Veterinary Science Requirements in South Africa: Marks and Subjects

To study veterinary science in South Africa you need a degree-admission NSC or IEB certificate, level 5 (60–69%) in English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, and an APS of at least 35. Meeting those minimums only gets you into the pool. Places are limited and selection is competitive, so what counts is how far above them you sit and how well your application is prepared.

This guide walks through the subjects, the marks, how selection works, the documents, the length of the degree and what to do if you fall short.

TL;DR

• The University of Pretoria (UP) offers the BVSc, and its Faculty of Veterinary Science is the only one of its kind in South Africa.
• Minimums for 2027 entry: English level 5, Mathematics level 5, Physical Sciences level 5 and an APS of 35. Life Orientation does not count towards the APS.
• Selection is by merit, mainly on weighted Grade 11 results, and conditional offers can be lost if your final marks drop by more than 5%.
• The BVSc takes six years, and you must register with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) to practise.
• Missed out? A BSc in Zoology or Agriculture in Animal Science is the faculty’s proposed second choice and a route to a later transfer.

Table of Contents

• Where you can study veterinary science
• Subjects and marks you need
• Why meeting the minimum is not enough
• Applying: documents, timing and fees
• If you are not a South African school-leaver
• What the degree involves
• Registering as a veterinarian
• Veterinary science or veterinary nursing?
• If you do not meet the requirements
• Perspective
• Check your own marks against the BVSc
• FAQ
• Sources

Where you can study veterinary science

The BVSc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science) is offered by the University of Pretoria, and UP’s Faculty of Veterinary Science is the only faculty of its kind in the country. The faculty also offers a second undergraduate programme, the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (BVetNurs). Both use merit-based selection, within different categories.

The SAVC’s registration page also mentions a BVMCh from Medunsa among the qualifications that lead to registration. For anyone applying as a school-leaver today, the practical route is the UP BVSc. You can see the programme, deadlines and application steps on our University of Pretoria page.

Subjects and marks you need

The 2027 requirements for the UP BVSc, as set out in the faculty brochure, are:

Life Orientation is excluded from the APS. The percentages behind each level come from the UP undergraduate prospectus: level 7 is 80–100%, level 6 is 70–79%, level 5 is 60–69%, level 4 is 50–59%, level 3 is 40–49%, level 2 is 30–39% and level 1 is 0–29%.

If you want the general picture of how South African universities treat subject minimums, our guide to the minimum subject percentage for university explains it in plain terms.

How the UP APS is calculated

UP calculates the APS from six recognised 20-credit subjects, using achievement levels rather than raw percentages. The maximum is 42, which is six subjects at level 7.

Here is a worked example for a learner with these final marks:

The total is 6 + 5 + 6 + 6 + 5 + 5 = 33. Life Orientation is not counted. This learner has the right subject levels but falls two points short of the APS of 35, so the application would not meet the minimum. Moving Mathematics and Geography up one level each would reach 35.

You can run your own numbers in our APS calculator, and our guide on how to calculate your APS covers the method for other universities, which may weigh subjects differently. Your marks stay on your device when you use the calculator.

Why meeting the minimum is not enough

All UP study programmes are number-limited, and the veterinary programme is among the most contested. The faculty describes entry as highly competitive, with selection based on academic merit and the compulsory Veterinary Science Value-added Form.

In practice, treat 35 as the door and not the target. A learner at 35 is competing with others who have higher scores. Aim for the strongest Grade 11 and Grade 12 results you can in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences, and keep your English solid.

How selection works

The faculty selects by merit within categories. For school-leavers, the Merit Point Score (MPS) is based on weighted Grade 11 scores. For applicants with university exposure, the MPS is based on their UMAS result.

The selection categories listed on the BVSc programme page include:

• South African school-leavers with an NSC or IEB (a first round in July and a second round in January)
• School-leavers from other schooling systems, such as IGCSE, GCSE, IB, A-levels or NCV
• Internal and external BSc transfers
• UP BSc graduates and postgraduates
• Applicants nominated by DALRRD, Provincial Departments of Agriculture, the SANDF or the SAPS
• Non-South African citizens

Keep your Grade 12 marks up

If you are conditionally admitted on your Grade 11 results, you will forfeit your place if your MPS based on final NSC results is more than 5% lower than the Grade 11 score used for selection. A conditional offer is a reason to work harder in matric, not to relax.

Applying: documents, timing and fees

All UP programmes are number-limited, and the prospectus encourages you to apply as soon as applications open on 1 April. Check UP’s official page for the current closing date, because it is set each cycle.

You upload these documents with your application:

1. A scanned PDF of your final Grade 11 examination report showing the promotion mark.
2. A scanned copy of your ID or birth certificate.
3. Proof of payment of the application fee, if you paid at a bank.

Certification of these documents is not required. Do not forget the Veterinary Science Value-added Form, which is compulsory for the BVSc.

The timeline after you apply

In the 2027 cycle, UP stated that all applications are considered after the closing date, that applicants receive feedback by mid-August, and that successful candidates must accept or reject the offer by 30 September. Second-round school-leavers are notified about a week after the Grade 12 results are released. Expect a similar rhythm in future years, but confirm it on UP’s official pages.

For application fees across institutions, see our overview of university application fees in South Africa, and for the process itself, our guide on how to apply to a South African university.

