The University of Pretoria (UP) offers a wide variety of courses that have different requirements and fees under nine faculties and the Gordon Institute of Business Sciences (GIBS). This article provides a list of the courses at the University of Pretoria and their requirements and fees. This would guide your choice of course.
The University of Pretoria, popularly known as UP, is one of South Africa’s largest contact universities. It brings students from various countries worldwide with its distance and contact learning programs. UP spearheads tertiary education in South Africa with her excellence and ultra-modern facilities. Her contributions to innovation and research are worthy of commendation.
List of University of Pretoria Courses and their Duration
Unlike some universities that offer only degree programs, the University of Pretoria is quite different. It offers diplomas, degrees, and postgraduate courses in various fields.
1. Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment, and Information Technology
This faculty offers a Bachelor of Engineering in these courses. Each of these courses is accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa.
- Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering: It has a minimum of 4years of study duration.
- Chemical Engineering: This course covers the nitty-gritty of chemical engineering and has a minimum of 4 years study period.
- Civil Engineering: This is a 4-year curriculum course that exposes the student to the basics of civil engineering.
- Electrical Engineering: This 4-year course covers the basic curriculum for a degree in electrical engineering.
- Electronic Engineering: A degree in Electronic Engineering from UP would take four years of your time.
- Mining Engineering: This department is concerned about extracting minerals from under the earth. It takes 4 years to be trained as a mining engineer.
- Metallurgical Engineering: This department exposes students for 4 years to the physical and chemical behavior of metals, intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures.
- Computer Engineering: Like every other engineering course, this offers a 4-year curriculum. It combines computer science and electrical engineering.
- Industrial Engineering: This borders on the design, analysis, and control of production systems. The degree program spans four years.
- ENGAGE: The Engineering Augmented Degree Program extends the normal Engineering degree program to a 5-year curriculum. It considers brilliant students who do not meet the normal 4-year entry requirements.
This faculty also offers a Bachelor in Integrated Studies in these courses:
- Publishing: This is a 3- year course where students are taught the principles of the South African Publishing Industry.
- Information Science: Information Science is a 3-year course that focuses on the use and processing of information technology. It trains students in the management, retrieval, storage, distribution, and organization of information.
- Multimedia: Similar to other Integrated studies courses, Multimedia is a 3-year course. It teaches students how to handle multimedia documents and arrange text, pictures, sound, etc.
Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment, and Information Technology also award a Bachelor of Science degree in these courses:
- Architecture: This department trains students for three years in the design of buildings.
- Computer Science: Students can become certified computer scientists in three years.
- Construction Management: This is quite different from civil engineering. Construction management is a three-year program that will teach students how to manage building construction.
- Information and Knowledge Systems: This three-year program is under the department of Computer Science and can help students become proficient in handling information and knowledge systems.
- Quantity Surveying: This course is a three-year program that students can also benefit from.
- Real Estate: Real estate studies fixed properties in relation to finance, marketing and economics in three years.
However, this faculty also offers a Bachelor of Town and Regional Planning in four years and a Bachelor of Information Technology in Information Systems for three years.
2. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
The University of Pretoria awards a Bachelor of Commerce in the following courses:
- AgriBusiness Management: This is a three-year course that tutors students in economics and business management with respect to Agriculture.
- Informatics: This program borders the study of computer and information systems within a firm. Duration is three years.
- Law: This does not lead to a particular career but gives a general view of law to the student in three years.
- Statistics and Data Science: This course takes a minimum of three years to inculcate the principles of gathering, processing, and interpreting data.
- BCom: This course has no direct career path but aims at building students in Economic and Management Science.
- Accounting: This program spans a minimum of three years.
- Business Management: This is a 3-year program that equips students to be great entrepreneurs.
- Econometrics: This equips students with knowledge of the economic policies and econometric models in South Africa within three years.
- Economics: This program spans three years.
- Financial Sciences: This program spans three years, and students are taught and equipped with basic financial skills.
- Human Resource Management: This program packages students with the skills required to manage human resources in three years.
- Investment Management: This program spans three years.
- Marketing Management: This aims at teaching the basics of marketing to students within three years.
- Supply Chain Management: This has a three-year minimum study duration.
- Extended Program: This program is aimed at helping brilliant students who did not meet the normal entry requirements. This program lasts four years.
This faculty also offers a Bachelor of Administration in Public Management and International Relations for three years.
3. Faculty of Education
The University of Pretoria awards a Bachelor of Education after four years of learning in these courses:
- Foundation Phase Teaching
- Intermediate Phase Teaching
- Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching
4. Faculty of Health Sciences
A degree in Health Sciences can only be awarded in these courses after the minimum study duration has been completed:
- BOT: This program clinically trains the student to be an occupational therapist after four years.
- BOH: The student is exposed to general dentistry within three years.
- BChD: This gives in-depth training for five years on general dentistry.
