Selection Criteria and Entrance Requirements
This section outlines the selection processes and minimum requirements for each level of study in Psychology at UKZN, from undergraduate to PhD. Admission into each programme is competitive and space-limited, and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
Undergraduate Degree in Psychology
To be eligible for undergraduate admission to study Psychology at UKZN, applicants must hold a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a Bachelor’s pass and meet the minimum admission criteria of the College of Humanities. According to UKZN’s official admissions page, the general APS requirement for degree programmes in the Humanities is approximately 28–32 points, depending on the specific campus and stream.
Students may apply to major in either General Psychology, Industrial and Organisational Psychology, or both. All first-year students take common psychology modules that provide a foundation in core psychological theory and critical thinking. Selection is based on academic merit, using either Grade 12 final results or trial/Grade 11 marks for early provisional offers. Final admission is confirmed once NSC results are released. Applicants are advised to apply early during the annual CAO application cycle.
Honours in Psychology (General and Industrial)
Admission to Honours in Psychology is highly competitive. Applicants must have completed a relevant Bachelor’s degree with a major in Psychology and must demonstrate strong academic performance across second- and third-year psychology modules. While a minimum average of 65% in psychology modules is recommended, meeting this minimum does not guarantee acceptance. Due to the high volume of applications exceeding the available spaces, admission is determined based on academic merit and demonstrated performance. However, the Discipline of Psychology reserves the right to consider additional factors when making final decisions.
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling (PG Dip)
Applicants to the PG Dip in Psychological Counselling must have completed an NQF Level 7 qualification (e.g. a BA or BSocSci with a major in Psychology). The programme is equivalent in level to an Honours degree and prepares graduates for registration with the HPCSA as Registered Counsellors. Applicants with an average of 60% or higher in third-year psychology modules are generally considered. Selection for the programme is limited by intake capacity and the availability of clinical supervision. Applicants are assessed based on the strength of their academic record, the relevance of their undergraduate psychology training, and their demonstrated motivation to work in frontline mental health settings. In some instances, candidates may be invited to interviews or asked to submit additional supporting documentation as part of the selection process.
The programme is particularly well-suited to individuals seeking professional registration as Registered Counsellors without pursuing a master’s degree, those aiming to strengthen future applications for professional master’s programmes, and unqualified counsellors currently working in schools, clinics, NGOs, or other community-based contexts.
Professional Master's in Psychology (Clinical, Counselling, Educational, Industrial, Research)
Applicants must hold an Honours degree in Psychology (NQF Level 8) with a strong academic record. A minimum average of 60% in the Honours programme is required to be considered for the selection process. Importantly, applicants must apply separately to each master’s programme (e.g., Clinical, Counselling, Industrial, Research); submitting multiple applications simultaneously may result in disqualification.
Admission to professional master’s programmes is highly competitive and involves a rigorous, multi-stage selection process. The process begins with a screening of applications to ensure academic eligibility and completeness of documentation. Eligible applications are then reviewed and scored independently by multiple staff members on various dimensions, including academic transcripts, relevant experience, referee reports, and the submitted research proposal. Applicants who meet the initial scoring threshold are shortlisted and invited to participate in a selection process. These typically involve a written task, individual interviews covering academic, research, and internship readiness, as well as a group process or role-play activity.
All assessments are evaluated independently using standardised rubrics. Final ranking considers cumulative scores, equity priorities, and programme capacity. The selection panel makes the final selection decisions.
The Department of Psychology usually receives more qualifying applications than can be accommodated in its programmes. To ensure fairness, applicants are rank-ordered during the pre-selection phase according to academic and professional criteria. The highest-ranked candidates are then invited to participate in the selection process, after which final offers of admission are made to the top-ranked candidates, contingent upon the number of available spaces.
PhD in Psychology
Admission to the PhD in Psychology at UKZN requires a relevant Master’s degree (NQF Level 9), a strong academic record, and demonstrated capacity for independent research. Applicants are expected to submit a brief research concept that aligns with academic staff’s expertise and supervision capacity, along with certified academic transcripts, a CV, a motivation letter, and letters of reference. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to a proposal-based interview as part of the selection process. Final acceptance is contingent on academic merit, capacity for independent research and the availability of a suitable supervisor.