WSU Nursing Application 2027 – Requirements and How to Apply

Thobeka Nkosi

June 21, 2026 9:59 am

Nursing at Walter Sisulu University is one of the most applied-for and most competitive programmes in the Eastern Cape. The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Mthatha Campus receives thousands of applications every year for a limited number of spaces, and the selection process is strict.

Understanding the WSU Nursing application requirements before you apply is not optional. The wrong subject combination, a single-level shortfall in Life Sciences, or applying after 30 September can end your chance at this intake entirely.

This guide covers the confirmed entry requirements for the WSU Bachelor of Nursing, the subject levels you need, the application process step by step, the documents WSU expects, and what happens after you submit.

This guide is based on the official Walter Sisulu University 2027 Undergraduate Information Brochure and Admission Requirements, as well as information published by WSU’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. All requirements are verified from official WSU sources.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is located at the Nelson Mandela Drive Campus, Mthatha. The faculty comprises the School of Medicine with 11 academic departments as well as the departments of Nursing, Public Health and Rehabilitation Medicine. The faculty offers six undergraduate programmes, including the Bachelor of Nursing.

The Bachelor of Nursing at WSU prepares graduates for registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as a nurse (general, psychiatric, or community) and as a midwife under Regulation R425. The programme specifically focuses on preparing nursing professionals capable of providing preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative care, with special emphasis on rural communities directly aligned with the Eastern Cape’s healthcare needs.

Clinical training is conducted in general and midwifery hospitals affiliated with WSU, including Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, which sits adjacent to the Mthatha campus.

Upon completing the degree and meeting SANC requirements, graduates register as professional nurses, opening career paths in public hospitals, private healthcare, clinics, community health centres, and specialised care facilities across South Africa.

Health Sciences courses like Nursing and MBChB typically require an APS of 30 or above, plus specific subjects like Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.

Multiple sources and the WSU undergraduate brochure indicate the APS range for the Bachelor of Nursing sits at 27–30. Meeting the minimum APS alone does not guarantee admission. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission, as some programmes have limited spaces. WSU applies additional selection criteria when final selections are made.

Candidates shall be admitted to the programme if they have the following: Mathematics Level 4 or Mathematical Literacy Level 5, Physical Science Level 4, and Life Science Level 4.

In full, the subject requirements for the WSU Bachelor of Nursing are:

It is recommended that Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Biology be taken as Matriculation subjects.

Critical note: Mathematical Literacy is accepted, but at a higher level than Mathematics. If you took Mathematical Literacy, you need Level 5 (60–69%) — not Level 4. A Level 4 in Mathematical Literacy does not meet the requirement, even if your overall APS is sufficient. This distinction is missed by almost every guide covering WSU Nursing requirements.

You must have a Bachelor’s pass on your National Senior Certificate. A Diploma pass is not accepted for entry into the Bachelor of Nursing degree. Students applying for Degree programmes must have a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a Bachelor’s endorsement.

Age of entrance shall be 17 years to 36 years. Applicants outside this age range are not considered for the standard entry route and would need to explore the mature age endorsement pathway for students above 23 with a conditional exemption.

Applicants must be medically fit. WSU may require a medical fitness certificate as part of the selection process. The nature of nursing training, including clinical rotations in hospitals, means applicants with certain medical conditions may be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Meeting the minimum APS and subject requirements places your application under consideration, but it does not confirm your place. The Bachelor of Nursing often requires specific achievement ratings in English, Life Science, Mathematics or Maths Lit, and Physical Science. Faculties like Health Sciences commonly have earlier closing dates and stricter selection processes.

WSU Faculty of Health Sciences applies additional selection criteria when making final offers. Additional selection criteria will apply when final selections are made. Refer to the faculty prospectus for further details. This means your total APS above the minimum, your specific subject marks, and your overall academic profile are all considered in the final selection round.

The closing date for WSU Nursing applications differs from the general undergraduate deadline. Health Sciences applicants must submit earlier.

The closing date for applications will be 30 September; however, late applications will be considered under certain circumstances.

The general WSU undergraduate deadline is 31 October. Nursing applicants who apply after 30 September risk missing the Health Sciences selection window entirely. Do not apply in October for a Nursing programme.

With the application window closing on 31 October 2026, early submission is vital, especially for high-demand programmes like Medicine and Nursing. For Nursing specifically, early means April or May, not September.