- BPhysT: After four years of intense study, students will be certified physiotherapists.
- MBChB: Students in this department are trained to be medical doctors after six years of tutelage.
- BCMP: Students are trained for three years in family medicine.
- BDietetics: This program aims at training Human Nutrition Dietetics within three years.
- BNursing: This department trains professional nurses and midwives within four years.
- BRad in Diagnostics: This program spans four years of teaching students radiography.
- BSportSci: This is a 3-year curriculum leading to a career in Biokinetics and Science.
5. Faculty of Humanities
The University of Pretoria awards a degree in these courses after four years of studies:
- Social Work and Criminology
- Audiology
- Fine arts
- Information Design
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Music
- Extended Humanities (Dean’s Office)
However, there is an extended Music program that spans five years. The University also awards degrees in this faculty after a three-year study:
- Law
- Languages
- Visual Studies
- Drama
- International Studies
- Political Science
- Heritage and Cultural Tourism
- Industrial Sociology and Labour Studies
- Philosophy, politics, and economics
- Humanities (Dean’s Office)
6. Faculty of Law
This faculty houses only one department.
- LLB: It provides the first professional qualification for lawyers within four years. It also equips students with practical skills needed to thrive in the legal sector.
7. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
UP awards students with a Bachelor of Science in the following courses after three years of intensive study:
- Geoinformatics
- Meteorology
- Actuarial and Financial Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics
- Biochemistry
- Biological Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Ecology
- Engineering and Environmental Geology
- Entomology
- Food Science
- Genetics
- Geography and Environmental science
- Geology
- Human Genetics
- Human Physiology
- Human Physiology, Genetics, and Psychology
- Mathematical Statistics
- Mathematics
- Medical Sciences
- Microbiology
- Physics
- Plant Science
- Zoology
Degrees are also awarded in these courses following a four-year study duration:
- Clothing Retail Management
- Food Retail Management
- Hospitality Management
- Culinary Science
- Nutrition
- Plant pathology
- Applied plant and soil sciences
- Animal Science
- Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management
- Physical Sciences (Extended)
- Mathematical Sciences (Extended)
- Biological and Agricultural Sciences
8. Faculty of Theology and Religion
This faculty runs only two programs:
- BTh: A Bachelor’s in Theology is awarded after three years of studying General Theology, Christian Ethics, and Dogma.
- Biv: This program runs for four years. Students are exposed to basic theology as well as denominationalism.
9. Faculty of Veterinary Science
- BVSc: This program trains students in veterinary medicine for 6years.
- BVetNurs: This covers a 3-year curriculum in veterinary nursing.
* The Gordon Institute of Business Studies is a business school that has its campus at the University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria Bridging Courses
Bridge courses are designed to help brilliant students who could not meet the normal entry requirements. However, bridge courses are a year longer than the normal course duration.
These bridge courses have a study period of five years:
- Civil Engineering (ENGAGE)
- Chemical Engineering( ENGAGE)
- Computer Engineering (ENGAGE)
- Electrical Engineering (ENGAGE)
- Electronic Engineering(ENGAGE)
- Industrial Engineering (ENGAGE)
- Mechanical Engineering (ENGAGE)
- Metallurgical Engineering( ENGAGE)
- Mining Engineering (ENGAGE)
- BMus Extended
Other courses have a duration of four years:
- BA Extended
- Biological and Agricultural Sciences (Extended)
- Mathematical Science (Extended)
- Physical Sciences (Extended)
University of Pretoria Distance Learning Courses
Do you aspire to study at UP and can not afford to be in South Africa? Worry no more, UP had you in mind with the distance learning program. You can now pay your fees and get a degree from UP right in your town.
Here is a list of Online programs offered by the University of Pretoria – but they have varying study durations.
- B.Com Accounting Services
- B.Sc. Actuarial and Financial Mathematics
- B.Com Agribusiness Management
- M.B.A Business Administration
- B.Com Business Management
- B.Com Econometrics
- B.Com Economics
- B.Com Financial Services
- B.ConSci Food Retail Management
- B.Com Human Resource Management
- B.Com Informatics Information System
- B.Com Investment Management
- B.Com Marketing Management
- B.Sc. Mathematical Statistics
- M.Phil Philosophy-Change in Leadership
- M.Phil Philosophy -Corporate Strategy
- M.Phil Philosophy-Evidence-based Management
- M.Phil Philosophy- International Business
- B.Admin Public Management and International Relations
- B.Com Supply Chain Management
- B.Sc. Animal Science
- B.Sc. Biochemistry
- B.Eng Chemical Engineering
- B.Sc. Chemistry
- B.Eng Civil Engineering
- B.Sc. Culinary Science
- B.Sc. Ecology
- B.Eng Electrical Engineering
- B.Sc. Food Sciences
- B.Sc. Genetics
- B.Sc. Information and Knowledge Systems
- B.Eng Metallurgical Engineering
- B.Sc. Physics
- B.Com Data Science and Statistics
- B.Eng Mining Engineering
- B.Eng Industrial Engineering
- B.Eng Mechanical Engineering
- B.Eng Computer Engineering
- B.Eng Electronic Engineering
- BIS Multimedia
- B.Ed Education Management, Law and Policy
- B.Sc.Agric Animal Science
- B.Ed Learning Support
University of Pretoria Short Courses
Short courses at the University of Pretoria are online. The University provides these courses in communication and business management. These courses span between 2 days to 6 months, depending on the course content.
