A Bachelor's degree pass — commonly called matric exemption — requires at least 50% in four 20-credit NSC subjects (excluding Life Orientation) plus 40% in the Home Language, passing at least six of seven subjects. That separates it from a Diploma or Higher Certificate pass and qualifies a learner to apply for a degree.

"Did you get exemption?" is the first question after every results day, yet many families do not understand precisely what it requires. This guide defines it, explains the pass levels below it, and clarifies what a Bachelor's pass does and does not guarantee.

What is matric exemption?

Matric exemption is the status that qualifies a learner to apply for a bachelor's degree programme at a South African university. It is conferred by achieving a Bachelor's pass on the National Senior Certificate — the highest of the three NSC pass levels.

The requirements for a Bachelor's pass are specific:

• At least 40% in the Home Language.

• At least 50% in four 20-credit NSC subjects (excluding Life Orientation).

• At least 30% in two other subjects.

• Pass at least six of the seven subjects.

An important update: the old designated subject list (a specific list of subjects required for the four at 50%) was revoked in 2018. The current requirement is simply four 20-credit subjects at 50% or more, excluding Life Orientation — any qualifying 20-credit subjects count.

When a learner achieves this, the NSC carries a bachelor's degree endorsement — which is the exemption. For a standard NSC learner, no separate certificate from the Matriculation Board is needed; the endorsement is printed on the NSC itself. Read about and . .

What is a Bachelor's degree pass versus other pass levels?

The NSC has three pass levels, and the differences are not just academic — they determine what a learner can study after school.

Bachelor's pass (matric exemption) — the highest: qualifies the learner to apply for a bachelor's degree at a university. Requires 50% in four 20-credit subjects, 40% in the Home Language, 30% in two others, passing six of seven.

Diploma pass — the middle level: qualifies for diploma programmes at universities of technology and universities. Requires 40% in the Home Language, 40% in four other subjects, 30% in two others, passing six of seven.

Higher Certificate pass — the lowest pass level: qualifies for higher certificate programmes. Requires 40% in the Home Language, 40% in two other subjects, 30% in three others, passing six of seven.

Below these is a Senior Certificate (Amended) for learners who do not meet the Higher Certificate pass but meet basic requirements, and then a fail.

The gap between a Diploma pass and a Bachelor's pass is the critical one for most families: it is the difference between 50% in four subjects (Bachelor's) and 40% in four subjects (Diploma) — ten percentage points in four subjects, which determines whether a degree is accessible.

Does a Bachelor's pass guarantee university acceptance?

No — and this is the most important thing families misunderstand. A Bachelor's pass qualifies a learner to apply for a bachelor's degree. It does not guarantee a place. University admission depends on the programme's own requirements: the APS minimum, specific subject grades, and (for some programmes) the NBT.

Competitive programmes — medicine, engineering, law, commerce at top universities — fill places at APS levels far above the Bachelor's pass minimum. A learner with a Bachelor's pass and an APS of 28 technically qualifies but will not be admitted to a programme requiring 36.

So the Bachelor's pass is the floor, not the finish line. Families should check the specific APS and subject requirements of the programmes their child is targeting, and aim well above the minimum — the competition sets the real bar, not the pass level.

What is "complete matric exemption"?

This is a term that circulates informally and is worth clarifying. For a learner who earns a standard NSC with a Bachelor's pass, the exemption is "complete" — no further step is needed. The endorsement on the NSC is the exemption.

The term sometimes arises in connection with conditional exemption — where a learner does not quite meet the Bachelor's pass requirements but may be given conditional admission by a university pending the completion of additional requirements. And it arises when a learner with foreign qualifications applies for a separate Certificate of Exemption from the Matriculation Board.

For most families on the CAPS route through SACAI or IEB, "complete exemption" simply means a Bachelor's pass on the NSC — which is the target.

Frequently asked questions

What is matric exemption? The status that qualifies a learner to apply for a bachelor's degree at a South African university, conferred by achieving a Bachelor's pass on the NSC: at least 50% in four 20-credit subjects (excluding Life Orientation), 40% in the Home Language, 30% in two others, passing six of seven subjects.

What is a Bachelor's degree pass? The highest NSC pass level — the same thing as matric exemption. It requires the specific subject and mark thresholds above, and it endorses the NSC for bachelor's degree study. It is distinct from a Diploma pass (which qualifies for diplomas) and a Higher Certificate pass.

Does a Bachelor's pass guarantee university admission? No. It qualifies you to apply for degree programmes, but admission depends on the university's own requirements — the APS, specific subject grades, and (for some programmes) the NBT. Competitive programmes fill places well above the Bachelor's pass minimum.

Is there still a designated subject list? No — it was revoked in 2018. The current requirement is four 20-credit NSC subjects at 50% or more, excluding Life Orientation. Any qualifying 20-credit subjects count.

What is the difference between a Bachelor's pass and a Diploma pass? The Bachelor's pass requires 50% in four subjects (plus 40% Home Language); the Diploma pass requires 40% in four subjects (plus 40% Home Language). That ten-percentage-point gap in four subjects is what determines whether a learner can apply for a degree or only a diploma.

Do SACAI and IEB learners get the same exemption? Yes. Both award the nationally-registered NSC quality-assured by Umalusi, so a Bachelor's pass through SACAI or IEB carries the same exemption endorsement as one through the DBE. The qualification and the exemption are identical.

A Bachelor's pass (matric exemption) requires at least 50% in four 20-credit NSC subjects, 40% in the Home Language, and 30% in two others — qualifying a learner to apply (not guaranteeing admission) for a bachelor's degree. To learn more, see , , or .