these are minimum entry requirements, not competitive scores. DUT ranks applicants from highest to lowest APS and fills limited spaces from the top of that list. A programme with a stated minimum of 24 may in practice admit students from 27 and above if it is oversubscribed, which most popular programmes are.
Second, some programmes require specific subjects on top of the APS total. Engineering programmes require pure Mathematics and Physical Sciences, both at Level 4 or higher. Mathematical Literacy is not accepted for Engineering or Applied Sciences. Health Sciences requires Life Sciences and Mathematics. Design programmes like Graphic Design and Fashion require a creative portfolio submission in addition to your APS.
DUT Is a University of Technology, and That Is Not a Downgrade
Some students apply to DUT as a backup and feel embarrassed about it. That thinking is worth correcting.
DUT is the largest university of technology in KwaZulu-Natal with over 30,000 students. Its programmes are built with direct industry input, and it has strong relationships with employers in engineering, IT, design, and health sciences. Many DUT graduates are employed before they even graduate because of the mandatory work-integrated learning built into most programmes.
A DUT diploma also opens a clear academic pathway upward. Diploma graduates can progress to an Advanced Diploma and then a BTech or postgraduate qualification. DUT is not a dead end. It is a structured route into a professional career, and for many fields, it is actually faster than a traditional degree.
How to Apply to DUT: The CAO System
This is where DUT differs from most other universities in South Africa.
DUT does not process undergraduate applications directly. Most applications go through the Central Applications Office (CAO), which manages admissions for universities and TVET colleges in KwaZulu-Natal. If you are applying to DUT, you apply through the CAO portal, not the DUT website.
One advantage of the CAO system is that a single application fee of R250 covers applications to multiple KZN institutions simultaneously. So if you are applying to DUT and UKZN, you are not paying separate fees for each.
CAO application deadlines at DUT are firm. Health Sciences closes 31 August. All other programmes close 30 September. Missing these dates means waiting for the next cycle. If deadline management is something you struggle with, this guide is worth reading before the next application cycle opens: What to Do When You Miss a University Application Deadline.
How Your APS Is Used Once You Apply
Meeting the minimum APS gets your application considered. What happens after that depends on how many students applied for the same programme.
DUT ranks applicants by APS score when spaces are limited. The highest scoring applicants are admitted first until the programme fills up. This means that a student with an APS of 28 applying for a programme with a minimum of 24 might still be rejected if 200 other students scored above 28.
This is why aiming above the minimum matters. A score of 26 when the minimum is 24 is not comfortable if the programme is popular. Understand the difference between the stated minimum and the realistic competitive score for your chosen field.
What If Your APS Is Below What You Need?
Two practical options.
The first is to start with a Higher Certificate in a related field. Higher Certificate programmes at DUT have significantly lower APS thresholds, and strong performance in the programme gives you a pathway into a diploma the following year. This is a real academic route, not a consolation.
The second is to look at whether a diploma or certificate pathway at DUT or elsewhere might serve your career goals better than you assumed. Understanding the genuine difference between qualification types before making that decision is important: Differences Between a Diploma and a Certificate Course.
And if you applied to DUT or another institution and received a rejection, do not let one outcome close your options permanently: How to Handle University Rejection and Keep Going.
Do Not Calculate Once and Apply Everywhere
This is the mistake that quietly costs students applications every year.
Your DUT APS and your APS at another university are not the same number. Different institutions use different formulas. Some include Life Orientation. Some use percentage aggregates instead of points. Some have different scales entirely.
Use the VarsityToolkit DUT APS Calculator to get your specific DUT score.
And if you want to see how your results compare across all 26 South African universities at once, the APS calculator list gives you that picture in one place.