Short Courses in the Department of Communication Management:
- Introduction to Public Relations
- Strategic Communication Management
- Business Communication and presentation skills
- Regulation Management
- Causes communication management
- Introduction communication research methodology
- Office management and secretarial development
Short Courses Offered by Business Management Department:
- Advanced course in bio-entrepreneurship
- Advanced program in event management
- Contract management
- Event management
- Leadership in four dimensions
- Leadership for strategic alignment
- Business process management
- Business Rescue Decision Making.
- Contract management
- Certified Rescue Analyst Program
To access the complete list of short courses, click here.
University of Pretoria ND and HND Courses and their Duration
| Course | Duration |
| AdvDipl (School Leadership and Management) | 1 year |
| AdvDipl (Visual Impairment Studies) | 2 years |
| Higher Education in Sport Sciences | 1 year |
| Diploma in Theology | 3 years |
| AdvDip (General Management) | 1 year |
University of Pretoria Fees
Being a UP student might cost a fortune, and undergraduates are required to make an initial non-repayable sum of R5,000. Nonetheless, this fee is not payable by international students and students with external sponsors.
International students, however, pay a flat fee of R40,000 before registration. Moreover, undergraduate fees vary with respect to level, departments, and faculties. The table below gives an estimated breakdown of fees payable in different faculties through their study years.
| Faculties | Year 1(R) | Year 2(R) | Year 3(R) | Year 4(R) | Year 5(R) | Year 6(R) |
| Education | 24000 – 63000 | 36000 – 54000 | 36000 – 60000 | 13000 – 27000 | – | – |
| Economics and Management Sciences | 37000 – 68000 | 38000 – 58000 | 31000 – 62000 | – | – | – |
| Law | 45000- 68000 | 48000 – 54000 | 45000 – 60000 | 44000 – 60000 | – | – |
| Theology | 38000 – 52000 | 30000 – 51000 | 29000 – 43000 | 19000 – 30000 | – | – |
| Engineering, Built Environment, and Information Technology | 40000 – 79000 | 38000 – 78000 | 31000 – 77000 | 29000 – 68000 | – | – |
| Veterinary Science | 47000 – 57000 | 49000 – 64000 | 48000 – 58000 | 55000 – 72000 | 66000 | 49000 – 52000 |
| Health Sciences | 40000 – 76000 | 20000 – 79000 | 31000 – 88000 | 26000 – 72000 | 61000 – 72000 | 63000 – 79000 |
| Humanities | 8000 – 64000 | 28000 – 57000 | 29000 – 56000 | 21000 – 47000 | – | – |
| Natural and Agricultural Sciences | 43000 – 65000 | 35000 – 66000 | 34000 – 56000 | 31000 – 54000 | – | – |
Note that these fees are only applicable to South African students. International students should visit the notes attached to the international fees icon.
Requirements to Study at The University of Pretoria
To become a student of the University of Pretoria, here are the minimum requirements you must meet:
- Universities South Africa Exemption requirements
- South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
However, International students must submit these documents too:
- School qualification certificate from own country
- Subjects passed at the exit level
- School qualification grading system
- Certificate of complete exemption
- South African Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or IELTS, if requested.
- English or Afrikaans (first language)
But there are specific requirements for different faculties and departments.
To access the requirement of your chosen course, click here.
University of Pretoria Teaching Course Requirements
Choosing a career in teaching through the University of Pretoria would require qualifications. You must first meet the general admission requirements.
- The additional requirements apply to students who seek admission with a National Senior Certificate or Independent Examination Board qualifications.
- Candidates with other qualifications other than NSC and IEB should visit here.
- The University sometimes accepts students with NCV (National Certificate Vocational) level 4.
- The university longer accepts certificates from the School of Tomorrow, Accelerated Christian Education, and General Education Development Test.
Requirements to Study Nursing at the University of Pretoria
To study nursing at UP, first, you must meet the University’s general requirements, then the department’s specific requirements. Here are the few additional requirements you must meet:
- The additional requirements apply to students who seek admission with a National Senior Certificate or Independent Examination Board qualifications.
- Candidates with other qualifications other than NSC and IEB should visit here.
- The University sometimes accepts students with NCV (National Certificate Vocational) level 4.
- The university longer accepts certificates from the School of Tomorrow, Accelerated Christian Education, and General Education Development Test.
- International students should refer to the site for specific requirements.
