Stellenbosch APS Calculator: Calculate Your Admission Point Score
Work out your Admission Point Score before you apply to Stellenbosch University. Stellenbosch does not use the standard 1 to 7 points scale, it works on a percentage average instead, so this calculator uses Stellenbosch’s own method.
Calculate My Stellenbosch APS ↓Stellenbosch APS Calculator
Enter the percentage you scored in each subject, then press Calculate. Stellenbosch averages your best 6 subjects, excluding Life Orientation.
Your Stellenbosch APS
0
Percentage average out of 100
Subject-by-subject breakdown
| Subject | Percentage | Counted | Weight |
|---|
This total averages your Home Language, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, and your best 4 other subjects.
Stellenbosch University does not use the standard 1 to 7 points scale that most South African universities use. Instead, it averages the raw percentages of your best 6 subjects, excluding Life Orientation, to give a single percentage figure typically between 60 and 80 for most degree programmes. For Science and Engineering applications, your Mathematics percentage is counted twice and the total is divided by 7 instead of 6. Use the calculator above for your own result, and always confirm the exact method with Stellenbosch’s official admission requirements.
How to Use the Stellenbosch APS Calculator
Four quick steps to an accurate Stellenbosch APS estimate for your application.
- 1 Enter your Home Language mark. English or Afrikaans Home Language, whichever you took.
- 2 Enter your Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy mark. Whichever you took, and this doubles up for Science and Engineering applications.
- 3 Enter your other subjects. At least 4, excluding Life Orientation, which Stellenbosch never counts.
- 4 Press Calculate. If you are applying for Science or Engineering, tick the weighting option first. Your total, method and full subject breakdown appear instantly. Use “Copy Result” to save it for your application.
The Stellenbosch APS Calculation Formula
Stellenbosch averages raw percentages rather than converting them to points.
Weighted Selection Mark (Science/Engineering) = SUM( Home Language, Mathematics x2, Best 4 Other Subjects ) ÷ 7
Life Orientation is never part of this calculation. If you entered more than 4 other subjects, the calculator automatically drops your lowest-scoring ones so only your best 4 count toward the total.
Worked Examples
Real calculations using Stellenbosch’s percentage average, so you can see exactly how the total is built.
Example 1: Standard average
| Home Language: 75% | Counted |
| Mathematics: 68% | Counted |
| Life Sciences: 70% | Counted |
| Physical Sciences: 65% | Counted |
| Geography: 60% | Counted |
| Accounting: 72% | Counted |
| Total Stellenbosch APS | 68.3 out of 100 |
Example 2: Weighted Selection Mark for Science or Engineering
| Home Language: 80% | Counted once |
| Mathematics: 85% | Counted twice |
| Physical Sciences: 78% | Counted |
| Life Sciences: 70% | Counted |
| Information Technology: 75% | Counted |
| Geography: 65% | Counted |
| Total Stellenbosch Selection Mark | 76.9 out of 100 |
Example 3: Five other subjects entered, lowest dropped
| Home Language: 60% | Counted |
| Mathematics: 55% | Counted |
| Geography: 62% | Counted |
| Business Studies: 58% | Counted |
| Tourism: 50% | Counted |
| History: 45% | Counted |
| Consumer Studies: 40% (not counted) | Dropped |
| Total Stellenbosch APS | 55.0 out of 100 |
Stellenbosch APS Explained: The Complete Guide
Stellenbosch University uses a percentage-based system rather than the standard 1 to 7 points scale used by most South African universities. Knowing how this works helps you see where your marks put you before applying, though final admission depends on more than this figure alone.
How is APS calculated at Stellenbosch?
Stellenbosch takes your Home Language mark, your Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy mark, and your best 4 other 20-credit NSC subjects, then averages the 6 percentages directly rather than converting them into achievement levels. Life Orientation is strictly excluded from this calculation.
Why is Mathematics weighted for Science and Engineering?
For Science and Engineering applications, Stellenbosch counts your Mathematics mark twice, adding it into the total an extra time and dividing by 7 subjects instead of 6. This gives more weight to strong Mathematics performance for programmes where it matters most.
What score do you need for Stellenbosch?
Stellenbosch generally requires a minimum average in the region of 60 to 80, depending on the programme and faculty. Competitive programmes such as Medicine and Engineering typically sit at the higher end of this range. Always check the current faculty requirements on Stellenbosch’s official admissions pages, since minimums can differ significantly by programme and change from year to year.
Methodology
This calculator averages your Home Language, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, and your best 4 other subjects out of 6 total, or divides by 7 with Mathematics counted twice when the Science or Engineering weighting is selected. It does not apply programme-specific selection procedures used by faculties such as Music, which set their own separate criteria.
Assumptions used in this calculator
- Marks are entered as final or predicted NSC subject percentages.
- Life Orientation is never included in the total, even if entered elsewhere.
- If more than 4 other subjects are entered, the lowest-scoring ones are automatically dropped.
- This calculator does not apply programme-specific selection procedures, such as those used for Music or other audition-based programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stellenbosch averages the raw percentages of your Home Language, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, and your best 4 other subjects, giving a single percentage figure out of 100. This is different from the 1 to 7 points scale used by most other universities.
No. Stellenbosch does not use the standard 42 point scale. Its result is a percentage average out of 100, calculated directly from your subject percentages rather than converted achievement levels.
No. Life Orientation is strictly excluded from all Stellenbosch admission mark and selection mark calculations.
For Science and Engineering applications, Stellenbosch weights Mathematics more heavily by counting it twice in the total and dividing by 7 instead of 6. This reflects how important strong Mathematics performance is for those programmes.
Stellenbosch generally requires a minimum average in the region of 60 to 80, depending on the programme and faculty. Always check the current faculty requirements before applying.
Yes, many applicants use their most recent trial exam or predicted marks to estimate their Stellenbosch average ahead of applying. Your final result is based on your official final NSC results, which may differ from earlier predicted marks. Use the results type selector above to label your entry as Grade 11 Final, Grade 12 Prelim, or Grade 12 Final for your own reference.
No. Meeting the minimum average only means your application may qualify for consideration. Some programmes, such as Music, use their own separate selection procedures, so admission is never guaranteed by this figure alone.