University of Pretoria
Universiteit van Pretoria
South Africa's largest contact university, home to the country's only veterinary faculty and admission by APS ranking.
- Students
- 55,845
- International
- 7%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 18.4:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- ZAR 94,000
- From · 2026
- Founded
- 1908
About UP
The University of Pretoria, known as UP, Tuks or Tukkies, began in 1908 with four professors and 32 students in a house called Kya Rosa. It is now South Africa's largest contact (in-person) university, with 55,845 students enrolled according to its December 2025 figures, and it is organised into nine faculties plus the Gordon Institute of Business Science. The main Hatfield campus is joined by campuses including Groenkloof (Education), Prinshof (Health Sciences, next to Steve Biko Academic Hospital) and Onderstepoort (Veterinary Science).
UP's Faculty of Veterinary Science is the only veterinary faculty in South Africa and is responsible for all of the country's veterinary science degrees. The university reports the most NRF-rated researchers in South Africa (593) and that 73% of its academic staff hold a PhD, and it runs research hubs such as the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, the UP Institute for Malaria Control and Future Africa.
Admission is competitive and mechanical: every undergraduate programme is number-limited, school-leavers apply with final Grade 11 results, and applicants are ranked on an Admission Point Score (APS) out of 42 plus subject minimums. It suits focused students who know which professional degree they want, whether engineering, law, veterinary science, actuarial science or commerce, and who are ready to apply early after applications open on 1 April.
Ad destinatum persequor
“With zeal and perseverance, strive towards the goal” — university motto
Why students choose UP
The Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort is the only veterinary degree offered in South Africa.
Admission is transparent: each programme publishes a minimum APS and subject levels, such as APS 35 with Mathematics and Physical Sciences at level 6 for the BEng degrees.
FLY@UP Assist First-Year Awards are paid automatically, for example R45,000 for an NSC average of 90% or more, and up to R30,000 for strong A-level or IB results.
Citizens of SADC countries pay the same tuition as South Africans, plus an annual international levy.
Admissions
2027 academic year (applications closed June 2026); 2028 entry applications expected to open 1 April 2027
Selectivity
UP does not publish an acceptance rate. All programmes are number-limited and applicants are ranked on their final Grade 11 (or equivalent) results; meeting the minimum APS and subject levels does not guarantee a place.
Typical entry requirements
| NSC/IEB (APS out of 42, Life Orientation excluded) | Minimum APS by programme for 2027, e.g. BCom 30, BCom (Law) and BCom (Statistics and Data Science) 32, BEng degrees 35 (English 5, Mathematics 6, Physical Sciences 6), LLB 35 (English 6), BVSc 35, BSc Actuarial and Financial Mathematics 36 (Mathematics 7); many Humanities programmes consider applicants from APS 30 (Grade 11) with final admission at APS 28 |
|---|---|
| International qualifications (A-levels, IB, KCSE, WAEC and others) | Converted to UP percentages using the university's conversion table; e.g. for BEng, A-level grade D in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry or IB HL 5; for the LLB, English at A-level D or IB HL 4 plus a USAf Certificate of Complete Exemption. Predicted results are not accepted |
| USAf exemption | Applicants with school-leaving qualifications not issued by Umalusi need a Certificate of Complete Exemption or Foreign Conditional Exemption from Universities South Africa (USAf) |
| English language | UP's international prospectus states that English First Language is a requirement for admission to all programmes; programme tables set a minimum English level (e.g. level 5 for BEng, level 6 for LLB). No IELTS or TOEFL score is listed for undergraduate entry. |
Deadlines
- Faculty of Veterinary Science (2027 entry) Non-binding Passed31 May 2026
Previous cycle: closed. The same rule (31 May of the year before study) applies each year per the prospectus.
- All other faculties (2027 entry) Non-binding Passed30 June 2026
Previous cycle: closed. Applications opened 1 April 2026.
The dates shown are for 2027 entry, which have passed. UP states that applications open on 1 April of the year before studies start, with Veterinary Science closing on 31 May and all other faculties on 30 June; the 2028 prospectus had not been published when checked, so confirm 2028 dates (expected from 1 April 2027) on up.ac.za.
How to apply
Apply online at up.ac.za from 1 April of the year before you start, with final Grade 11 results (or final school results if completed), ID or birth certificate and proof of the R300 application fee. Choose a first and second-choice programme; selection programmes (such as Health Sciences, Veterinary Science and the 4-year BCom) apply extra criteria. Feedback comes by September at the latest, and final admission depends on final school results.
What admissions looks for
- The minimum Admission Point Score for the programme, calculated from six 20-credit subjects on the NSC 1 to 7 scale.
- The required level in specific subjects, such as English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences for engineering and science.
- Final school results that keep you at or above the admission requirement; conditional offers based on Grade 11 can be withdrawn if final results drop.
- In Health Sciences, a Merit Point Score used to rank applicants, with a small number of places for non-South Africans and preference to SADC applicants.
Tips for applying to UP
- 1 Apply as soon as possible after 1 April: every programme is number-limited and places are filled by ranking.
- 2 Always choose a sensible second-choice programme; the prospectus suggests one for each degree, such as BSc Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics for Engineering.
- 3 International applicants should get their USAf exemption certificate early; LLB applicants need a Certificate of Complete Exemption.
- 4 Applicants from countries with their own medical schools are not considered for the MBChB, except under intergovernmental agreements.
- 5 Budget for compulsory South African medical aid if you need a study visa; international insurance is not accepted for registration.
