We are pleased to present to you the Helderberg College, HCHE Entry Requirements for the 2025/2026 session.
Right now, you are thinking of enrolling for the prestigious Helderberg College, HCHE and also thinking if you really have what it takes. You must have even played around the HELDERBERG COLLEGE, HCHE online application portal and even gone to the extent of attending the Universities Open day. Well, the HELDERBERG COLLEGE, HCHE entry requirements is at your finger-tips because in this article, we are going to break down all the necessary admission requirements in details so you know where you fit in and which qualification matches your grade/result.
This article you are reading contains all the necessary HELDERBERG COLLEGE admission requirements for prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students. Kindly ride along as we make your HCHE admission seamless and easy.
HELDERBERG COLLEGE ADMISSION REQUIREMENT
South African Applicants must:
- Have a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with eligibility to enrol for degree studies. If completed prior to 2008 applicants should have an SC with exemption. Those with an NSC who qualify for entry into further study at the diploma level may apply for diploma programs.
- Meet program-specific admission requirements as stipulated in this document.
- Submit June results if currently in Grade 12.
- Complete the National Benchmark Test (NBT) before coming to the College. Please visit the NBT website. Alternatively, the test will also be administered at the College during Orientation if you do not complete it beforehand.
International Applicants:
- Should have the appropriate school leaving / completion certificate from the relevant examination body as applicable in their home country (e.g. Angolan Ministry of Education, BEC, ECOL, MNEB, Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (in conjunction with University of Cambridge Examinations Syndicate), Namibian DNA, ECOS, NECT, ECZ, ZIMSEC).
- Should take note that the medium of instruction at Helderberg College is English. English must, therefore, be one of the languages taken and passed during High School.
- Should submit all documents pertaining to the completion of a high school qualification for processing by the Admissions Committee. Please see the list below:
- -Copy of your Identity Document and a Photo (South African Students) or Copy of your Passport and a Photo (International Students).
- -High School / School-leaving Certificate. If you are still in your final year of High School, please submit your latest examination results. Provide certified English translation if applicable.
- -Transcript. Transfer students must attach a certified copy of the original official transcript. Provide certified English translations if applicable.
- -TOEFL certificate (International Students who have not received their High School education in English)
- -A letter of recommendation from the Principal / Teacher / Lecturer of your last school attended, or Church Pastor, or Employer (if working)
- Who have not completed their high school education in English may have to enrol at the English Language Institute (ELI) at Helderberg College for at least one year. Only after completing the Advanced Level and passing a final language test at Helderberg College will such applicants be allowed to register for College study programs.
- Alternatively, applicants must have completed the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 550 (paper-based test), or at least 213 (computer-based test) before proceeding to Helderberg College. Details of TOEFL examination times and locations may be obtained from the TOEFL website (www.ets.org).
- In certain cases, applicants may be requested to submit their school leaving certificate for evaluation by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The Admission Office will inform you should it be necessary. Forms and information are available from the SAQA website (www.saqa.org.za).
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRAMME-SPECIFIC SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:
In order to obtain a South African National Senior Certificate (NSC), a high-school learner must pass seven subjects, four of which are compulsory (two Languages, Life Orientation, and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy). International students should have an appropriate school leaving certificate.
Please note that Helderberg College requires English to be one of the two compulsory languages since the medium of instruction at Helderberg College is English.
The following Admissions Points Scores are used to determine admission into the various study programs:
| NSC Rating | % | Helderberg APS |
| 7 | 90-100 | 8 |
| 7 | 80-89 | 7 |
| 6 | 70-79 | 6 |
| 5 | 60-69 | 5 |
| 4 | 50-59 | 4 |
| 3 | 40-49 | 3 |
| 2 | 30-39 | 2 |
| 1 | 0-29 | 1 |
Helderberg College offers the following study programs:
NQF LEVEL 7 BACHELOR’S DEGREE
Faculty of Arts:
| Qualification | Minimum APS | English | Other Language | Mathematics/ Mathematical Literacy | Life Orientation |
| Bachelor of Arts in Communication | 25 | 4 (50-59%) or better | 2 (30-39%) or better | 2 (30-39%) or better | 4 (50-59%) or better |
| Bachelor of Arts in Psychology | 26 | 4 (50-59%) or better | 2 (30-39%) or better | 4 (50-59%) or better | 4 (50-59%) or better |
Faculty of Business:
| Qualification | Minimum APS | English | Other Language | Mathematics/ Mathematical Literacy | Life Orientation |
| Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting |
27 | 4 (50-59%) or better | 2 (30-39%) or better | 4 (50-59%)or better for Mathematics 5(60-69%) or better for Mathematical Literacy |
2 (30-39%) or better |
| Bachelor of Business Administration in Management |
25 | 4 (50-59%) or better | 2 (30-39%) or better | 3 (40-49%) or better | 2 (30-39%) or better |
Faculty of Theology:
| Qualification | Minimum APS | English | Other Language | Mathematics/ Mathematical Literacy | Life Orientation |
| Bachelor of Arts in Theology |
26 | 4 (50-59%) or better | 2 (30-39%) or better | 2 (30-39%) or better | 4 (50-59%) or better |
NQF LEVEL 5 HIGHER CERTIFICATE
Higher Certificate in Office Management:
| Qualification | Minimum APS | English | Other Language | Mathematics/ Mathematical Literacy | Life Orientation |
| Higher Certificate in Office Management |
18 | 3 (40 – 49%) or better | 2 (30 – 39%) or better | 2 (30 – 39%) or better | 2 (30 – 39%) or better |
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES FOR ADMISSION AT HELDERBERG COLLEGE
a) Foundation-year Programme
- Students who wish to enter degree programs at Helderberg College, and who do not have a matriculation exemption (before 2009) or do not meet the national minimum requirements for entering into a degree program in terms of the National Senior Certificate (from 2009 onwards) may apply to enter the Foundation-year program. In the course of this extension of their period of study, the students will do modules which will prepare them for the academic standards of degree studies.
- For course contents and rules regarding the foundation-year consult the relevant section below.
b) Mature Age Exemption
- Students who are at least 23 years of age and who have passed at least four Senior or school-leaving subjects with 40%, with one on the Higher Grade, qualify for a Mature Age Exemption.
- At least three of the four subjects must have been passed at the same examination sitting. For students from foreign countries admission requirements follow the country-specific guidelines as set out on the webpage of the Matriculation Board (www.hesa-enrol.ac.za), in addition to program-specific requirements.
- Those who are 45 years of age or over qualify for a certificate of conditional exemption from the matriculation examination, without any particular school qualifications.
c) Recognition of Prior Learning
- Recognition of Prior Learning refers to the formal identification, assessment, and acknowledgement of the full range of an individual’s skills, knowledge and capabilities, irrespective of how and where they have been acquired. RPL for access is aimed primarily at those who are over the age of 23 and don‘t meet the conventional matriculation requirements for admission to undergraduate programs.
- The provisions of the HE Act allow for Senate‘s Discretion for the admission of candidates who do not meet the conventional requirements for undergraduate programs offered by the College. Such admissions are regulated by the additional requirements of the Matriculation Board.
