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South Africa

We welcome students from South Africa

Birkbeck's campus in central London brings together people from all over the world. Our friendly and supportive community is made up of students and tutors from over 140 different countries.

Birkbeck is part of University of London and when you complete your studies with us, you will graduate with a world-renowned University of London degree.

If you are from South Africa and thinking about moving to London to study with us, here’s our guide to help with your application and help you understand what life is like in London and at Birkbeck.

Entry Information for students from South Africa

  • ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

    • The English language requirements for our courses are provided on individual course pages as minimum IELTS scores, however we accept many other tests and qualifications.
    • Please visit our English language requirements page for more information. 

  • Undergraduate Entry Requirements

    • Applicants from South Africa can be considered for direct entry with a National Senior Certificate (with matriculation endorsement).
      • A-level ABB = 128 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer: State Board: 66666 (with grade no less than 3), IEB Board: 66655 (with grade no less than 3)
      • A-level BBB = 120 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer: State Board: 66665 (with grade no less than 3), IEB Board: 66555 (with grade no less than 3)
      • A-level BBC = 112 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer: State Board: 66655 (with grade no less than 3), IEB Board: 65555 (with grade no less than 3)
      • A-level BCC = 104 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer: State Board: 66555 (with grade no less than 3), IEB Board: 55555 (with grade no less than 3)
      • A-level CCC = 96 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer: State Board: 65555 (with grade no less than 3), IEB Board: 55554 (with grade no less than 3)
      • A-level CCD = 88 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer: State Board: 55555 (with grade no less than 3), IEB Board: 55544 (with grade no less than 3)
      • A-level CDD = 80 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer: State Board: 55554 (with grade no less than 3), IEB Board: 55444 (with grade no less than 3)
      • A-level DDD = 72 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer: State Board: 55544 (with grade no less than 3), IEB Board: 54444 (with grade no less than 3)
      • A-level DDE = 64 UCAS tariff points (for Foundation year entry) State Board: 55444 (with grade no less than 3), IEB Board: 44444 (with grade no less than 3)
    • Applicants with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or A-levels will be considered for direct admission to our undergraduate degree programmes. IB requirements range from 28 to 33, depending on the course.
    • Applicants with a Senior Certificate are not normally considered suitable for direct entry. They could consider applying for a four-year course with foundation programme in their field of interest. Upon successful completion of the foundation year, students will automatically progress on to our three-year degree. Our four-year foundation programmes offer a joint confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) for all four years of study.
    • Alternatively, applicants can opt for a foundation course from our partner OnCampus London, which offers guaranteed progression onto Birkbeck's bachelor programmes. Foundation programmes from other providers will also be considered.

  • Postgraduate Entry Requirements

    • To be considered for direct entry to a Master's degree at Birkbeck, applicants from South Africa would normally be required to have successfully completed a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours), Professional Bachelor’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Technology (BTech) from a recognised institution. (A standard bachelor's degree is considered comparable to a UK Bachelor's degree (Ordinary) and would not be suitable for entry to a Master's.)
    • The marking scheme used at university level differs depending upon the institution. There are two systems in operation.
    • South African degree classification:
      • 1st class (75-100%; alternative name: Distinction; English translation or equivalent: 1st)
      • 2nd class division 1 (60-74%; alternative name: Pass; English translation or equivalent: 2:1)
      • 2nd class division 2 (52-59%; alternative name: Pass; English translation or equivalent: 2:2)
      • Third (50-51%; alternative name: Pass; English translation or equivalent: Third class)
      • Fail (0-49%; alternative name: Fail; English translation or equivalent: Fail).
    • A standard bachelor's degree is considered comparable to a UK bachelor's degree (Ordinary) and would not be suitable for entry to a Master's.
    • Please note that all applications are considered on an individual basis and you may be admitted to a Master's programme with a lower-level degree if you have work experience relevant to the degree applied for.
    • If you do not meet these criteria, you can apply for OnCampus London's Master's Foundation programme, which is available for two- or three-term progression onto a wide range of Master’s degrees at Birkbeck. Foundation programmes from other providers will also be considered.

  • Research degrees Entry Requirements

    • The usual entrance requirement for a research degree is a Master’s degree from a recognised university; schools may accept students with high grades in the undergraduate degree.
    • Applicants are strongly urged to contact potential supervisors within the department before submitting a research application.


Scholarships

We offer a number of scholarships specifically designed to help support international Birkbeck students during their time studying with us. View the scholarships for international students.

 

Life as an International Student

 

Contact us

If you are from South Africa and you are interested in studying at Birkbeck, we would love to hear from you.

Our representatives in your country

Please get in touch with our in-country representatives if you have any queries.


More information