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North-West University (NWU): Courses, Prospectus and Applications for 2027

  • Public university
  • Gauteng and North West
652

courses listed

6

qualification types

4

campuses

18+

lowest APS listed

North-West University is a large public university operating across three campuses in Mahikeng, Potchefstroom, and Vanderbijlpark, each with its own character and language profile while sharing a single set of faculties and qualifications. Its academic offering ranges widely, from health sciences, pharmacy, and nursing, through natural and agricultural sciences, commerce and management, humanities and languages, to education, engineering, law, and theology, with many programmes also offering extended four-year curricula for students who need additional academic foundation. The university positions itself around accessible, high-quality education, strong residence and student-life offerings, and a generous internal bursary scheme tied to academic merit, alongside sport and cultural programmes across all three campuses. Admission is coordinated through NWU's own online application system, with programme selection typically based on the National Senior Certificate, an Admission Point Score calculated from six best subjects, and in some faculties additional selection tests, portfolios, or auditions.

North-West University's historic building with red-tiled roof and reflecting fountain pool in the courtyard.A tranquil fountain courtyard sits in front of a historic building at North-West University.A brick pathway winding through a green lawn between buildings at North-West University.A quiet pathway crosses the green lawns of North-West University's campus.Students walk along a tree-lined path at North-West University beneath NWU branded banners.Students walk past NWU banners on a shaded pathway at North-West University.
Download

NWU Prospectus 2027

The prospectus is the institution's own booklet of qualifications, entry requirements and faculty information for 2027. Open it below, then use the course list further down to check any programme in detail.

Latest Prospectus

Published by North-West University. Institutions sometimes release an updated copy mid season, so check their official site if a date or fee looks out of step.

Step by step

How to Apply to NWU for 2027

Applications open 1 June 2026 . Closing date still to be announced by NWU.
  • Pick your course. Use the list below and open the course page to read its exact entry requirements and subject rules.
  • Check that you qualify. Compare your APS and subject marks against the requirement shown on the course page.
  • Get your documents ready. Certified ID or passport, your latest results, and proof of payment if an application fee applies.
  • Apply on the official portal. The button below opens North-West University’s own application page.
  • Track your application and reply quickly to any request for outstanding documents.

Ready to apply? This takes you straight to North-West University’s own official application page.

Apply Now

You will leave studies.mycourses.co.za and apply directly with North-West University.

652 listed

Courses Offered at NWU for 2027

What's your APS score?

See which courses at NWU you already qualify for (the lowest APS listed here is 18).

Find courses by type: Diploma 5 Bachelor's Degree 235 Bachelor Honours Degree 110 Postgraduate Diploma 11 Master's Degree 178 Doctoral Degree 113

All 652 courses at NWU, grouped by qualification.

NWU Bachelor's Degree Courses 235

Show the other 210 Bachelor's Degree courses

NWU Master's Degree Courses 178

Show the other 153 Master's Degree courses

NWU Doctoral Degree Courses 113

Show the other 88 Doctoral Degree courses

NWU Bachelor Honours Degree Courses 110

Show the other 85 Bachelor Honours Degree courses

NWU Postgraduate Diploma Courses 11

NWU Diploma Courses 5

Course information last checked 28 August 2026. Always confirm with North-West University before you apply.

Easier entry

NWU Courses With a Low APS Requirement

108 of the 652 courses listed here ask for an APS of 24 or lower, starting at 18. A low APS still does not override subject requirements, so open the course page and check which subjects it asks for at what level.

Showing the 40 lowest of 108. Use the APS tool above to see the full set for your own score.

Entry

Admission Requirements at NWU

Two things decide an offer: your APS, and the specific subjects a programme requires at a minimum level. A high APS does not help if a compulsory subject is missing, so check both on the course page before you apply.

Across the 652 courses listed here, APS requirements run from 18 up to 36. Use the APS tool above to filter the list to what you qualify for right now.

APS requirements at NWU, by band

Of the 652 courses listed here, 240 publish a minimum APS. This is how they spread:

APS neededCoursesWhat this means
15 to 19 2 Entry level: higher certificates and bridging programmes.
20 to 24 106 Most diplomas and many higher certificates.
25 to 29 108 Standard degree entry for many faculties.
30 to 34 23 Competitive degrees, often with subject minimums.
35 to 42 1 The most competitive programmes, typically health sciences and engineering.

412 courses do not publish a numeric APS. NWU may score those differently, so the course page is the authority on what each one needs.