If you are not a South African school-leaver

Learners writing IGCSE, GCSE, IB or A-levels apply in their own category, so confirm the subject and mark equivalents with the faculty early. Parents of a learner who will register for IGCSE should look at this before choosing subjects, since Mathematics, Physical Sciences and a strong English result are the core of the entry profile.

For citizenship, the BVSc page says a small number of students from countries other than South Africa are admitted. Applicants with multiple citizenships that include South African citizenship are considered as South African applicants, and a valid study permit obtained in the country of origin is a prerequisite for registration.

What the degree involves

The BVSc is a six-year full-time programme: a core curriculum over four and a half years (nine semesters), followed by 18 months of work-integrated training in core and elective components, plus a research project. The first year is a biological science foundation year at the Hatfield Campus, and the remaining years are at the Onderstepoort Campus.

The qualification is NQF Level 8. It is accredited by the SAVC, the Veterinary Council of Namibia, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK) and the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council. Training includes exposure to private practices, state veterinary services, commercial and small-scale farms, abattoirs and related industries. Graduates can enter master’s-level postgraduate programmes.

Mental resilience

The faculty is open about the fact that the programme and the profession are both challenging and rewarding, and it emphasises mental resilience. Applicants with prior or existing mental health risks are advised on the programme page to consider this carefully and to seek professional advice, for example from a psychologist or doctor, when thinking about a career as a veterinary professional.

Registering as a veterinarian

A degree alone does not let you practise. Under the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act (Act 19 of 1982), you must hold a UP BVSc, a Medunsa BVMCh, a recognised international veterinary qualification, or have passed the SAVC registration examination. All first-time registrants then complete a one-year Compulsory Community Service programme. BVSc students register with the SAVC at first registration, maintain it annually and follow its rules.

Veterinary science or veterinary nursing?

The two are separate qualifications with separate entry routes. The BVSc trains veterinarians. The BVetNurs is a three-year full-time programme at Onderstepoort: the first two years combine didactic teaching and practical skills training, and the third year includes work-integrated clinical training.

If you love animal care and clinical work but the BVSc marks look out of reach, check the BVetNurs requirements on the faculty’s undergraduate programmes page. It has its own selection and its own minimums.

If you do not meet the requirements

A missed offer is not the end of the road. The 2027 faculty brochure names the BSc in Zoology and the BSc in Agriculture in Animal Science as proposed second choices for the BVSc. They are also recommended for applicants who plan to apply again for a transfer in 2028 or later. Students may register for modules including Medical Terminology (MTL 180).

The transfer categories include external transfers from medically or biologically related BSc programmes, and BSc graduates. A realistic plan looks like this:

1. Apply for the BVSc and list a proposed second choice.
2. Work out your APS early and see what else you qualify for with the APS-to-course guide.
3. If you start a BSc, keep your marks strong from the first semester, since they feed into transfer selection.
4. Check each year’s transfer rules on UP’s official pages.

Perspective

We built Asksmarty because too many learners find out in January that a course was never within reach. For veterinary science the gap between the minimum and a realistic offer matters a great deal, so we encourage you to calculate your APS in Grade 11, not after matric results arrive.

Our approach is simple. You enter your marks, and the matching happens on your device, so your marks never leave it. There is no account and no fee. We reference what we publish to the universities’ official sources and keep deadlines and requirements up to date, so you can plan with confidence.

Use the numbers early: check your level in English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, see where your APS sits against 35, and map out a second choice while you still have time to improve. A clear plan beats a hopeful one.

Nkosi

Check your own marks against the BVSc

Our free APS calculator turns your marks into an APS and shows the programmes you qualify for among more than 1,700 university and college courses. Your marks never leave your device, and there is nothing to sign up for.

When you are ready to apply, our University of Pretoria page lists programmes, deadlines and the steps, with links to the official application portal. If you want to compare with other options, browse the full list of South African universities and colleges.

FAQ

What subjects do I need for veterinary science in South Africa?

For the UP BVSc you need English Home Language or First Additional Language, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, each at level 5 (60–69%) or higher. Mathematical Literacy does not replace Mathematics. Life Sciences is not listed as a minimum requirement but is a sensible subject for the degree’s biological focus.

What APS do I need for the BVSc?

The minimum is an APS of 35 out of a maximum of 42, calculated from six 20-credit subjects with Life Orientation excluded. Selection is by merit, so a higher score improves your position. Use the APS calculator to check yours.

How long does it take to become a vet?

The BVSc is six years full-time, including 18 months of work-integrated training. After graduating you register with the SAVC and complete one year of Compulsory Community Service as a first-time registrant.

Can I study veterinary science if I wrote the IGCSE or another curriculum?

Yes. UP has a selection category for school-leavers in other schooling systems, including IGCSE, GCSE, IB, A-levels and NCV. Contact the faculty early to confirm how your subjects and results are assessed.

Is veterinary nursing the same as veterinary science?

No. Veterinary nursing is a separate three-year BVetNurs, while veterinary science is the six-year BVSc that leads to registration as a veterinarian. Each has its own selection process.

Sources

• UP Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) 2026 programme page
• UP Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) 2027 programme page
• UP Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) programme document
• UP Faculty of Veterinary Science undergraduate programmes
• UP Faculty of Veterinary Science 2027 brochure
• UP Undergraduate Prospectus 2027
• UP Companion Animal Clinical Studies undergraduate studies
• SAVC veterinarian registration

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