Bachelor of Information Science [BIS]
The type of student for whom this qualification is ideal is interested in engaging with information and creating and sharing new knowledge across platforms, primarily digitally and in analogue formats.
This qualification will enable graduates to discover, organise, manage and utilise information, practice knowledge management and competitive intelligence in an ethical manner. Graduates with skills in this field are highly sought after to help information-intensive industries to meet their visions and missions and become globally competitive.
The high prevalence of information and technology in the modern world implies that graduates are needed with specific competencies and skills related to the interaction between humans and information technologies. This is especially relevant concerning the technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and any further similar innovations).
This programme focuses on the use of information technology and the processing of information products. It is designed to train students in the management, retrieval and organisation of information and teach them to package, distribute and add value to information. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in managing information and knowledge, which are the most critical resources of enterprises—information and knowledge. This will include knowledge management, competitive intelligence and also digitisation and digital repositories.
Career opportunities
For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.
Information and knowledge managers (manage information and knowledge resources), information or e-commerce specialists (organise, retrieve and add value to information), consultants on information products (services and systems), information brokers (act as infopreneurs and buy and sell information products and services), and system specialists/analysts/technologists (develop information systems).
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Important information for all prospective students for 2026
The admission requirements below apply to all who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications. Click here for this Faculty Brochure.
Minimum requirements | |
Achievement level | |
English Home Language or English First Additional Language | APS |
NSC/IEB | |
4 | 28 |
If informatics is selected as a subject at the first-year level, an achievement level of 5 is required in Mathematics.
The suggested second-choice programmes for Bachelor of Information Science are Bachelor of Information Science specialising in Publishing, Bachelor of Commerce specialising in Information Systems and Bachelor of Arts.
Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.
Applicants currently in Grade 12 must apply with their final Grade 11 (or equivalent) results.
Applicants who have completed Grade 12 must apply with their final NSC or equivalent qualification results.
Please note that meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.
Successful candidates will be notified once admitted or conditionally admitted.
Unsuccessful candidates will be notified after 30 June.
Applicants should check their application status regularly on the UP Student Portal at click here.
Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to the International undergraduate prospectus 2026: Applicants with a school leaving certificate not issued by Umalusi (South Africa), available at click here.
International students: Click here.
Transferring students
A transferring student is a student who, at the time of applying at the University of Pretoria (UP) is/was a registered student at another tertiary institution. A transferring student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance. Students who have been dismissed from other institutions due to poor academic performance will not be considered for admission to UP.
Closing dates: Same as above.
Returning students
A returning student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme is/was a registered student at UP, and wants to transfer to another degree at UP. A returning student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance.
Note:
Closing date for applications from returning students
Unless capacity allows for an extension of the closing date, applications from returning students must be submitted before the end of August via your UP Student Centre.
3 years, full-time
All modules will only be presented in English, which is the University's official language of tuition, communication and correspondence.
The Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at the University of Pretoria is a leading source of graduates in the engineering, built environment and information technology professions. We achieve this by a focus on research to drive innovative and enquiry-led teaching for educating and positioning our students to be leaders in their professions. The Faculty has extensive and cutting-edge teaching, learning and laboratory facilities integrated with the excellent suite of facilities and services offered by the University. We facilitate access to our qualifications through our extended ,programmes but expect our students to excel and develop as future professionals through our programme offering. We invite you to consider enrolling in one of our programmes if you share our vision of excellence and want to position yourself as a leader in the professions that we support.
The Faculty is organised in four schools: the School of Engineering, the School for the Built Environment, the School of Information Technology and the Graduate School of Technology Management. The School of Engineering is the largest of its kind in the country in terms of student numbers, graduates and research contributions and offers programmes in all the major engineering disciplines with many specialisations also offered at undergraduate and graduate level.
The University of Pretoria aims to be internationally competitive while also locally relevant. Advisory boards at both faculty and departmental level promote alignment and excellence in our teaching and research activities. Where applicable and available our programmes are accredited by statutory and professional bodies at both national and international level.
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