NQF levels offered

Qualifications here sit at 5 different NQF levels. The level tells you what a qualification is worth and what it lets you study next.

  • NQF 6 5
  • NQF 7 219
  • NQF 8 137
  • NQF 9 178
  • NQF 10 113

See which school subjects open which courses.

Structure

NWU Faculties and What They Offer

The 652 courses listed here are split across 8 faculties. Open one to see only its courses.

Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences 191 courses Faculty of Humanities 151 courses Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences 121 courses Faculty of Health Sciences 67 courses Faculty of Education 47 courses Faculty of Law 39 courses Faculty of Engineering 23 courses Faculty of Theology 13 courses
Money

Fees and Funding at NWU

NSFAS funds qualifying students at public universities and public TVET colleges, covering tuition and, where applicable, accommodation and allowances. You apply to NSFAS separately from your course application and you can do both in the same season.

Fees differ by programme and year, so take the current figures from the institution itself: official NWU site.

Where to study

NWU Campuses

Potchefstroom
Main campus

Potchefstroom, North West

Distance Learning

Mahikeng

Mahikeng, North West

Vanderbijlpark

Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng

After you graduate

Careers You Can Study For at NWU

These are the occupations the qualifications listed here lead to, most common first. The number is how many NWU courses prepare you for that career.

Postgraduate Researcher 55 Policy Analyst 30 Community Development Officer 26 Curriculum Developer 25 Research Scientist 24 Education Specialist 22 Subject Head 21 Laboratory Analyst 19 Science Teacher (With Further Study) 17 Data Analyst 16 Researcher 16 Conservation Officer 15 Environmental Scientist 15 Teacher (With Further Study) 15 Laboratory Technologist 14 Quality Control Analyst 13 Biological Researcher 12 Social Researcher 11 Actuarial Assistant 10 Ecotourism Consultant 10 Environmental Consultant 10 Geologist Assistant 10 Software Developer 10 Editor 9 Language Practitioner 8 Translator 8 Agricultural Economist 7 NGO Programme Officer 7 Psychometrist (With Further Study) 7 Public Administrator 7 Agricultural Scientist 6 Business Analyst 6 Compliance Officer 6 Design Engineer 6 Engineering Consultant 6 Environmental Officer 6

Browse every career in the directory.

Answers

NWU: Frequently Asked Questions

North-West University has 652 courses listed on this page for 2027, across Diploma, Bachelor's Degree, Bachelor Honours Degree, Postgraduate Diploma and Master's Degree. Each one shows its own entry requirements, duration and how to apply.
The prospectus we hold for North-West University can be downloaded from the prospectus section on this page. It is the copy published by the institution, so check their official site if you need the very latest version.
We do not have a confirmed 2027 closing date on file for North-West University. Most South African institutions close undergraduate applications between August and November for the following year, but confirm the exact date on their official site before you rely on it.
Applications are made online through the institution's own application portal. The apply button on this page takes you straight there. You will usually need your ID or passport, your latest results, and proof of payment if an application fee applies.
Across the courses listed here the lowest APS requirement is 18 and the highest is 36. APS is only part of it: most programmes also require specific subjects at a minimum level, which each course page sets out.
108 courses listed here ask for an APS of 24 or lower. The lowest are Diploma in Coaching Science (Sport Coaching) (APS 18), Diploma in Music (APS 18), Bachelor of Commerce in Business Operations with Logistics Management (Extended Programme) (APS 20) and Bachelor of Commerce in Business Operations with Transport Economics (Extended Programme) (APS 20). Check the subject requirements on each course page too, because a low APS does not help if a compulsory subject is missing.
The courses listed here sit across 8 faculties, the largest being Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Education and Faculty of Law.
The qualifications listed here lead most often to Postgraduate Researcher, Policy Analyst, Community Development Officer, Curriculum Developer, Research Scientist and Education Specialist. Every course page lists the careers that specific qualification prepares you for.
NSFAS funds qualifying students at public universities and public TVET colleges. You apply to NSFAS separately from your course application, and you can do both in the same season.
North-West University has 4 campuses in Gauteng and North West: Potchefstroom (Potchefstroom), Distance Learning, Mahikeng (Mahikeng) and Vanderbijlpark (Vanderbijlpark).
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2027 Applications

  • Opens: 1 June 2026
  • Closes: Not confirmed
  • Lowest APS: 18
  • Courses: 652
  • Closing date still to be announced by NWU.
Apply directly with NWU
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Contact NWU

  • Website: Official site
  • Phone: 0860 169698
  • Email: studies@nwu.ac.za

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Faculties