University in South Africa
Mbombela, Mpumalanga, South Africa
University profile
The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) is a public university in South Africa's Mpumalanga Province, established by Government Gazette on 22 August 2013 and launched on 31 October 2013. It describes itself as an African university rooted in its home province and the first university in Mpumalanga, with the motto "Creating Opportunities". Its stated vision is to be an African university leading in creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation.
The university teaches on two campuses: Mbombela (corner R40 and D725 roads) and Siyabuswa (Bheki Mfundo Drive). Academic work is grouped into three faculties and eight schools. The Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences has the School of Agricultural Sciences, the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences and the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences. The Faculty of Education has the School of Early Childhood Education. The Faculty of Economics, Development and Business Sciences has the School of Development Studies, the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the School of Social Sciences. Qualifications run from higher certificates and diplomas through advanced diplomas, degrees and honours to master's and doctoral programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor's welcome message names agriculture, nature conservation, hospitality management and information and communication technology as the university's compelling strengths. The School of Biology and Environmental Sciences hosts the UMP-Oppenheimer Research Chair in Biodiversity Conservation and is housed in the Nature Conservation Building, while hospitality students train in facilities that include a boutique hotel next to a conference and wellness centre. The School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences runs a Cyber Security CoLab. The Faculty of Education stresses mother-tongue and multilingual teaching in its Foundation Phase degree.
Residences on both campuses offer single and double-sharing rooms, with rooms for students with disabilities, uncapped Wi-Fi and dining halls. A Living and Learning Programme runs in the residences with Student Academic Mentors. The Mbombela campus has a campus clinic and a student counselling centre in Building 7, and sport is offered on both campuses across codes including athletics, football, netball, volleyball, basketball, hockey, rugby and chess, with teams taking part in Universities Sports South Africa tournaments. Student societies are free and voluntary. The library, founded in 2014, serves both campuses.
International applicants apply through the same online system, pay a separate application fee, and must show a valid study permit, medical aid cover, police clearance and a SAQA evaluation at registration. The International Partnerships and Networks Directorate manages signed memoranda of understanding with local and foreign institutions for student mobility, joint research and internships. The university reports 13,371 students in 2026 and 81 accredited programmes.
The Student Financial Aid team in the Finance division administers scholarships, bursaries and loans and coordinates between the university and funders. Funded students must give the office a sponsor letter or proof of funding, which is verified before they are treated as funded for registration; students with confirmed funding are exempt from the initial payment. Applying for funding does not guarantee it.
An institutional programme for entering and existing undergraduate students who show exemplary academic performance, leadership among peers and commitment to their communities. It is intended to cover tuition fees, accommodation and meals, textbooks and a laptop, and recipients join leadership and personal development programmes and are given a mentor. It runs for the duration of the programme, with continuation depending on academic achievement, student and personal leadership and community engagement. It is governed by the Policy on the Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship Programme.
Some funders commit money to UMP under memoranda of agreement and the university nominates bursars through its own application and evaluation process. Criteria and dates are on the funders' own sites.
Official page: UMP Student Funding. Fee information: Fee Structure.
Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship →
Browse the scholarships listed for University of Mpumalanga and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for University of Mpumalanga →All applications are made online through the UMP application portal. Applicants may choose a maximum of two programmes and upload certified copies of the identity document, Senior Certificate or National Senior Certificate and other relevant documents. A residence application can be added in the same system. Applications for 2027 admission opened on 1 June 2026. Closing dates: undergraduate programmes and advanced diplomas 30 November 2026; honours, postgraduate diplomas, master's and doctoral programmes 30 January 2027.
A non-refundable fee applies: R200 for South African applicants, R400 for SADC applicants and R550 for other international applicants. The fee is paid during the application process and the ID or student number is used as payment reference.
Entry requirements are set per programme and use an Admission Point Score (APS) calculated from NSC results, with Life Orientation halved in the Faculty of Education calculation. Published examples: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture requires an NSC with Bachelor pass, APS of at least 32, English at level 4, Mathematics at level 4 and two of Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Agricultural Sciences or Geography at level 4 (Mathematical Literacy at level 6 or better may be considered with a supporting mathematics module). The Diploma in ICT in Applications Development requires a Diploma endorsement, English Home Language at level 4, Mathematics at level 3 or Mathematical Literacy at level 6, and an APS of 24 or more. The Bachelor of Laws requires a Bachelor endorsement with APS 33, English at level 4, an additional language at level 4, and Mathematics at level 3 or Mathematical Literacy at level 4. The Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching requires a minimum APS of 26 with Mathematics or 27 with Mathematical Literacy, with preliminary admission on Grade 11 results and final admission on Grade 12 results. Check each programme page for its own minimum.
Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place. For the LLB, selection is monthly, at least 50% of places are reserved for applicants still completing the NSC, and those who just meet the requirements are placed on hold. Recognition of prior learning is applied in line with university policy.
For the MSc in Biology and Environmental Sciences, applicants need a four-year BSc, BSc Honours or equivalent NQF level 8 qualification with a minimum pass mark of 60%, certified transcripts, an ID or passport copy and a research concept note of up to 500 words. Admission depends on academic record, supervisory capacity and alignment with the School's research focus areas, and the university may limit annual intake.
Applicants with foreign qualifications must submit a SAQA evaluation or Foreign Qualification Report. At registration, international students must provide a certified passport copy, a valid study permit, a medical aid cover letter, police clearance, the SAQA certificate, an admission letter and proof of initial payment or sponsor confirmation. The fees handbook states that international students must pay 100% of prior-year debt and 50% of current tuition and accommodation fees to register; the initial deposit is 50% of tuition and accommodation for SADC students and 100% for other international students.
For 2026, first-year online registration ran 2 to 30 January and lectures started on 9 February; registration is first-come-first-served and acceptance does not guarantee enrolment. The 2026 initial payment was R5,985.50 for tuition (other than third-year Diploma in Plant Production) and R3,498.40 for residence, unless funding is confirmed. Residence fees in 2026 range from R15,304 (double room, self-catered, older residence, Mbombela) to R76,955 (catered single room with ensuite). The full fees handbook is at the UMP fee structure page.
Applications: official application page; [email protected]; call centre 013 002 0047/50.
Residences offer single and double-sharing rooms with a bed, desk, shelves, chair, wardrobe and lamp, rooms for students with disabilities and uncapped Wi-Fi; accredited private accommodation is also listed. The library (Library and Information Services, established 2014) serves both campuses. The campus clinic on the first floor of Building 7 is open Monday to Friday 08:00 to 16:30.
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