Requirements

TUT Courses and Requirements

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) offers more than 300 programme options across seven faculties. Each TUT course has its own requirements: a minimum Admission Point Score (APS), compulsory subjects at set levels, a closing date and, for some programmes, an extra assessment. No single APS applies to the whole university.

This page covers applications for the 2027 academic year, which opened on 1 April 2026. If you searched for TUT courses and requirements for 2022 or another past year, those figures are out of date. TUT republishes its course information every year and warns that it can change without notice.

Entry Requirements at a Glance

Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements

TUT courses are grouped into seven faculties: Arts and Design, Economics and Finance, Engineering and the Built Environment, Humanities, Information and Communication Technology, Management Sciences, and Science. Nursing, pharmacy and the other health sciences fall under the Faculty of Science. Campuses include Pretoria, Arcadia, Soshanguve North and South, Ga-Rankuwa, eMalahleni, Polokwane and Mbombela, and some programmes are offered by distance or online. Not every programme runs at every campus, so check the campus listed for yours.

Whether to take Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy decides which TUT courses you can apply for:

You can also apply with a National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 4. NC(V) entry uses percentage minimums per subject, which are set out in TUT’s general information brochure for each programme. Applicants with foreign school qualifications need a certificate of equivalence from SAQA or the CHE. TUT cannot get this for you, but you can start your application while the certificate is being processed. Adults without the normal school qualification can ask the Office of the Registrar about Recognition of Prior Learning or Senate discretionary admission.

Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements

TUT’s APS leaves out Life Orientation and any subject in which you got achievement level 1. Add up the level points for your remaining subjects. If you are in Grade 12, your Grade 11 or mid-year Grade 12 results are used, and any offer is provisional until your final results come out.

Examples from TUT’s 2027 First Year Course Information:

Higher certificates usually have the lowest APS, diplomas sit in the middle, and professional and engineering degrees have the highest. Some programmes also let applicants who fall a few points short into an extended curriculum. In ICT, for example, an applicant with an APS of 23 (with Mathematics) or 25 (with Mathematical Literacy) can be considered for the extended version of a diploma that normally asks for 26 or 28. Recommended subjects in the brochure are not compulsory, but they show what the course expects you to know already.

Documents and Application Requirements

Apply online through the TUT application portal, which is linked from tut.ac.za. Have these ready before you start:

To check your application status, go to tut.ac.za, choose Study@TUT, then Check Your Status, and enter your ID number. You can view and print your letter there. NSFAS funding is a separate application made directly to NSFAS. See NSFAS requirements.

Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations

Meeting the minimum APS makes you eligible, but it does not guarantee a place. TUT places applicants according to its Student Enrolment Plan, giving preference to first-time entering students. For many programmes, applicants who meet the minimum are considered until the programme is full. After that, a waiting list is used to fill places left by applicants who do not register. Some programmes add a further assessment. The Commercial Photography diploma, for example, asks for a portfolio and a questionnaire, with the APS counting for 20% of the final admission score.

Closing dates for the 2027 intake:

Which courses are still available at TUT? After 31 July, only programmes with a 30 September deadline stay open, and only while they have space. The Faculty of Science has published a 2027 space-available notice listing programmes that accept applications until 30 September 2026. These include the diplomas in Equine Sciences, Wildlife Management, Industrial Physics, Food Technology and Analytical Chemistry, the BSc in Industrial Physics, the Bachelor of Environmental Health and the BHSci in Veterinary Technology. Check TUT’s programme closing dates page and its notices before you apply, because programmes close as they fill.

First-year intake is in January. Residence is a separate application, is only possible after academic acceptance, and depends on space. TUT does not consider late residence applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What APS do I need for TUT?

It depends on the programme. In the 2027 course information, examples range from 18 for the Higher Certificate in Music to 30 for BEngTech in Civil and Electrical Engineering. Life Orientation and any subject at level 1 are not counted.

Which courses are still available at TUT?

For 2027, programmes with a 30 September 2026 closing date stay open until then or until they are full, including those on the Faculty of Science space-available notice. Programmes that closed on 15 June or 31 July no longer accept applications. Check TUT’s closing dates page for the current position.

Can I apply to TUT with Mathematical Literacy?

Yes, for many programmes in Management Sciences, Economics and Finance, Humanities, and Arts and Design, often with a higher APS or subject level. Science, Engineering and ICT programmes need Mathematics or Technical Mathematics.

How much is the TUT application fee?

R240 for the 2027 academic year. First-time applicants pay it once, and it is strictly non-refundable.

Can I apply to TUT while I am still in Grade 12?

Yes. Apply with your final Grade 11 or mid-year Grade 12 results. Any admission is provisional until you submit your final Grade 12 results.

How do I check my TUT application status?

On tut.ac.za, go to Study@TUT, then Check Your Status, and enter your ID number. Your reference number and admission status are shown, and you can print your letter.

Requirements, APS scores, dates and fees here come from TUT’s 2027 First Year Course Information and General Information for First Year Enrolment, and TUT says they can change without notice. Confirm them with TUT’s admissions office or at tut.ac.za before you apply. For the national picture see admission requirements and browse all education requirements.