Best Subjects for UCT, Wits and Stellenbosch

The Grade 9 decision that matters most

South African learners choose their FET phase (Grades 10 to 12) subjects at the end of Grade 9. The single biggest decision is between:

• Mathematics (pure Maths). The default university-track maths subject. Keeps every faculty open at every major SA university.
• Mathematics Literacy. A more practical maths subject focused on real-world numeracy. Suitable for faculties that do not require Mathematics. Rules out roughly two-thirds of UCT, Wits, and Stellenbosch faculties.

Mathematics Literacy is not an inferior subject. It is a legitimate Grade 12 NSC subject with real value for the learners it suits. But choosing it at the end of Grade 9 is effectively a career decision at age 14, and it permanently closes doors.

If your child is borderline, the honest call is to take Mathematics and reassess in Grade 10. Moving down from Mathematics to Mathematics Literacy in Grade 10 is allowed at most schools. Moving up the other way later is much harder.

Required subjects by faculty

The subject minimums for the most common UCT, Wits, and Stellenbosch faculties. Faculty requirements are similar across the three universities, with some differences in score thresholds.

Commerce (BCom)

• Required: Mathematics (not Maths Literacy), English minimum 60%
• Strongly recommended: Accounting, Economics
• Specialised streams (BCom Actuarial, BBusSci): Mathematics minimum 80% to 90%

Engineering (BEng / BSc Eng)

• Required: Mathematics minimum 70%, Physical Science minimum 70%, English HL or FAL minimum 50%
• Helpful but not required: Information Technology, Engineering Graphics and Design

Health Sciences (Medicine, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy)

• Required: Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Sciences, all at minimum 70% to 80%
• Required: English HL minimum 60% to 70%
• Additional: NBT scores in Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy, and Mathematics

Natural Sciences (BSc)

• Required: Mathematics minimum 60% (higher for specific streams)
• Required (specific streams): Physical Science (Chemistry, Physics streams), Life Sciences (Biology streams)
• English HL or FAL: minimum 50% to 60%

Humanities (BA)

• Required: English HL minimum 60% to 70%
• Mathematics or Maths Literacy: both accepted
• Recommended: History, a third language, Geography depending on intended major

Law (LLB)

• Required: English HL minimum 70% (higher at UCT and Stellenbosch)
• Mathematics or Maths Literacy: both accepted
• Recommended: History, debate or essay-heavy subjects

Built Environment (BSc Architecture, Construction, Quantity Surveying)

• Required: Mathematics minimum 60% to 70%
• Recommended: Physical Science, Engineering Graphics and Design (helpful but not always required)

Education (BEd, foundation and intermediate phase)

• Required: English HL or FAL minimum 50% to 60%
• Mathematics or Maths Literacy: both accepted for foundation phase; pure Maths often required for FET phase teaching specialisation

The "safe" subject combinations

If your child does not yet know what they want to study, two subject combinations keep almost every faculty open at the major SA universities.

The science-track safety combination

• English Home Language
• Mathematics (pure)
• Afrikaans or isiZulu or another official language
• Life Sciences
• Physical Science
• One of: History, Geography, Accounting, Economics, IT, EGD
• Life Orientation (compulsory)

This combination keeps Health Sciences, Engineering, BSc, BCom, Built Environment, Humanities, Law, and Education all open. It is the broadest possible Grade 10 starting point.

The commerce-or-humanities safety combination

• English Home Language
• Mathematics (pure)
• Afrikaans or isiZulu or another official language
• Accounting
• Economics
• History or Geography
• Life Orientation (compulsory)

This combination keeps BCom (including the specialised streams), Humanities, Law, and BEd open. It rules out Health Sciences (no Life Sciences and Physical Science) and full Engineering streams (no Physical Science).

APS scoring at UCT, Wits, and Stellenbosch

All three universities use a Faculty Points Score (commonly called the APS or FPS) calculated from the learner's six best subjects (excluding Life Orientation). The exact formula and weightings differ:

UCT

UCT uses the Faculty Points Score (FPS) which differs by faculty. Each faculty publishes specific subject weightings, minimum subject percentages, and NBT requirements. Most faculties also factor in NBT scores. The FPS is recalculated per applicant per faculty, so the same matric marks produce different FPS scores for different faculties.

Wits

Wits uses APS based on the seven Grade 12 subjects with standard NSC level weightings. Each Grade 12 subject percentage translates to a numerical score (e.g. 80% = 7 points, 90% = 8 points). Wits sets faculty minimum APS thresholds plus subject-specific minimums.

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch uses a similar APS to Wits with some faculty- specific weighting. Selection within faculty is based on the composite APS. Some faculties (Medicine, certain engineering streams) use additional selection criteria.

Approximate APS minimums (these change yearly, always confirm directly with the university):

• UCT Medicine: FPS around 600+ plus NBT minimums plus equity weightings
• Wits Medicine: APS around 44 to 48 plus NBT minimums
• Stellenbosch MBChB: APS around 70 to 75 (using their 100-point scale)
• BCom Actuarial Science: APS top of range at all three
• BCom (general): APS around 36 to 40 at Wits, equivalent at UCT and Stellenbosch
• BSc Engineering: APS around 38 to 42 at Wits, equivalent at the others
• BA Humanities: APS around 32 to 36

Different universities calculate APS differently, so a 38 at Wits is not directly comparable to a 38 at Stellenbosch. Always check the faculty-specific requirements on the university website.

Common mistakes parents and learners make

1. Choosing Mathematics Literacy in Grade 9 to avoid the workload. The most common regret. It closes more doors than parents realise. If the child can handle Mathematics, they should take it for Grade 10 at least and reassess.
2. Dropping Physical Science in Grade 10. Removes Health Sciences, Engineering, and most BSc streams. If the child is uncertain, keep Physical Science through Grade 10 and only drop if they are clearly not pursuing those faculties.
3. Not registering for the NBT. Many learners apply to UCT and Health Sciences faculties without realising the NBT is a separate test that must be written and reported with the university application. Register by July of the matric year.
4. Underestimating English HL. Most faculties require minimum 60% to 70% in English Home Language. Learners who treat English as "easy" and underprepare often find they are below the cutoff for Law, Humanities, or even Commerce.
5. Choosing seven subjects on workload grounds rather than career. A child intending Health Sciences needs both Life Sciences and Physical Science. Taking only Life Sciences (lighter workload) is a decision parents and learners make in Grade 9 and regret in Grade 12.
6. Forgetting language requirements. All SA university applicants need a Home Language AND a First Additional Language at minimum levels. Some learners drop a language for an elective and discover too late.

Frequently asked questions

For the schools that consistently send students to UCT, see Best Schools for Getting Into UCT. For broader curriculum context (NSC vs IEB vs Cambridge), read the School Curriculum Guide.