The APS is calculated by adding together the point scores for a student’s best six subjects, excluding Life Orientation. APS is determined on the WSU classification table: six subjects comprising English and one other language subject, plus four subjects in which the student scored the highest marks.

Here is the WSU APS conversion table from the official 2027 brochure:

To calculate your APS for the Nursing application:

For Nursing, ensure that Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Mathematics (or Mathematical Literacy at Level 5) are included in your six subjects.

A student with the following results:

This student meets the subject requirements (Life Sciences Level 4, Physical Sciences Level 4, Mathematics Level 4) and reaches an APS of 28, which falls within the competitive range for WSU Nursing. Life Orientation is excluded.

Have all documents certified and ready before opening the application portal. WSU does not allow you to save a partial application and upload documents later in most cases; submit everything in one session where possible.

Required for all South African applicants:

For international applicants:

General document rules:

Step 1: Go to the Official WSU Application Portal.

Open your browser and go to: www.wsu.ac.za or directly to applications.wsu.ac.za

Step 2: Register Your Profile.

Create an account using your South African ID number and a personal email address you check regularly. Use Gmail or Yahoo, not a school email, which may be deactivated after matric.

Step 3: Complete the Application Form.

Fill in your personal details and academic results. When selecting your programme:

Step 4: Upload Your Documents.

Upload your certified ID copy, school results, and proof of residence in PDF or JPG format. Double-check each upload shows a confirmed tick before moving to the next step.

Step 5: Submit before 30 September.

The Nursing programme closes on 30 September. Submit at least two weeks before this date to avoid server slowdowns and upload failures common in the final days before a deadline.

Step 6: Save Your Reference Number.

After submitting, screenshot or write down your reference number and provisional student number immediately. You will need these to track your application.

Step 7: Track Your Application Status.

Check your status regularly at: https://status.wsu.ac.za/status/statuscheck.php

Enter your ID number or reference number. Your status, Received, Under Review, Provisionally Accepted, Admitted, or Unsuccessful, will appear on screen.

The Faculty of Health Sciences processes applications in batches. After submitting, your status typically moves through these stages:

A “Provisionally Accepted” status for Nursing means your current results meet the minimum requirements. Final admission is confirmed after your matric results are verified in January.

If your status shows “Admitted,” act immediately. Accept your offer through the iEnabler portal, confirm your NSFAS funding application is active, and complete registration before the deadline.

Several factors make the WSU Nursing application more selective than the average WSU programme:

A matric student from a rural town near Mthatha wants to apply for WSU Nursing for the 2027 intake. She checks the requirements in April 2026 when applications open. Her Grade 11 results show Life Sciences at 61%, Physical Sciences at 52%, Mathematics at 54%, and English at 58%, all at Level 4 or above. Her projected APS is 27.

She applied in April 2026, six months before the deadline, using her Grade 11 results. By November 2026, her status shows “Provisionally Accepted.” After the January 2027 matric results confirm her final marks, her status updates to “Admitted.”

Students who waited until September to apply found the programme already at capacity. Her April submission gave her application a six-month head start in the selection queue.

The WSU Nursing application is one of the most competitive at Walter Sisulu University. Limited spaces, a 30 September deadline, and strict subject requirements mean that preparation matters more here than in most other programmes.

Check your subject levels against the requirements before anything else. Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Mathematics at Level 4 minimum are non-negotiable. If you took Mathematical Literacy, you need Level 5, not Level 4.

Apply in April when the portal opens. Do not wait until September. Spaces in Nursing fill before the deadline, and an April application gives you a significantly better position in the selection queue than one submitted in September.

If your APS or subjects fall slightly short, explore the other Health Sciences programmes at WSU. The Bachelor of Medical Sciences, Bachelor of Medicine in Clinical Practice, and Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion are all pathways into the same faculty and broader healthcare sector.

Take action now:

Apply online: www.wsu.ac.za, Download the 2027 WSU Brochure: https://www.wsu.ac.za/media/attachments/2026/05/27/2027-information-brochure-admission-requirements.pdf, Track your status: status.wsu.ac.za, Apply for NSFAS in parallel: www.nsfas.org.za

Thobeka Nkosi

I am Thobeka Nkosi, a content writer at wsuonlineapplication.co.za. I write simple, helpful guides on South African university applications, student portals, and admissions processes to help students understand and complete their academic steps without confusion.