BTRP

Town and Regional Planning prepares students for a profession in which they will promote and manage societal transformation and progressive change through the planning, design, implementation and management of interventions in the development and use of land. These interventions, which range from site level to supranational level, are aimed at widening choice, promoting equity, ensuring sustainable human settlements and improving people’s quality of life.

The guiding motive of the profession is the pursuit of innovative, inclusive, sustainable and affordable alternatives to existing settlement types. At the current juncture in South Africa’s history, town and regional planning as a profession plays a crucial role in the correction of the many spatial and other imbalances in both urban and rural areas, as well as the improvement of inefficient, unjust and underperforming human settlements.

The challenge for planning is the fact that stakeholders, role players and participants have different interests and different expectations for the future, which are often contradictory and conflict-ridden.

A professional approach that combines sensitivity, empathy and care, and strong analytical and strategic skills are required to manage the various political, social, environmental and economic issues at stake. The ideal town and regional planners are creative, can suggest innovative solutions to complex problems and, as mediators, can reconcile diverse points of view. They are strategic thinkers and good managers, and are passionate about working with people.

Given the enormous backlogs in the areas of housing and social services and the deep levels of poverty, marginalisation and despair in the country, planners also need a strongly developed sense of social and environmental justice. They should be committed to human and community development.

While most town and regional planners are employed in the three spheres of government, or act as private consultants to the public and the private sectors, they are also employed by research agencies such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), non-governmental and development organisations, community-based organisations, major financial institutions and property development groups.

The professional four-year Bachelor of Town and Regional Planning qualification enables graduates to register as professional town and regional planners with the South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN), which is an official body established in terms of an Act of Parliament. The degree is internationally recognised

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

 

Career Opportunities

Town and regional planners, development practitioners, urban managers, real estate analysts and researchers. While many town and regional planners act as private consultants to the public and private sectors, the majority are  employed by government, research agencies such as the Council for Scientific and for Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, major financial institutions and property development groups. The qualification will enable graduates to register as professional town and regional planners with the South African Council for Planners.


Programme Code

12132026


Closing Dates

  • SA – 30/06/2024
  • Non-SA – 30/06/2024

Admission Requirements

Important information for all prospective students for 2025

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

Mathematics

APS

NSC/IEB

NSC/IEB

5

4

27

For advice on a second-choice programme, please consult a Student Advisor. To make an appointment, send an email to [email protected].

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 2025: 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:

  • Students who have been excluded/dismissed from a faculty due to poor academic performance may be considered for admission to another programme at UP, as per faculty-specific requirements.
  • Only ONE transfer between UP faculties and TWO transfers within a faculty will be allowed.
  • Admission of returning students will always depend on the faculty concerned and the availability of space in the programmes for which they apply.

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.


Minimum duration of study

4 years, full-time


Faculty Notes

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.

  • 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.

Enquiries about the programme

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How to apply

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