Careers › Business & finance

How to become a Marketing Professional

Builds brands and attracts customers through research, advertising and digital campaigns.

What does a Marketing Professional actually do?

More about this career

Researches what customers want, then plans pricing, advertising, brand and digital campaigns to reach them, working in agencies, retailers, banks and almost every other industry. Marketing degrees and diplomas mix business, statistics and communication.

Where this degree can take you

  • Brand Manager
  • Digital Marketer
  • Market Researcher
  • Advertising Executive

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 or Economics (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 19 programmes
  • Mathematical Literacy – asked for by 8 of 19 programmes
  • Technical Mathematics – asked for by 3 of 19 programmes
  • Accounting – asked for by 1 of 19 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

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

Central University of Technology

No cut-off published

Diploma in Marketing

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 Marketing

Management Sciences · 1 years

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

  • Prior qualification – A National Diploma or Diploma in Marketing (or an NQF level 6 equivalent of 360 credits) with an average of 60% 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). 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

No cut-off publishedSelection programme

Diploma in Management Sciences: Marketing

Management Sciences · 3 years

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

  • 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)
  • Three more subjects – Two 20-credit subjects at level 3 (not more than one language) plus one recognised subject at level 3.

New row, read directly from DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus (dut-pass-3). CAO applications are scored and ranked; preference goes to designated groups. 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 Marketing

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
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more) OR Accounting: level 4 (50% 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, which also notes an NCV level 4 alternative route (English 60%, Mathematics 40% or Mathematical Literacy 50%, four other subjects at 50%+).

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

Selection programme

Advanced Diploma in Marketing

Management Sciences · 1 years

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

  • Prior qualification – A Diploma or National Diploma in Marketing passed with an aggregate of 60% or above; less than 60% may be considered with two years’ marketing 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

BCom (Marketing & Business Management)

Business & Economic Sciences · 3 years

NMU Applicant Score (AS) 390 out of 600

  • Mathematics: 50%

Raw-read 2026-10-04 from the user-supplied NMU "Undergraduate Programmes 2027" Z-Card (A-Z table of Applicant Scores and subject percentages).

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

Diploma in Marketing

Business & Economic Sciences · 3 years

NMU Applicant Score (AS) 330 out of 600

  • Mathematics: 40% OR Mathematical Literacy: 60% OR Technical Mathematics: 40%

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 35%.

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

Stellenbosch University

Selection programme

BCom (Management Sciences) with focal area Marketing 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. 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 Marketing

Management Sciences · 3 years

TUT APS 24 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics, Technical Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy – Any one of these three at level 3.

Raw-confirmed 2026-10-04 against TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus: APS and subject levels match. Recommended: Accounting, Business Studies, Economics. Closes 30 September 2026. From TUT’s 2027 First-Year Course Information and General Information PDFs. Applications opened 1 April 2026 (fee R240).

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

University of Cape Town

BCom / BBusSc Marketing Studies

Commerce · 3 years

UCT Faculty Points Score 435 out of 600 (band a)

  • Mathematics: 60%
  • English: 50% if it is your Home Language, 60% if it is your First Additional Language
  • NBT – NBT Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy must be Upper Intermediate or above. The NBT Maths test is not required for Commerce.

Band A (guaranteed offer) is an FPS of 435. Band B (likely offer) is a WPS of 470 - the WPS adds a 0-10% disadvantage factor that we cannot work out from your marks, so we only check you against Band A. Band C (430-434, Education Development Unit only) applies to redress categories only. BBusSc takes four years.

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

University of Johannesburg

BCom in Marketing Management

Economic & Financial Sciences · 3 years

UJ APS 26 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)

Read from the 2027 UJ Undergraduate Prospectus, page 42, programme code B1CMMQ. Mathematical Literacy not accepted.

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

Diploma in Marketing

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 D34MKQ. 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

No cut-off published

Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management

Economic & Management Sciences

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

  • English: 50%
  • Mathematics: 50%

Read 2026-10-04 from Unisa’s own qualification page (code 98301 – MKT). NSC with Bachelor’s Degree 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

No cut-off published

Diploma in Marketing 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 98202). 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

No cut-off published

Higher Certificate in Marketing

Economic & Management Sciences

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

  • English: 30%

Read 2026-10-04 from Unisa’s own qualification page (code 98229). NSC (Higher Certificate pass) 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 Marketing

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 BC630010.

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

University of Zululand

From an older document

Higher Certificate in Marketing

Commerce, Administration & Law · 1 years

UniZulu APS 22 points out of 48

  • English – English at level 3 (or Senior Certificate symbol D / HG E).
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)

Read 2026-10-04 from UniZulu’s 2026 Commerce, Administration & Law handbook (admission table, Richards Bay campus). Extremely strict quotas apply and an interview or placement test may be required. From UniZulu’s own 2026-labelled faculty handbooks, which contain no 2027-specific intake or closing-date information at all - do not assume a date, and treat this as the most recent official figures available rather than confirmed-current for 2027.

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

Vaal University of Technology

Diploma in Marketing

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 Marketing 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 other two 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). 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?