The University of Pretoria calculates its Admission Point Score from your six recognised 20-credit National Senior Certificate subjects on the 1 to 7 scale of achievement, to a maximum of 42. Life Orientation is a 10-credit subject and is excluded from the calculation.
The closing date for all UP study programmes is 30 June, which is earlier than at many South African universities. Missing it means waiting a full year, so it is worth diarising well in advance.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Applications are generally assessed on the following.
- A National Senior Certificate with bachelor degree endorsement for degree study
- The minimum APS published for your specific programme
- The subject and achievement level requirements for that programme
- Your Grade 11 results, used for conditional admission
- Your final NSC results, on which final admission depends
- The application closing date of 30 June
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
UP offers degrees across faculties including Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Engineering Built Environment and Information Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Theology and Veterinary Science.
Programme requirements vary widely. Published examples range from an APS of 20 for a higher certificate in sports science education up to substantially higher figures for competitive professional programmes. Programme-specific requirements are revised between intake years, so confirm them against the current prospectus for the year you are applying for rather than relying on figures published elsewhere.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
The APS is calculated on the NSC 1 to 7 achievement scale using six recognised 20-credit subjects, with 42 the highest achievable score.
Subject requirements are programme specific. Science, engineering, health science and veterinary programmes require Mathematics and Physical Sciences and do not accept Mathematical Literacy.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications normally require the following.
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Your National Senior Certificate or latest statement of results
- Proof of the application fee, where one is charged
- Your final matric results, used to confirm any conditional offer
- A SAQA evaluation certificate, if you hold a foreign qualification
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
UP uses Grade 11 results for conditional admission, with final admission depending on your National Senior Certificate results. A conditional offer is not a place until final results confirm it.
Meeting the published minimum does not guarantee a place in competitive programmes, since UP receives more qualifying applications than it has places. UP is also the only South African university offering veterinary science, which makes that programme exceptionally competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does UP calculate the APS?
On the NSC 1 to 7 achievement scale using six recognised 20-credit subjects, to a maximum of 42, excluding Life Orientation.
When do UP applications close?
30 June for all UP study programmes, earlier than at many South African universities.
Does UP use Grade 11 results?
Yes, for conditional admission. Final admission depends on your NSC results.
Where can I study veterinary science?
UP is the only South African university offering it, which makes the programme exceptionally competitive.
Source: University of Pretoria official admission pages, checked August 2026. Confirm programme requirements against the current UP prospectus. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.