The University of Pretoria (UP) is excited to welcome our new first-year students for the start of the 2021 academic year. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, take a deep breath and relax. All the information you need to start your journey with UP is summarised below. And there are dedicated UP staff members ready to help you with any questions you can’t find answers to. So bookmark this story, and let’s kick off!

• First, you need to check your admission status on the student portal regularly from 1 March 2021. If you are admitted, you can register online through the student portal between 1 and 9 March 2021. Please register as soon as possible and contact the online registration help desk at 012-420-5347 or send an email to [email protected] if you have any queries. Staff will respond within 72 hours.
• The year kicks off with an online Academic Orientation Week from 9 to 13 March for admitted students, with classes set to commence on Monday 15 March (online for the majority of students, under level 3 lockdown regulations). Please check your Faculty schedule for more information on Academic Orientation Week as the programme varies according to your Faculty.
• First-year students who have received confirmation from the Department of Residence Affairs and Accommodation that they have been allocated a room in a UP residence will be allowed in residences from 27 February 2021. Residence Orientation for new first-year students staying in residence will take place from 1 to 7 March 2021.

Due to the restrictions in place necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, UP will host its entire orientation and registration process online.

Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe has reminded students that participation in the orientation programme is compulsory for all first-year students, as this helps you prepare for the year ahead and is important for your success at UP. “The Academic Orientation Week programme for first-year students will be fully online, but students who have no access to appropriate technology may access their campus, where tutors in the computer laboratories will assist them in completing the online orientation.”

UP has also developed an online Pre-Orientation Module for all provisionally admitted first-year students. The module includes a course that trains learners in computer literacy and introduces you to the learning management system used at UP, known as ClickUP.

For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, bookmark it and check it regularly for answers to the most commonly asked questions. If your question is not answered in the FAQ, send your query to [email protected] and we will respond as soon as possible.

Well done on your decision to #ChooseUP, and we look forward to an exciting year of growth!