DUT Admission Requirements

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) admits students based on minimum subject levels for each programme and a points system that ranks applicants. You also need the National Senior Certificate (NSC) endorsement for your level of study. The figures below come from DUT's Study Opportunities 2027 guide.

How DUT calculates your points

DUT uses the NSC rating codes for your top six subjects. A mark of 80% to 100% earns 7, 70% to 79% earns 6, 60% to 69% earns 5, 50% to 59% earns 4, 40% to 49% earns 3 and 30% to 39% earns 2. Life Orientation is excluded, because it is a 10-credit subject. Several departments say to use English and your next five best results.

Basic NSC requirements

• Higher certificate: an NSC with English at level 3
• Diploma: an NSC with English at level 3 and level 3 in four recognised 20-credit subjects
• Bachelor's degree: an NSC with English at level 3 and level 4 in four 20-credit subjects from the designated list

Minimum points for popular DUT programmes

• Bachelor of Health Sciences in Emergency Medical Care and Rescue: 30 points
• Bachelor of Nursing: 28 points, with English at level 3, Life Sciences at level 4, and Mathematics at level 4 or Mathematical Literacy at level 6
• Bachelor of Health Sciences in Radiotherapy: 28 points, based on Grade 12 June or trial results
• Bachelor of Education (Senior Phase and FET): 28 points
• BAppSc in Biotechnology and in Food Science and Technology: 28 points
• Bachelor of Sport Science and Management: 28 points
• Diploma in Accounting: 26 points for the three-year programme, while 24 to 25 points places you in the four-year extended programme
• Diplomas in Management Sciences, such as Marketing or Human Resources Management: 25 points
• Diploma in Drama: 24 points

Engineering

For the Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Civil Engineering, you need English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at level 4, or Technical Mathematics at level 5. DUT does not accept Mathematical Literacy instead of Mathematics. It ranks applicants by the sum of their Mathematics and Physical Sciences percentages, with a minimum combined score of 120%.

Screen Arts

The Bachelor of Applied Arts in Screen Arts and Technology uses its own weighting. Applicants need at least 36 points, with some subject scores tripled and others doubled, so check the programme page.

Selection

DUT ranks applicants in order of merit, and some programmes add interviews or aptitude tests. It may place applicants who meet the minimum but whose points suggest they are at risk in an extended curriculum programme, which builds an academic foundation first. DUT stresses that meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place, because final selection depends on the places available.