University in South Africa
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
University profile
The University of Pretoria (UP) is a public, research-intensive university in South Africa's capital, with its largest campus at Hatfield. It operates across seven campuses and is South Africa's largest residential university and one of its largest contact universities, with more than 54,000 students. UP was founded in 1908 and uses English as its official language of tuition.
Teaching and research are organised in nine faculties and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS): Economic and Management Sciences; Education; Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology; Health Sciences; Humanities; Law; Natural and Agricultural Sciences; Theology and Religion; Veterinary Science. Together they run about 120 academic departments and more than 1,200 programmes. UP houses South Africa's only Faculty of Veterinary Science, at Onderstepoort.
Research is concentrated in around 100 institutes, centres and units, many of which host South African Research Chairs (SARChI) and industry-funded chairs. UP's research approach is theme-based, with Centres of Excellence and research platforms built around areas of strength. Rankings include 362nd in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, 42nd in the 2025 THE Impact Rankings, and a place in the top 500 of the 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities.
Student life centres on the Hatfield campus. UP accommodates more than 8,000 students in 29 official residences run by TuksRes, with applications made through the online application; private accredited accommodation is also available. There are 125 student societies managed through the Student Representative Council, free campus Wi-Fi, student counselling, a disability unit and a student health service. TuksSport covers more than 30 sporting codes, with its high-performance centre at Hillcrest. The Javett-UP Art Centre and other galleries and museums sit on campus.
About 4,000 international students from around the world study at UP, supported by the Department of Internationalisation and Strategic Partnerships and the International Cooperation Division, which handles immigration documentation. Applicants with school-leaving certificates not issued by Umalusi need a Universities South Africa (USAf) exemption certificate. UP is a public university recognised under South African higher education regulation, and its qualifications are aligned to the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) overseen by the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Council on Higher Education and SAQA.
First-time entering first-year students receive automatic achievement awards based on final school results: R18,000 for an average of 80% to 89.99% across the six best subjects (excluding Life Orientation) and R45,000 for 90% to 100%, plus R2,000 for each of Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Alpha Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Advanced Physical Sciences and Further Physical Sciences at 80% or above. Senior undergraduates with a GPA of 75% to 79.99% receive R5,000 and those at 80% to 100% receive R11,000. Students do not apply; qualifying students are notified. Details: first-year awards and senior undergraduate awards.
Other first-year awards include the JuniorTukkie Grade 11 Empowerment Week Award (R16,000), the Top Grade 12 Scholars Award (R11,000), the Vice-Chancellor's Previously Disadvantaged Group Award (R15,700) and the Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Merit Award (three years' tuition, with up to R150,000 in the first year). TuksSport offers sport bursaries (sport performance support bursary), and UP manages UP Support bursaries and loans, employer funding arrangements and NSFAS, the government student financial aid scheme for South African citizens. Postgraduate funding, including UP and external bursaries, is announced on the postgraduate funding page and through the Postgraduate Support Office. General information is on the fees and funding page.
FLY@UP Assist First-Year Achievement Awards →
FLY@UP Assist Senior Undergraduate Awards →
Browse the scholarships listed for University of Pretoria and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for University of Pretoria →Candidates with a National Senior Certificate with bachelor's degree endorsement, an IEB certificate or an equivalent are considered for a first bachelor's degree. Grade 11 results are used for conditional admission and final admission depends on Grade 12 results. Each programme sets its own subject requirements, achievement levels and minimum Admission Point Score (APS). APS is calculated on the NSC 1 to 7 scale across six recognised 20-credit subjects; Life Orientation is excluded and the maximum is 42. Rating 7 is 80-100%, 6 is 70-79%, 5 is 60-69%, 4 is 50-59%, 3 is 40-49%, 2 is 30-39%, 1 is 0-29%. Admission is competitive and based on a ranking of candidates, so meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place. Every study programme is number-limited.
Applicants indicate a first and a second-choice programme (only two are allowed on the form). School of Tomorrow, Accelerated Christian Education and GED qualifications are not accepted. NCV Level 4 candidates may be considered if they meet the bachelor's exemption criteria and programme requirements. UP does not use National Benchmark Test results for admission.
Applicants with school-leaving certificates not issued by Umalusi (Cambridge, IB, other national certificates and the US High School Diploma) must hold a Certificate of Complete Exemption or a Foreign Conditional Exemption issued by Universities South Africa (USAf); Senate Discretionary Exemption is not considered, and LLB applicants need a Certificate of Complete Exemption. Documents required are the school certificate or diploma, proof of subjects passed at exit level, the grading system, translated and untranslated results, the USAf exemption certificate and SAT results where the faculty requires them. English First Language is required for all programmes. Minimum SAT scores differ by faculty, for example 640 Reading and Writing with 585 Mathematics for BCom Accounting Sciences, and 680 in both sections for Engineering, Health Sciences, Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Science.
Non-South African students need a study visa or permit and must hold medical aid cover registered with the Council for Medical Schemes for the full year; international insurance plans are not accepted. Tuition fees can be paid from abroad through Flywire. International students attend a compulsory orientation programme.
Applicants identify and secure a supervisor before applying, supply an official academic record and have international qualifications evaluated by SAQA. Postgraduate applications close on 31 August for international students and 30 September for South African citizens.
Applications for the 2027 academic year open on 1 April 2026 and close on 31 May for Veterinary Science and 30 June for all other faculties. The application fee is R300 (US$30), non-refundable, payable by credit card online or by EFT with proof of payment uploaded. Apply online through the UP application portal with an ID or passport and Grade 11 final results; a T-number is issued at the start and a student number follows within 10 working days. After an offer, applicants accept or decline on the UP Student Portal, pay the initial fee, submit the online student contract, and register. Residence interest is indicated in the same application.
A regular bus service connects the campuses with Hatfield and the official residences. Facilities include academic libraries, research laboratories, 29 residences, Wi-Fi coverage, student health services and the Virtual Campus tour.
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