Applications for studies at the University of Pretoria in 2024 open on 1 April 2023 for all study programmes. It is important to take note of the different closing dates. Please take note that meeting the minimum admission requirements for a programme does not guarantee admission into the programme.
Minimum admission requirements:
Mathematics: 5 (C Symbol: 60%-69%) (Note that Mathematical Literacy will not be accepted) Physical Science: 5 (C Symbol: 60%-69%) English or Afrikaans: 4 (D Symbol: 50%-59%) Life Orientation: 4 (D Symbol: 50%-59%) (Excluded when calculating the APS)
How to apply to the University of Pretoria as an international student?
If you are an international applicant, please download the Newcomer’s Guide, which is available at www.up.ac.za. Click on Study > International students. The University must receive your final results by 31 August in the year preceding studies.
The first requirement for enrolling for a bachelor’s degree in South Africa is a Universities South Africa (USAf) exemption.
USAf coordinates and issues exemption certificates based on the prescribed requirements stipulated in the gazetted exemption regulation. All applicants who obtained a school-leaving qualification
other than the South African NSC or IEB must submit a Certificate of Complete Exemption* or Foreign Conditional Exemption obtainable from USAf. The University of Pretoria no longer accepts exemption
based on mature age.
Students who have completed a degree at a tertiary institution in a country other than South Africa should apply for SAQA evaluation.
Physical address
SAQA House, 1067 Arcadia Street
Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028
Email customercare@saqa.org.za
Helpdesk +27 (0)86 011 1673
Website http://www.saqa.org.za
4.3 The University of Pretoria (UP) programme-specific requirements Refer to the faculty tables, starting from page 15.
All applicants who obtained school-leaving qualifications other than the South African NSC or IEB must submit the following documents to be considered for admission to a study programme at UP:
A school qualification certificate from the country of origin
Proof of subjects passed at exit level
A school qualification grading system
A certificate of Complete Exemption* or Foreign Conditional Exemption obtainable from USAf
South African Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), IELTS OR TOEFL results, if requested by the relevant faculty. Refer to page 11.
GCSE—General Certificate of Secondary Education (CIE and UK Cambridge)
This includes:
CIE: Cambridge International Examination
IGCSE: International General Certificate of Secondary Education
LGCSE: Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education
BGCSE: Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education
SGCSE: Eswatini General Certificate of Secondary Education
O Level—Ordinary Level
This includes:
NSSC OL: Namibia Senior Certificate (Ordinary level)
CGCE: Cameroon General Certificate of Education
UCE: Uganda Certificate of Education
NECO: Nigeria National Examination Council
WAEC: West African Examination Council
ZIMSEC: Zimbabwe School Examination Council
AS Level—Advanced Subsidiary Level
General Certificate of Education (GCE) AS Level – (Issued by the governing body,
Ofqual, in the UK)
Cambridge International Examination (CIE) AS Level
A Level—Advanced Level
General Certificate of Education (GCE) A Level – (Issued by the governing body,
Ofqual, in the UK)
Cambridge International Examination (CIE) A Level
IB SL—International Baccalaureate (Standard Levels)
IB HL—International Baccalaureate (Higher Levels)
KOMBI ABITUR—German International Abitur (South Africa)
KCSE—Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education
NCV—National Certificate Vocational
*The University of Pretoria will only accept an official Cambridge Certificate (Statement of Results) that displays an EMIS number.