LLB

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.

For further information, please access our website: click here

  • Disclaimer: This publication contains information about regulations and programmes of the University of Pretoria. Amendments to or updating of the information may be effected from time to time without prior notification. The accuracy, correctness or validity of the information contained here is therefore not guaranteed by the University at any given time and is always subject to verification. The user is kindly requested to verify the correctness of the information with the University at all times. Failure to do so will not give rise to any claim or action of any nature against the University by any party whatsoever.


Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities (with at least an LLB degree and preferably after admission as an attorney or advocate)

  • Officers of the court, such as attorneys, advocates, court orderlies, National Prosecuting Authority, public prosecutors and state advocates
  • Judiciary and administrative officers
  • Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
  • Legal academics
  • Law Reform Commission
  • NGO’s
  • Legal advisers
  • South African Police Service
  • Correctional Services
  • Legal Aid and advice

Programme Code

04130012


Closing Dates

  • SA – 30/09/2020
  • Non-SA – 31/08/2020

Admission Requirements

  • The closing date is an administrative admission guideline for non-selection programmes. Once a non-selection programme is full and has reached the institutional targets, such programme will be closed for further admissions, irrespective of the closing date. However, if the institutional targets have not been met by the closing date, such programme will remain open for admissions until the institutional targets are met.
  • This Admissions Regulation should be read in conjunction with General Regulations G.1.1 Admission.
  • In order to register for a first bachelor’s degree at the University, a candidate should have completed the National Senior Certificate (NSC) or equivalent qualification, and meet the minimum requirements for admission to bachelor’s degree study.
  • Candidates must also comply with the particular subject and level requirement as well as with the minimum Admission Point Score (APS) for the relevant programme.
  • The APS calculation is based on a candidate’s achievement in six 20-credit NSC-recognised subjects with bands 1 to 7, indicating the scale of achievement. Thus, the highest APS that can be achieved is 42.
  • Please note that Life Orientation is a 10-credit subject and is excluded from the calculation when determining the APS.
  • Grade 11 results are used in the conditional admission of prospective students.
  • The final Grade 12 results will be the determining factor with regard to final admission.
  • All modules will be presented only in English as medium of instruction.
  • The language of communication and correspondence is English.

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.

  • Non-South African citizens (even if they or their parents have permanent residence or valid work permits in South Africa)
  • Citizens of SADC-countries with non-South African qualifications
  • Citizens of other countries with non-South African qualifications
  • South African citizens and diplomats

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.


Duration of study

4 years, full-time.


Faculty Notes

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.


Enquiries about the programme

Click Here
How to apply

Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal

To contact the University during the COVID-19 lockdown, please send an email to [email protected]

FAQ's Email Us Virtual Campus Share Cookie Preferences