The LLB programme is a four-year undergraduate programme. However, prospective students have three possible routes to attain (a) law degree(s) at the University of Pretoria:
(a) Attainment of a BCom (Law) degree (three years) and thereafter completion of an LLB degree (two years), resulting in two degrees over a minimum of five years;
(b) Attainment of a BA (Law) degree (three years) and thereafter completion of an LLB degree (two years), resulting in two degrees over a minimum of five years; or
(c) Attainment of an LLB degree (minimum four years).
Please note that it is often evident in practice that not all students are able to cope with the demands of the legal profession after four years of study. Therefore it is generally recommended that students first complete either the three-year BA (Law) or three-year BCom (Law) degree and thereafter complete the LLB degree as set out above.
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Career Opportunities (with at least an LLB degree and preferably after admission as an attorney or advocate)
04130012
Transferring students
All transferring students, whether they have graduated or not, are admitted on academic merit and availability of space. Application for admission must be made by 30 September and to be considered for final admission all results and the certificate of conduct must be submitted by 31 December.
Transferring applicants
Candidates who have already completed the final Grade 12 examination as well as candidates with South African and foreign school qualifications, who were not previously registered at UP or at another university and did not graduate, may be admitted at the discretion of the Faculty’s Admissions Committee, based on the candidate’s Grade 12 results or complete university academic record and certificate of conduct. Candidates transferring from other universities must obtain at least 50% of the credits required for the LLB degree at the University of Pretoria and must be registered at the University of Pretoria for at least two years before an LLB degree may be awarded by the University of Pretoria.
Candidates who have registered for the BA (Law) or BCom (Law) programme at UP, have not graduated, and wish to transfer to the LLB programme may be considered by the Faculty’s Admissions Committee based on the candidate’s academic merit, including factors such as the candidate’s final Grade 12 results, the candidate’s grade point average, and the reasons provided by the candidate for applying to transfer to the LLB before first completing the BA (Law) or BCom (Law) degree.
Candidates who have previously been registered at another South African university for the LLB, BA (Law) or BCom (Law), with South African school qualifications or Cambridge school qualifications (South African candidates), who have not graduated, and who wish to transfer to the LLB degree at UP may be admitted on application at year level 1, 2 or 3 of the LLB, depending on the law modules passed, at the discretion of the Faculty’s Admissions Committee, based on the candidate’s Grade 12 results and complete university academic record and certificate of conduct. Candidates who have studied at UP, discontinued their studies, and want to be readmitted to the LLB may be admitted subject to conditions set by the Faculty’s Admissions Committee.
Transferring students who graduated (Closing date: 30 September)
Candidates who have previously been registered at UP or another university and who have graduated (excluding BA (Law) and BCom (Law) graduates) may be admitted at year level 1 of the LLB, if there are places available, at the discretion of the Faculty’s Admissions Committee, based on the candidate’s Grade 12 results and complete university academic record and final certificate of conduct.
Candidates who have been awarded a BA (Law) or BCom (Law) degree by any South African university, including UP, may be admitted on application, at the discretion of the Faculty’s Admissions Committee, based on the candidate’s Grade 12 results and complete university academic record and certificate of conduct. Students transferring from other universities may be admitted at year level 3 of the LLB.
UP students may be admitted at year level 1 of the 04130010— LLB after BCom (Law) and 04130011—LLB after BA (Law) programmes. UP BA (Law) and BCom (Law) graduates are guaranteed placement in the LLB programme if they completed the BA (Law) or BCom (Law) programme in 3 or 4 years.
Non-South African qualifications (The closing date for applications for admission is 31 August)
Non-South African citizens and South African citizens with foreign qualifications must comply with all the admission requirements and the prerequisites for subjects/modules. (All such applications are submitted to the Admissions Committee of the Faculty for consideration.)
Only a limited number of non-South African candidates are admitted to undergraduate studies in the Faculty. In addition to meeting the admission requirements, admission is based on the performance in the TOEFL, IELTS or SAT, if required, in competition with other candidates who also comply with the admission requirements.
It may be expected of South African citizens as well as diplomats and the children of diplomats with non-South African qualifications to write the IELTS, TOEFL or SAT so that their suitability for admission to the Faculty can be determined.
Candidates must have completed the National Senior Certificate with admission to degree studies or a certificate of complete exemption on the basis of a candidate’s non-South African (‘foreign’) qualifications, the so-called “Immigrant” or ‘Foreign Complete Exemption’. The only condition for the ‘Foreign Complete Exemption’ that is accepted is ‘completion of the degree course.’ The exemption certificate is obtainable from Universities South Africa (USAf). Detailed information is available on the website at click here.
Minimum requirements | ||
Achievement level | ||
English Home Language or English First Additional Language |
APS | |
NSC/IEB | AS Level | |
5 |
C |
32 |
* Candidates that fulfil the requirements for admission as set out in this brochure will be conditionally accepted on a first-come-first-served basis until 30 September, subject to the availability of places. However, as applications already open on 1 March and spaces are limited candidates are urged to apply as early as possible in the year.
* *Cambridge A-level candidates who obtained at least a D in the required subjects, will be considered for admission.
* *International Baccalaureate (IB) HL candidates who obtained at least a 4 in the required subjects, will be considered for admission.
4 years, full-time.
The University of Pretoria Faculty of Law is the highest ranked law faculty in Africa and in South Africa - according to the 2018 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
The Faculty of Law has as its mission the creation and sustenance of a research and education environment that is grounded in values of social justice and excellence.
As the law is increasingly becoming multifaceted and in certain areas more global, the Faculty maintains professional relations with many international bodies, such as the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the World Bank and foreign universities.
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