Costs & financial aid
2026 · figures in ZAR
FLY@UP Assist First-Year Awards are made automatically on final school results: R18,000 for an NSC average of 80-89.99% and R45,000 for 90% or more (plus R2,000 subject awards), and R5,000 per A-level or IB symbol for international qualifications, up to R30,000. The Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Merit Award covers three years' tuition for the top-performing entrants. South African students can also apply to NSFAS.
- R45,000
- FLY@UP first-year award, NSC average 90-100%
- R5,000 per subject, up to R30,000
- International qualifications (A-level A*, A or B; IB HL 6 or 7)
- R300
- Application fee
- Up to R65,000 a year for three meals a day; R5,700 reservation fee
- Residence meals (2026)
Academics
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
Six-year degree at Onderstepoort, the only veterinary faculty in South Africa; APS 35 with level 5 in English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, and an earlier 31 May closing date.
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
Four-year degrees in chemical, civil, computer, electrical, electronic, industrial, mechanical, metallurgical and mining engineering, with APS 35 and level 6 in Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Four-year LLB requiring APS 35 and level 6 English; UP describes its law faculty as number one in Africa since 2017.
BSc Actuarial and Financial Mathematics
Requires APS 36 and a 7 in Mathematics, the highest Mathematics requirement in the prospectus.
Bachelor of Commerce specialisations
Options from Accounting Sciences to Statistics and Data Science and Investment Management; UP ranks first in South Africa for Economics and for Accounting and Finance in the rankings it cites.
Research
- Research hubs include the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, the UP Institute for Malaria Control, Future Africa and Engineering 4.0.
- UP reports 85 research institutes and centres, 43 research chairs and 593 NRF-rated researchers, the most in South Africa.
- The university is custodian of the Mapungubwe Collection of gold and other artefacts from the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
- Faculty of Theology and Religion
- Faculty of Veterinary Science
- Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
UP reports a 92% placement rate for Theology and Religion graduates and a 98% undergraduate pass rate in Veterinary Science; no university-wide graduate employment rate is published in its prospectus.
Student life
Campus life centres on Hatfield, where the red-brick Old Arts Building of 1910 and more than 60 historic buildings sit beside modern faculties, with the Hillcrest sports campus and LC de Villiers Sports Grounds next door. Tuks is a serious sporting university: its rugby and athletics programmes have produced Springboks and Olympic sprinters. UP runs residences on its campuses, including a village at Onderstepoort for veterinary students, and residence students are billed an initial amount for dining-hall meals. Hatfield is served by a Gautrain station connecting Pretoria and Johannesburg.
- The Old Arts Building, the first building on the Hatfield campus, is a provincial heritage site that houses university museum collections.
- The High Performance Centre and LC de Villiers Sports Grounds on the Hillcrest campus serve Tuks sport.
- University shuttle buses link Hatfield with the Groenkloof and Prinshof campuses.
- JuniorTukkie runs outreach for high-school learners, including a Grade 11 Empowerment Week.
Housing. UP residences are allocated through a section of the online application; placement requires a R5,700 reservation fee, and the university advises choosing a residence on the campus where your programme is taught.
Location
Pretoria is South Africa's administrative capital, in Gauteng province north of Johannesburg. The main campus is in Hatfield, a student suburb east of the city centre with its own Gautrain rapid-rail station linking Pretoria and Johannesburg. The Health Sciences campus at Prinshof adjoins Steve Biko Academic Hospital, and the veterinary campus at Onderstepoort lies about 30 km north-west of Hatfield.
Nearest airport: O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), Johannesburg
Notable alumni
- AR Anton RupertFounder of the Rembrandt Group; earned a chemistry degree at UP
- JV Johann van der WesthuizenJustice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa (2004-2016); studied law and completed his doctorate at UP
- VM Victor MatfieldRugby World Cup winner with the Springboks (2007); studied at UP
- NB Naas BothaSpringbok fly-half; played for South Africa's under-20 side while a UP student
- HM Heyneke MeyerFormer Springbok head coach; studied sports psychology at UP
- AS Akani SimbineOlympic sprinter; equalled the South African 100m record while an Information Science student at UP
- EM Elon MuskEntrepreneur (Tesla, SpaceX); attended UP for five months before emigrating to Canada
Frequently asked questions
What APS do I need for the University of Pretoria?
It depends on the programme: for 2027 entry, for example, BCom needed APS 30, BEng degrees, LLB and BVSc APS 35, and BSc Actuarial and Financial Mathematics APS 36. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place because programmes are number-limited.
When do University of Pretoria applications close?
Applications open on 1 April of the year before you start. For 2027 entry, Veterinary Science closed on 31 May 2026 and all other faculties on 30 June 2026; 2028 dates were not yet published when checked but follow the same pattern.
How much does it cost for international students to study at UP?
Citizens of SADC countries pay the same tuition as South Africans plus an international levy (R4,725 in 2026). Other international students pay double the local tuition for coursework degrees plus the levy, and must pay R40,000 before registering.
Can international students apply for Medicine at the University of Pretoria?
Only a small number of Health Sciences places go to non-South Africans, with preference for SADC applicants, and applicants from countries that have their own medical schools are not considered for the MBChB unless an intergovernmental agreement applies.
Does the University of Pretoria require the NBT or SAT?
UP does not use the National Benchmark Test. The SAT is only required for applicants with a US or Canadian High School Diploma (or equivalent), with faculty minimum scores.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- THE: University of Pretoria profile
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- University of Pretoria: Undergraduate prospectus 2027, applicants with an NSC/IEB certificate (PDF)
- University of Pretoria: International undergraduate prospectus 2027 (PDF)
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