The University of Pretoria is a public research university in Pretoria, South Africa. Its origins date to 1908, when it began as the Pretoria branch of the Transvaal University College; it became a fully fledged university in 1930. Rankings vary by publisher and edition, so an old “top 1.9%” figure should not be presented as its current position.
UP offers undergraduate and postgraduate study across nine faculties and a business school. Alumni totals, graduate-employment outcomes, programme counts and pass rates change over time; consult UP’s current institutional reports rather than treating the older figures in this guide as current statistics.
UP’s current vision is an impact-driven research university contributing to just, sustainable and resilient futures. Its current mission emphasises a human-centred university that creates meaningful impact through transformative education, research, engagement and innovation.
The University of Pretoria (UP) Faculties
At the University of Pretoria, there are nine different faculties to choose from and even more programs of study. The faculties can be outlined as such:
- 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
With such a wide variety, prospective students should know that they will surely find a place for themselves at the University of Pretoria, an institution that is more than ready to welcome them.
In order to learn how to apply to be a student at this university, continue reading!
How to apply University of Pretoria (TUKS)
The University of Pretoria has designed its application process to be easy to navigate. At this institution, all applications are submitted online, meaning there is no “traditional” application or hard copy.
Please note: There is a non-refundable fee that comes with an application. This fee is R300.
To successfully apply online, prospective students should complete the following steps:
- First of all, you must ensure that you have a stable internet connection so the application process can run smoothly
- Once this is ensured, you must also provide an email address—this is where you will receive updates, so make sure to check it frequently once you have submitted your application!
- Then, all you need to do is fill out the application form and all its required fields with the correct and true information. They will also ask for some supporting documents, so ensure you have copies of these on hand and that your images to upload are clear.
- Once you submit the application, you will receive a unique Student Number (EMPLID); this will be sent to your email address and can be viewed as a confirmation of your application—however, this does not mean you’ve been accepted just yet!
That’s all! Easy, isn’t it? All you need to do is follow the instructions and provide the right documents in support of your application, and it should all go smoothly from here. However, if you have more questions or enquiries at any time during the application process, reach out to ssc@up.ac.za or call 012 420 3111 – they have an “open door” policy, so rest assured, they are more than happy to help you with any concerns you may have.
If you want to learn about the requirements to apply in order to ensure you are eligible for registration, keep reading ahead.
University of Pretoria (TUKS) Requirements:
In order to be a student at the University of Pretoria, you are asked to ensure that you have met and fulfilled the following requirements:
- All students applying to the University of Pretoria need to have written the National Benchmarks Test (NBTs).
- Are you unsure as to what the NBTs are? In short, this test accurately measures your academic preparedness for post-secondary education. The test can be booked at www.nbt.ac.za. Please note that there are several different dates to choose from. Choose one at your convenience but ensure you write them well before the university’s application closing date. For the NBTs, the applications open on Thursday, April 1stYou must also calculate your APs (Admission Point Score) to see which courses and programs of study you are eligible to apply for
We’ll discuss the specific documents you need to support your application later, but for now, let’s learn where to find the application dates—read ahead!
UP Application dates:
For the 2027 study year at the University of Pretoria, applications opened on 1 April 2026. Veterinary Science applications closed on 31 May 2026 and applications for all other faculties closed on 30 June 2026.
It is important to note that different faculties have different application closing dates, so prospective students need to ensure they know where to find them and keep them marked on their calendars! According to the University of Pretoria’s website (www.up.ac.za), they will not accept late applications.
Now, regarding application closing dates, you must be wondering – where do I find these? Well, let us tell you! Follow these steps to find your faculty of choice’s dates:
- Visit www.up.ac.za
- From here, you should find the ‘Study’ tab—it’s located at the top of the page.
- Next, from the drop-down menu which appears, click on ‘Apply.’
- Then, you will find a page with several options – close to the top will be a tab that reads ‘Closing Dates.’
- Click on this, and you will find the information about your faculty of choice and their closing dates for the relevant academic year.
- Mark down the appropriate dates on your calendar and ensure that you will be ready to secure your spot when the time comes!
Easy. You’ll have no trouble at all submitting your application.
To learn about the specific documents you will be asked to provide when submitting an application, continue reading.
University of Pretoria (TUKS) Registration:
The University of Pretoria asks its students to provide certain documents when submitting applications. To ensure there are no delays or issues with your application, take note of the following information:
- You must submit your final results from both Grade 11 and Grade 12 – if you are a student who has just entered Grade 12 and is applying early, that’s great! Just ensure that alongside your Grade 11 results, you continue to submit your Grade 12 results as you receive them so the University of Pretoria has them at ready.
Alongside this, prospective students are asked to submit:
- Their NBT results, where required by the programme
- Proof of payment for the application – check your email!
- A National Senior Certificate, certified by Umalusi
- For South African students, a copy of your valid ID document is required. For international students, a copy of your valid passport.
Please note: Depending on the faculty and program being applied to, the prospective student will be asked to supply differing supporting documents. To learn if this is the case, you can check out www.up.ac.za. You can also reach out to ssc@up.ac.za, where they are ready to address your questions and concerns.
Please note: Prospective students are asked to check their emails as well as their application status regularly. The latter can be done by visiting www.up.ac.za > Study > Apply > Online Application Status.
For individuals considering applying to the University of Pretoria, keep in mind that this school is internationally recognised for being amongst the best – it is paving the way in South Africa and is helping to shape leaders both within the country and across the world. At this institution, you will learn in everything you do, and even more so, how to cultivate a lifelong love of learning, which will surely take you far.
UP’s current institutional strategy emphasises impact, people, sustainability and resilience. Read its official Vision, Mission and Values page for the latest wording and commitments.
Also Read: UP TUKS Application Status And Prospectus
Good luck with your applications!
