This is one of those questions that sounds simple but trips up thousands of students every year.
You finish matric, you add up your seven subjects, including Life Orientation, and you think your APS is 38. Then you apply to a university and discover that the institution you chose only counts six subjects and excludes LO entirely. Your actual APS for that university is 32. That is a six-point gap that can close the door on a programme you spent months preparing for.
The confusion comes from the fact that there is no single rule. Each university in South Africa decides for itself whether Life Orientation counts, how much it counts, and under what conditions. Knowing this before you calculate your score is not a bonus tip. It is essential.
Here is the full breakdown.
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Why Life Orientation Is Treated Differently
Most traditional universities view Life Orientation as a non-academic subject. Their argument is that it inflates marks and does not reflect the academic ability needed to succeed in a degree programme. So they strip it out and calculate APS based on your best six subjects only.
Other universities, particularly newer and more access-focused institutions, include it either fully or partially. Their position is that a student's full matric performance should count, especially students from under-resourced schools who may not have had the same academic advantages as others.
Most traditional universities and universities of technology exclude Life Orientation entirely. Some universities give it a bonus point if you score above a certain percentage. Others include it fully in the calculation.
The practical implication is straightforward. If you scored well in Life Orientation, you want to apply to universities that count it. If you scored poorly in LO but strongly in your other six subjects, it makes little difference either way. But you need to know going in, not after you have submitted your application.
Universities That Include Life Orientation in the APS
These are the universities where your LO mark actually contributes to your admission score.
Wits University includes Life Orientation in their APS calculation. Wits calculates APS based on the best seven subjects, which includes Life Orientation, and faculty-specific subjects must be included in the calculation. If you are applying to Wits, your LO mark counts alongside your other six subjects. Use the Wits APS calculator to see your exact score.
University of the Western Cape (UWC) also includes Life Orientation. UWC calculates APS based on your best seven subjects, explicitly including Life Orientation. If you have a distinction in LO, UWC is a strong option because that Level 7 boosts your total score significantly compared to universities like UJ or UP. Check your UWC score here.
UNISA includes Life Orientation in its APS calculation. UNISA includes all 7 subjects in its APS. As a distance learning institution, UNISA is also one of the most accessible entry points for students who want to study while managing other responsibilities. Calculate your UNISA APS.
University of Mpumalanga (UMP) includes LO but at half value. UMP uses all seven prescribed subjects in the APS calculation, but the Life Orientation achievement rating is divided by two. So a Level 6 in LO gives you 3 points at UMP instead of the full 6. It still counts, just not at full weight. See your UMP score.
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) includes Life Orientation with a bonus points structure. SPU uses all seven NSC subjects and awards LO points on a scaled basis depending on the level achieved, alongside bonus points for Mathematics and Home Language performance. You can read the full SPU APS breakdown in this article: How to Calculate Your APS at Sol Plaatje University. Or go straight to the calculator.
Universities That Partially Include Life Orientation
These universities do not count LO as a full subject but give it limited or conditional weight.
University of the Free State (UFS) adds one bonus point to your APS if your Life Orientation mark is above 60%. It does not count as a full subject in the standard calculation, but crossing that 60% threshold can be the one point that gets you over a programme minimum. Check your UFS APS.
Central University of Technology (CUT) follows a similar approach to UFS, giving a limited bonus point for Life Orientation above a threshold rather than counting it as a full subject. Calculate your CUT APS.
Nelson Mandela University (NMU) is unique because it does not use a standard APS system at all. NMU uses an Applicant Score (AS), which is the sum of your actual subject percentages rather than converted points. Life Orientation is generally not included in the NMU calculation. However, it can contribute up to 7 points if you achieve 50% or more and attend a Quintile 1, 2, or 3 school. This is NMU's way of recognising students from disadvantaged schools. If that applies to you, your LO mark at NMU matters more than it would almost anywhere else. Check your NMU score.