University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria (UP) was established in 1908 with just four professors and 32 students, in a little house called Kya Rosa. Today, it is one of the largest research universities in South Africa. UP has transformed into a dynamic university community of staff and students who come from a range of diverse backgrounds and cultures showcasing South African and global societies. 

The degrees are locally accredited and internationally recognised. We have agreements in place with the relevant legal accreditation bodies around the world, which means that, with UP behind your name, your qualification will always be recognised. 

The educational approach has a strong focus on inclusivity and equitable access to education, but ultimately on equity of outcomes. We effectively use contact sessions in traditional lectures, seminars, laboratories and practical sites, together with the experience gained by more than 20 years of using online learning platforms. This has enabled access and success for an increasing number of students. 

We present here UP’s research achievements, including the increase in research publications, a trend that has continued over the past five years, and since the start of the implementation of the University’s long-term strategic plan, UP 2025. Notable also with respect to strengthening our research identity, there has been a year-on-year increase in doctoral enrolments and graduates, and in the overall number of graduates with postgraduate qualifications. By December 2018, 66% of our academic staff held doctoral degrees, which underscores the research and postgraduate training capacity at UP.

UP has seven beautiful campuses, each with its own unique character and purpose. The faculties of Veterinary Science, Health Science, and Education are customised to their purposes, self-contained on campuses at Onderstepoort, Prinshof and Groenkloof respectively. Our Hillcrest campus is home to all our sporting codes, professional and recreational sport teams, and sports science research facilities. Our business school, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, is in Illovo, Johannesburg. All other faculties are located centrally at the Hatfield Campus. For students who have lectures across multiple campuses, a regular bus service connects all the campuses to and from Hatfield and official residences.