South Africa is not only blessed with the world’s largest mineral deposits of gold, chromium, platinum, vanadium and manganese but also has extensive reserves of iron, lead, zinc, copper, nickel, coal and diamonds. The minerals industry contributes 50% of South Africa’s exports and is one of the largest employers in the country. Metallurgical engineers play a key role in the production of minerals and metals and help to process metals into final products with added value. In this way, the maximum income is generated in local and international markets. Components made from metals and other materials are designed to perform optimally in all aspects of modern life.

The three main fields of specialisation:

• Minerals processing. Processing the ore to release and concentrate the valuable minerals contained  in it.
• Extractive metallurgy. The processing of mineral concentrates to metals through pyrometallurgy (including smelting) or hydrometallurgy (including leaching) as refining steps.
• Materials production, performance and integrity. This field entails the development of new alloys, the production of useful materials and products from raw metals, including forming through casting, 3D printing using lasers and joining through welding. The forensic investigation of failures is also of great importance. 

Graduates in metallurgical engineering are responsible for process/component design and optimisation, commissioning, marketing, business analysis and research. There is a place for everyone with the right attitude and interest in the field of metallurgical engineering!

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

Metallurgical engineers unlock the riches of deposits of metal ores and minerals and optimise the manufacture and performance of metallic components. You’ll find metallurgical engineers where valuable minerals are recovered from ore, where metals are produced from the minerals and where the metals are converted into useful materials as well as into high-performance products. Areas of specialisation include minerals processing, extractive metallurgy, materials engineering and performance, advanced manufacturing processes, including laser-assisted additive manufacturing and welding, as well as failure analysis and forensic engineering.

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.

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 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:

• 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.