Careers › Business & finance

How to become a Human Resources Practitioner

Recruits, develops and supports the people who work in an organisation.

What does a Human Resources Practitioner actually do?

More about this career

Handles recruitment, training, pay and benefits, employee relations and labour-law compliance. Graduates can register as HR practitioners with the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP). Industrial and organisational psychology is a separate, more research-based route listed under its own career.

Where this degree can take you

  • Recruitment Specialist
  • Training & Development Officer
  • Employee Relations Officer
  • Remuneration Analyst

This is our general description of the role and related jobs, not from an official source – it’s here to give you a fuller picture, not as a careers-counselling guarantee.

Not from an official source

Subjects that usually help

  • Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
  • Business Studies (helpful)

This is our general guidance about which school subjects suit this career. It is not an admission requirement and not from an official source – the real requirements are on the degrees below.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

What the programmes we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 14 of 18 programmes
  • Mathematical Literacy – asked for by 10 of 18 programmes
  • Technical Mathematics – asked for by 4 of 18 programmes
  • Accounting – asked for by 1 of 18 programmes

Counted from the requirements below (an “or” alternative counts for each subject named). Each programme links to the page it came from.

Programmes that lead here

18 programmes at 13 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Central University of Technology

No cut-off published

Diploma in Human Resources Management

Management Sciences

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)

Raw-confirmed 2026-10-04 against CUT’s own programme page (it carries no intake year; applications for 2027 closed 30 September 2026). The page states only a level 4 in English; the general CUT minimum of 27 points applies.

Source: View the official page (cut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

No cut-off published

Advanced Diploma in Human Resources Management

Management Sciences · 1 years

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • Prior qualification – A diploma or equivalent with an average of at least 60% for the final-year subjects of the Diploma in Human Resource Management.

Raw-confirmed 2026-10-04 against CUT’s own programme page (it carries no intake year; applications for 2027 closed 30 September 2026). Advanced Diploma (NQF level 7), entered with a completed diploma rather than directly from school.

Source: View the official page (cut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Durban University of Technology

Selection programme

Diploma in Management Sciences: Human Resources Management

Management Sciences · 3 years

DUT APS 25 points

  • English: level 3 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Two more subjects – Two 20-credit subjects at level 3 (not more than one language).

New row, read directly from DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus (dut-pass-3). DUT says a minimum of 25 points (excluding Life Orientation) will be considered. From DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus. Applications go through the CAO (cao.ac.za), not directly to DUT; general closing date 30 September 2026 (fee R250 SA / R300 international).

Source: View the official page (dut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Mangosuthu University of Technology

Diploma in Human Resources Management

Management Sciences · 3 years

MUT APS 25

  • English: level 3 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematical Literacy: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Accounting: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Four more subjects – Four further subjects at level 3 or better.

RAW-CONFIRMED by a second MUT document (the user-supplied First-Year Prospectus 2026) - same APS and subject figures.

Source: View the official page (mut.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Selection programme

Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Management

Management Sciences · 1 years

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • Prior qualification – An appropriate Diploma in Human Resource Management (360 credits, NQF 6) with an average of 60% in major subjects; less than 60% may be considered with two years’ HR experience.

Read 2026-10-04 from MUT’s own 2026 Management Sciences Prospectus.

Source: View the official page (mut.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Nelson Mandela University

Diploma in Human Resource Management

Business & Economic Sciences · 3 years

NMU Applicant Score (AS) 330 out of 600

  • Mathematics: 35% OR Mathematical Literacy: 55% OR Technical Mathematics: 35%

Raw-read 2026-10-04 from the user-supplied NMU "Undergraduate Programmes 2027" Z-Card (A-Z table of Applicant Scores and subject percentages). AS 330 with Mathematics, 345 with Mathematical Literacy. Extended Curriculum (4 years): AS 310, Mathematics 30%.

Source: View the official page (mandela.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Stellenbosch University

Selection programme

BA in Human Resource Management

Arts and Social Sciences · 3 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 63 %

  • Language – Home Language 50% and First Additional Language 40%.
  • Mathematics: 50% OR Mathematical Literacy: 70%

Read 2026-10-04 from the Stellenbosch 2027 Undergraduate Prospectus (page images). The number shown is the NSC aggregate (excluding Life Orientation). Page 5. Extended programme available at the Faculty’s discretion. Every Stellenbosch programme is a selection programme. The figures shown are the published minimum requirements - the actual selection threshold is usually higher.

Source: View the official page (files.su.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Selection programme

BCom (Management Sciences) with focal area Human Resource Management

Economic and Management Sciences · 3 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 65 %

  • Language – English Home Language 50% OR Afrikaans Home Language 50% OR Afrikaans First Additional Language 70% OR English First Additional Language 70%.
  • Mathematics: 60%

Read 2026-10-04 from the Stellenbosch 2027 Undergraduate Prospectus (page images). The number shown is the NSC aggregate (excluding Life Orientation). Page 7. Leads to non-statutory registration as an HR practitioner with the SA Board for People Practices. Every Stellenbosch programme is a selection programme. The figures shown are the published minimum requirements - the actual selection threshold is usually higher.

