The 2018 academic year has just begun and the next few days will see around 50 000 students returning to University of Pretoria (UP) campuses across the City of Tshwane. We also welcome thousands of new students to our community, almost a fifth of our total intake.

A place at UP is highly sought after. Students from 52 different countries choose to study at UP. These include Belgium, Hong Kong, the United States, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Italy and Greece, as well as neighbouring African countries, confirming that UP is regarded as one of the top universities in Africa, thanks to our unwavering commitment to academic excellence. We are ranked highly on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the QS rating system and the Centre for World University Rankings scales.

UP is ranked among the Top 100 universities worldwide for law and is the number one law school in Africa. We are among the top 300 universities worldwide for the arts and humanities, and the top 400 universities for life sciences and health sciences. Additionally, we are one of the top 40 universities in the BRICS nations.

In Economics and Management Sciences, we are first in South Africa for studying finance and accounting and we have the highest cumulative pass rate for the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants’ examination. We are in the top 6% of all participating institutions worldwide in the study of Economics and Econometrics. We are ranked second in the world for the study of mycology and fungi in the Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

For some students, UP is the only university in the country which offers their chosen degree. For example, UP’s Faculty of Veterinary Science is the only faculty of its kind in South Africa, offering a BSc in veterinary science as well as a diploma in veterinary nursing. Likewise, the BSc in culinary science, offered in the Department of Consumer Science, is the only degree course for culinary studies.

Upon graduation, UP alumni are highly sought after in the workplace. The University ranks in the top 100 universities worldwide for alumni outcomes. We also score highly for employer reputation, placing in the top 300 worldwide.  

Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, said: “When you are accepted to study at UP, your success matters to all of us. You have worked hard and performed well in your final year at school, but more hard work is in store before you graduate in your chosen field of study. With a quality degree, you’ll be able to compete with the best in your chosen career. From your first day, we will be working with you to help you graduate in the minimum time after having enjoyed an exceptional student experience, which will enable you to look back on a rich and rewarding time at our institution”.

UP strives to provide a holistic student experience, with community projects, sports, social and cultural events and activities, as well as internships and volunteering opportunities. We have around 100 student societies which cater for diverse interests. Our free, online training programmes help students get ready for the job market and to explore entrepreneurship – meaning that they can start making a difference from their very first day on the job. All of this means that our graduates are also informed citizens who are able to play a meaningful role as leaders in their community and in their workplace.

We wish all our students every success in their endeavours.