As a profession, mining engineering encompasses a broad spectrum of engineering work –  from mine evaluation to industrial control. For instance, mining engineers may assess a new mining project as soon as the geological confirmation of a newly discovered mineral deposit has been completed. If such a mineral deposit is found to be viable, mining engineers will design the mine to exploit the mineral deposit. Where the mineral deposit is close to the surface, an opencast mine is preferred, but for deeper deposits, an underground mine will be planned. Mining engineers will coordinate the construction of such a mine and bring it to the stage where it starts producing.

A typical mine has a lifespan of 15 to perhaps 100 years. The design of the mining excavations, with their equipment and services, the planning of all the activities and the management of the operation at all levels is the responsibility of the mining engineer. This professional will also provide expert advice on rock breaking, blasting, materials transport systems, mine planning and scheduling, mechanical tunnel development, mine climate control, rock mechanics, support of excavations, devising mining methods, as well as the design and development of equipment.

The mining industry is one of the largest industries in South Africa, producing more than 60 different minerals in over 1 000 mines and quarries. Mining amounts to one eigtht of the gross national product.

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

Mining engineers have a wide range of opportunities, namely mining (mine management, technical management of ventilation, rock mechanics, rock breaking, mineral resources), financial evaluation and management (mine design, financial evaluation of mines, mine feasibility studies, mine environmental impact studies), mining and drilling contracting (mining, tunnelling, shaft sinking, mine development, ore evaluation), mining research, mining equipment design and manufacture, mining marketing and mining administration at national, provincial and international levels.

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.

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

Students may apply directly to be considered for the 5-year Bachelor of Engineering programme.

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.

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.