University of Pretoria

About UP

The University of Pretoria is one of South Africa's largest residential research universities, known for its jacaranda-lined main campus that turns purple every October and consistently strong performance in engineering, veterinary science and law.

UP hosts the country's only veterinary faculty at its dedicated Onderstepoort campus, a globally recognised centre for veterinary science and animal health research. Its Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT is similarly one of the largest and most established in the country.

UP has a large, diverse student population studying across nine faculties on multiple campuses in and around Pretoria, and its size gives it one of the widest ranges of niche and specialised degree programmes of any South African university.

Why students choose UP

• Home to South Africa's only veterinary science faculty
• One of the largest student populations in the country
• Iconic jacaranda-lined main campus

Fields of study

• Engineering, Built Environment & IT
• Law
• Natural & Agricultural Sciences
• Veterinary Science
• Economic & Management Sciences
• Health Sciences

What you'll need to apply

Every South African public university sets its own admission point score and subject requirements per programme, so the details below are general guidance rather than UP-specific rules — always confirm exact requirements on the official site before applying.

• A National Senior Certificate (NSC) that meets the minimum admission point score for your chosen programme.
• Specific subject and mark requirements, which vary by faculty — competitive programmes like medicine or engineering typically set higher thresholds.
• An online application through the university's own portal, usually opening the year before you intend to start.
• Supporting documents such as certified copies of your ID and academic records, and proof of application fee payment where applicable.