Admission to the University of Pretoria (UP) starts with the Admission Point Score (APS), calculated from your six strongest NSC or IEB subjects, excluding Life Orientation. Bachelor’s degrees typically require an APS between 23 and 35+, depending on the programme.
Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place. Several of UP’s most competitive faculties apply additional selection criteria on top of the APS threshold.
Before you apply, confirm that you meet the minimum admission requirements for your chosen programme and have your documents ready. Because UP uses a competitive ranking system, accuracy and completeness in your application matter significantly.
General Admission Requirements
To be considered for a UP undergraduate programme, you generally need:
- A National Senior Certificate (NSC) or Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualification with a bachelor’s degree endorsement.
- The minimum APS specified for your chosen programme.
- The required subject combination for your field of study (e.g. Mathematics, Physical Sciences).
- English proficiency, since all modules at UP are presented in English, UP’s official language of tuition.
Applicants with an NCV Level 4 qualification may also be considered, provided they meet bachelor’s degree exemption criteria and course-specific requirements. Applicants with international qualifications should consult the International Undergraduate Prospectus 2026.
How the APS Scale Works
UP uses the standard National Senior Certificate 1-to-7 achievement scale to convert your subject percentages into points:
| Percentage | APS Points |
|---|---|
| 80% – 100% | 7 |
| 70% – 79% | 6 |
| 60% – 69% | 5 |
| 50% – 59% | 4 |
| 40% – 49% | 3 |
| 30% – 39% | 2 |
| 0% – 29% | 1 |
Add together the points from your best six 20-credit subjects (Life Orientation is excluded) to get your APS, out of a maximum of 42.
Some faculties, such as Health Sciences, may also weigh specific subjects (like Mathematics or Physical Science) more heavily, or set their own minimum achievement level for a required subject rather than relying purely on the total score.
Typical APS Requirements by Faculty
Requirements vary considerably across programmes:
| Programme Category | Typical APS |
|---|---|
| General Bachelor’s degrees | ~23–30 |
| BCom degrees | 30+ (Mathematics, not Mathematical Literacy, usually compulsory) |
| Engineering (BEng) | ~32–38 (strong Mathematics and Physical Science results required) |
| Medicine and Veterinary Science | ~35–42, plus additional selection steps |
Because these numbers shift slightly year to year and by sub-programme, always check the exact cut-off for your intended degree in the current UP prospectus rather than relying on general ranges alone.
Programme-Specific Requirements (Examples)
Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment & IT (EBIT)
- All BEng programmes: Minimum APS 35; pure Mathematics and Physical Sciences at a high level required.
- BEng 5-Year Extended Programme: Minimum APS 33.
Faculty of Health Sciences
- MBChB (Medicine): Minimum APS 35; National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) and additional selection criteria apply.
- BPhysT, BOccTher, BRad: Minimum APS 30.
Faculty of Law
- LLB: Minimum APS 35.
- BA (Law): Minimum APS 34.
- BCom (Law): Minimum APS 32.
Faculty of Veterinary Science
- BVSc: Minimum APS 35; interview and additional selection criteria apply.
- Diploma in Veterinary Nursing: Minimum APS 28.
Application Fee & Waiver
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Standard application fee | R300 (non-refundable) |
| Fee waiver threshold | Household income of R150,000 per year or less |
| How to apply for the waiver | Upload proof of income during the online application (Step 12) |
| Payment method | Online credit card payment as part of the application submission |
Common Reasons Applications Are Unsuccessful
- Uncertified or incomplete documents.
- Missing or incorrect Grade 11/Grade 12 results submission.
- Not meeting the minimum APS for the chosen programme.
- Programme reaching capacity before final ranking is completed, even with a qualifying APS.
- Applying after the closing date. No guaranteed late window exists.
- Incomplete income proof for fee waiver applicants, resulting in the fee becoming payable.