Source: View the official page (files.su.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Tshwane University of Technology

Diploma in Human Resource Management

Management Sciences · 3 years

TUT APS 24 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 3 (40% or more)

New row, read directly from TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus (tut-pass-3). Closing date not found in the documents read - check TUT’s website.

Source: View the official page (tut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Johannesburg

BCom in Human Resource Management

Economic & Financial Sciences · 3 years

UJ APS 28 points

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 5 (60% or more)

Read from the 2027 UJ Undergraduate Prospectus, page 40, programme code B34HRQ. APS 28 with Mathematics, Technical Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy. Graduates may register with the SA Board of People Practices.

Source: View the official page (uj.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Diploma in People Management

Economic & Financial Sciences · 3 years

UJ APS 22 points

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 5 (60% or more)

Read from the 2027 UJ Undergraduate Prospectus, page 45, programme code D34P2Q. APS 22 with Mathematics or Technical Mathematics, 24 with Mathematical Literacy.

Source: View the official page (uj.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of South Africa

BCom in Human Resource Management

Economic & Management Sciences

Unisa APS 21 points

  • English: 50%
  • Mathematics: 50%

Re-read 2026-10-04 against Unisa’s live qualification page: APS, language/Mathematics percentages and the 17 August - 9 October 2026 window all match. Graduates meet the foundational-competence requirement for registration as a Human Resource Professional with SABPP. NSC with Bachelor’s Degree endorsement required (a Higher Certificate or Diploma from Unisa’s College of Economic & Management Sciences is also accepted). Maximum 8 years to complete. Confirmed current for the 2027 intake: Unisa’s own pages state its 2027 application window as 17 August - 9 October 2026.

Source: View the official page (unisa.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

No cut-off published

Diploma in Human Resource Management

Economic & Management Sciences

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: 50%
  • Mathematics: 40% OR Mathematical Literacy: 70%

Read 2026-10-04 from Unisa’s own qualification page (code 98211). NSC with Diploma endorsement (or equivalent). Unisa states percentages, not an APS, on this page. Confirmed current for the 2027 intake: Unisa’s own pages state its 2027 application window as 17 August - 9 October 2026.

Source: View the official page (unisa.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of the Free State

BCom with specialisation in Human Resource Management

Economic & Management Sciences

UFS AP score 28 points out of 49

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more)

Read 2026-10-04 from the table on the faculty’s page in the UFS 2027 Undergraduate Prospectus (page images). Plan code BC630030.

Source: View the official page (ufs.ac.za) (opens the official page)

University of the Witwatersrand

BCom Human Resource Management

Commerce, Law & Management · 3 years

Wits APS 38 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)

Read from the live 2027 course-finder page on 2026-10-04. Applications close 30 September 2026. APS 35-37 is wait-listed.

Source: View the official page (wits.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Venda

BCom Human Resource Management

Management, Commerce and Law · 3 years

Univen APS 32

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Two more subjects – Level 3 in any two of Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, Information Technology and Mathematics.

Raw-read 2026-10-04 from Univen’s 2027 Undergraduate Prospectus (April 2026), faculty programme tables. Online applications are free and run 1 May - 30 September 2026.

Source: View the official page (univen.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Vaal University of Technology

Diploma in Human Resource Management

Management Sciences

VUT APS 20 points

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)
  • One other subject – One further subject at level 4.

APS 20 on the Mathematics route, 21 on the Mathematical Literacy route. A TVET N3-N6 certificate is also an accepted alternative entry route. Raw-confirmed directly against the user-supplied 2027 Undergraduate Minimum Admission Requirements PDF. From VUT’s 2027 Undergraduate Minimum Admission Requirements PDF. Academic applications close 30 September 2026 (residences 31 October 2026); fee R110.

Source: View the official page (vut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Walter Sisulu University

Diploma in Human Resources Management

Management & Public Administration Sciences · 3 years

WSU APS 21 points out of 48 (56 for Education programmes)

  • English: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Two more subjects – Any two school subjects at level 3.

Raw-read 2026-10-04 from WSU’s own 2027 Undergraduate Information Brochure & Admission Requirements (main-stream figures; Extended Curriculum Programmes accept a lower APS, noted where the brochure gives one). Extended Curriculum route: APS 20 with Mathematics level 2 / Mathematical Literacy level 3. Applications: the brochure lists no closing date - check wsu.ac.za.

Source: View the official page (wsu.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Are your marks enough?

Put your subjects in once and we’ll check them against every programme above – scored each university’s own way.

What do I qualify for?