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How to become a Software Engineer / Computer Scientist

Designs and builds software systems, applications and infrastructure.

What does a Software Engineer / Computer Scientist actually do?

More about this career

Covers building the apps, websites, systems and infrastructure that run on computers and phones – what you actually work on (backend systems, mobile apps, games, data pipelines) varies hugely by job, not by degree. It’s one of the more flexible qualifications here: strong self-taught coders can break in without a CS degree, though a degree still helps for the first job and for more technical roles later.

Where this degree can take you

  • Mobile App Developer
  • DevOps Engineer
  • Cybersecurity Specialist
  • Game Developer

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
  • Information Technology (if your school offers it)
  • Physical Sciences (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 degrees we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 12 of 14 degrees
  • Physical Sciences – asked for by 3 of 14 degrees
  • Mathematical Literacy – asked for by 3 of 14 degrees
  • Technical Mathematics – asked for by 1 of 14 degrees

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

Degrees that lead here

14 degrees at 11 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Durban University of Technology

Partly verifiedNo cut-off published

Diploma in ICT: Applications Development

Accounting & Informatics · 3 years

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

  • English: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 6 (70% or more)
  • Two more subjects – Two further 20-credit NSC subjects.

A 4-year Extended Curriculum Programme route is also available. DUT did not state a single APS number on this page. Closes 30 September 2026. 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

Nelson Mandela University

Partly verifiedFrom an older document

BCom (Computer Science & Information Systems)

Business & Economic Sciences · 3 years

NMU Applicant Score (AS) 390 out of 600 (+7 bonus in some cases)

  • Mathematics: 60%

From NMU’s own faculty "UG Guide" PDFs, most of which are dated/closing in 2024 - apparently covering the 2025 intake, not independently confirmed as current for 2027 (NMU appears to roll these forward with the same structure each year, but treat the figures as "last confirmed" rather than "2027-verified"). No 2027 closing date is stated.

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

Sol Plaatje University

Partly verifiedNo cut-off published

Diploma in ICT in Applications Development

Natural & Applied Sciences · 3 years

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

  • English and Mathematics – A "reasonably strong" mark in English and Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy - SPU did not state an exact level or percentage.

From SPU’s Faculty of Natural & Applied Sciences programme page. We could not confirm the 2027 application closing date (only a stale 2021 date was found on SPU’s applications page).

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

Stellenbosch University

Selection programme

BSc Computer Science

Science · 3 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 65 %

  • Mathematics: 70%
  • Language – A language at 50% is required.

Every Stellenbosch programme is a selection programme. The figures shown are the published minimum requirements - the actual selection threshold is usually higher. SU states specifically that the actual threshold for Computer Science is higher than the published minimum. The Science selection mark is [(Maths x 2) + your 5 other subjects] / 7. SU offers only two computing degrees: this one and the BEng Data Engineering stream.

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

Tshwane University of Technology

Partly verified

Diploma in Computer Science

Information & Communication Technology · 3 years

TUT APS 26 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 7 (80% or more)

APS 26 on the Mathematics route, 28 on the Mathematical Literacy route. 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

Partly verified

Diploma in Information Technology

Information & Communication Technology · 3 years

TUT APS 26 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 7 (80% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 3 (40% or more)

APS 26 on the Mathematics route, 28 on the Mathematical Literacy route. 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

Partly verified

BSc Computer Science

Science

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

  • Mathematics: 70%

UCT’s own Computer Science page states the Maths minimum directly but defers full admission rules to the Science Faculty Handbook - the FPS cut-off and other subject minimums are not yet confirmed from an official source. Do not treat this as fully specified.

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

University of Johannesburg

Partly verified

BSc Computer Science & Informatics

Science · 3 years

UJ APS 30 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 6 (70% or more)

This figure was read from the search-engine index of the official UJ programme page rather than from the full page, and UJ’s 2027 prospectus PDF could not be fetched. Confirm it on the UJ page before you rely on it. UJ also lists an Artificial Intelligence specialisation at APS 34 with Mathematics at level 7, but we could not capture that specialisation’s own programme page URL, so we are not showing it as a separate verified entry.

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

University of KwaZulu-Natal

From an older document

BSc Eng Computer Engineering

Agriculture, Engineering & Science · 4 years

UKZN APS 33 points out of 48

  • Mathematics: 65%
  • Physical Sciences: 65%
  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Orientation: level 4 (50% or more)

The published APS range is 48-33. This comes from the Study@UKZN 2026 brochure, the most recent official source we could find. UKZN had not published a 2027 table when we checked, so treat these as 2026 figures pending a 2027 update. Applications go through the CAO.

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

From an older document

BSc Computer Science & Information Technology

Agriculture, Engineering & Science · 3 years

UKZN APS 30 points out of 48

  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Orientation: level 4 (50% or more)
  • A science subject – One science subject at level 4.

The published APS range is 48-30. This comes from the Study@UKZN 2026 brochure, the most recent official source we could find. UKZN had not published a 2027 table when we checked, so treat these as 2026 figures pending a 2027 update. Applications go through the CAO.

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

University of Pretoria

BEng Computer Engineering

Engineering, Built Environment & IT · 4 years

UP APS 35 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 6 (70% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 6 (70% or more)

Most UP closing dates are 30 June; Veterinary Science closes 31 May. Grade 12 applicants apply with their final Grade 11 results. A 5-year extended BEng route (previously ENGAGE) exists at APS 33 with English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at 65%.

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

BSc Computer Science

Engineering, Built Environment & IT

UP APS 30 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 6 (70% or more)

Most UP closing dates are 30 June; Veterinary Science closes 31 May. Grade 12 applicants apply with their final Grade 11 results.

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

University of South Africa

Partly verifiedNot fully verified

Diploma in Information Technology

Science, Engineering & Technology

Unisa APS 18 points

  • Subject-level requirements – Not shown on the page we read - only the APS minimum was confirmed.

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 Witwatersrand

From an older document

BSc Computer Science

Science · 3 years

Wits APS 44 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 6 (70% or more)
  • NBT – The NBT is required for Science.

This figure comes from the Wits schools-liaison Grade 12 guide, which is headed for 2026 entry. We have not yet found a 2027 course-finder page confirming it, so treat it as the most recent official figure rather than a confirmed 2027 one.

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

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

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