What Can I Study with 21 to 24 APS Points? (Diploma Course List 2026)

Key Takeaways: The “Diploma Zone”

• The Status: An APS of 21–24 is the standard entry requirement for most National Diplomas at Universities of Technology (UoTs).
• The Institutions: TUT, VUT, CUT, and WSU are your best friends. They offer hundreds of courses in this bracket.
• The “Extended” Lifeline: If you want to study at a big university like UJ with 22 points, you apply for the Extended Diploma (4 Years instead of 3).
• The Maths Factor: If you have Math Literacy, you usually need a slightly higher score (e.g., 22 instead of 20) compared to someone with Pure Maths.
• UNISA: Shockingly, UNISA offers some Bachelor Degrees (BCom) starting at APS 21.

There is a misconception that you need 30 points to go to university. While that is true for Medicine or Engineering at Wits, it is not true for the vast majority of employable qualifications in South Africa.

The APS range of 21 to 24 is what we call the “Diploma Zone.”

This is where the future workforce of South Africa is trained. Accountants, HR Managers, Logistics Coordinators, and Safety Officers usually start with a 3-year Diploma that requires exactly these marks.

Here is the definitive list of what you can apply for in 2026 with an APS between 21 and 24.

1. The “University of Technology” (UoT) Powerhouses

Universities of Technology (like TUT, VUT, DUT, CPUT) are designed for this score range. They don’t want “Academic Theorists”; they want practical students.

Vaal University of Technology (VUT)

VUT is arguably the most accessible university for this bracket.

• Diploma in Human Resource Management: APS 20 (with Maths) / 21 (with Math Lit).
• Diploma in Logistics & Supply Chain: APS 20 / 21.
• Diploma in Tourism Management: APS 21 / 22.
• Diploma in Safety Management: APS 20 / 21. (Very popular for mining jobs).
• Diploma in Fashion: APS 21 (Requires Portfolio).
• Diploma in Policing: APS 20 / 21. (Note: Highly competitive, often closes early).

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)

TUT is the largest residential university in SA.

• Diploma in Management Sciences (Various): Most require APS 20–24.
• Diploma in Administrative Management: APS 20–22.
• Diploma in Credit Management: APS 22.
• Diploma in Law: APS 22 (English Level 4). Yes, you can study Law at TUT with 22 points.

Walter Sisulu University (WSU)

• Diploma in Management: APS 21.
• Diploma in Local Government Finance: APS 21.
• Diploma in Public Relations: APS 23.

2. The UJ “Extended” Diploma Strategy

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is famous for its Extended Curriculum Programmes (ECP).

• What is it? It is the standard 3-year Diploma spread over 4 years. You do the first year slowly to build foundational skills.
• The Benefit: You graduate with the exact same qualification as the 3-year students, but you get in with much lower marks.

UJ Courses for APS 19–24:

1. Extended Diploma in People Management (HR):
   • APS Required: 19 (with Maths) / 21 (with Math Lit).
2. Extended Diploma in Small Business Management:
   • APS Required: 19 (with Maths) / 21 (with Math Lit).
3. Extended Diploma in Management Services:
   • APS Required: 19 (with Maths) / 21 (with Math Lit).
4. Diploma in Jewellery Design:
   • APS Required: 20–22.

Note: These fill up extremely fast. If you see them open in January/February, apply immediately.

3. UNISA: The “Degree” Anomaly

As mentioned in the previous article, UNISA is unique. Because they are distance learning, they sometimes offer Bachelor Degrees to students in the low 20s.

• Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Business Management:
  • APS: 21.
  • Constraint: You generally need a decent Maths mark (Level 3/4). If you have Math Lit, you might be routed to the Access Programme.
• Bachelor of Administration:
  • APS: 21.
• Diploma in Policing:
  • APS: 18–20. (This is one of the most popular courses in the country for aspiring cops).
• Diploma in Public Relations:
  • APS: 22.

4. Specific Career Streams (21–24 Points)

Forget the university name for a second. What job do you want?

If you want to work in Business:

• Course: Diploma in Logistics / HR / Marketing.
• Where: VUT (21), TUT (22), MUT (22).
• Verdict: Safe bet. High employment availability.

If you want to work in IT:

• Course: Diploma in ICT (Applications Development).
• Score Check: This is tougher. Most IT diplomas require APS 24+ (sometimes 26).
• The “Low APS” Fix: Look for Diploma in ICT (Support Services) or Extended Diploma in ICT. These often drop the requirement to 22–23.
• Where: WSU, VUT.

If you want to be a Teacher:

• Course: Bachelor of Education (BEd).
• Score Check: Usually requires APS 26+.
• The “Low APS” Fix: You likely won’t get into a BEd directly with 22 points.
  • Strategy: Register for the Higher Certificate in Education (UNISA or North West University).
  • Outcome: Pass the 1-year certificate, then upgrade to the BEd degree in Year 2.

5. The “Maths Lit” Penalty

If you have an APS of 23, but you took Mathematical Literacy, your options in Science and Engineering are almost zero.

• Engineering: Generally requires Pure Maths. Even at VUT/TUT, the Diploma in Civil Engineering usually demands Maths Level 4.
• The Exception: Industrial Engineering or Management Services sometimes accept Math Lit with high marks (Level 5/6).
• Business: Math Lit is perfectly fine for HR, Marketing, and Public Management. You are not penalized here.

6. Private Colleges (The Safety Net)

If the public universities are full (which happens quickly for the Extended programmes), private institutions are a strong backup for this APS range.

• Rosebank College (IIE):
  • Offers Diplomas in IT, Commerce, and Journalism.
  • APS Requirement: Generally Diploma Pass (APS is often secondary to the pass level).
• Boston City Campus:
  • Flexible entry for Higher Certificates and Diplomas.

Summary: You Are Not “University Rejection Material”

An APS of 23 is a solid score. It means you passed Matric with a decent average. You are exactly the type of student Universities of Technology are looking for.

Action Plan:

1. Log in to CAO (KZN): Check the “Available Programmes” list for DUT and MUT. Filter by APS.
2. Check VUT: They often have late inquiries for their Vanderbijlpark campus.
3. Apply for Extended: If applying to UJ, tick the box for “Extended Curriculum.”

Disclaimer: Admission policies vary by faculty. Always verify with the 2026 Faculty Yearbook of the specific institution.