University of Pretoria (UP) 2027 Prospectus Summary
For the 2027 intake, the university continues its decentralized approach, where admission requirements are governed by specific faculty boards. The overarching theme for 2027 is "Make Today Matter," focusing on provisional admission based on Grade 11 results to secure early placements in high-demand selection programmes.
The UP Admission Point Score (APS) System
The core of the UP admission process is the Admission Point Score (APS). This score is calculated using the achievement levels of six recognized NSC 20-credit subjects. Unlike some institutions, UP strictly excludes Life Orientation from the initial APS calculation. For the 2027 session, students must achieve a minimum level of 4 (50–59%) in English to be considered for most degree programmes.
| NSC Achievement Level | Percentage | APS Points |
|---|---|---|
| Level 7 | 80% – 100% | 7 |
| Level 6 | 70% – 79% | 6 |
| Level 5 | 60% – 69% | 5 |
2027 Faculty Performance & Selection Benchmarks
The 2027 brochures reveal highly competitive requirements for top degrees. The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS), now AACSB accredited, requires a Level 6 in Mathematics for Accounting Sciences. The Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment, and Information Technology (EBIT) maintains an APS of 33+ for engineering streams, with mandatory 70% scores in both Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
| High-Demand Faculty | Avg. APS Req | Selection Logic |
|---|---|---|
| Health Sciences | 35 - 38 | Strict June 30 Closing |
| Veterinary Science | 35+ | Only at Onderstepoort |
| Law (LLB) | 32 - 34 | Ranked 1st in Africa |
| EBIT (Eng) | 33 - 35 | Maths/Science Weighting |
Selection for the 2027 intake is a multi-step process. In the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Value-added Form (VAF) is no longer used for most programs; however, for Medicine (MBChB), the university uses a combination of academic merit and demographic targets. The Faculty of Veterinary Science, the only one of its kind in South Africa, remains the most selective program on campus, with a fixed number of seats available for the 2027 first-year class.
Important 2027 Admissions Timeline
The University of Pretoria implements rigid closing dates for 2027. Students who fail to apply by these dates will not be considered, regardless of their APS score.
- Applications Open: 1 April 2026
- Selection Programmes (Health/Vet/EBIT) Closing: 30 June 2026
- Junior Tukkie (JT) Membership Applications: Continuous
- General Admissions Closing: 30 September 2026
Prospective students are highly encouraged to join the Junior Tukkie (JT) initiative, which provides academic support and career guidance to Grade 8–12 learners. This program is instrumental for those targeting selection-based degrees, as it helps students improve their marks in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Accounting. For final verification of requirements, students should use the official UP portal at www.up.ac.za/apply.