The Higher Certificate in Sports Science Education requires full-time study for a period of one year.

The programme incorporates lectures, tutorials, research and practical sessions, and provides a basis for knowledge and skills development to improve athletes’ performance by means of physical assessment, exercise and conditioning prescription.

Students are taught and trained by leaders in the field of sports science and coaching and will be given opportunities for practical training on the application of the sports coaching and sports science principles learnt in their theoretical lessons.

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

• 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.

Sports coaching, sports and excercise industry

• 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, then that 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, then that programme will remain open for admissions until the institutional targets are met.
• The following persons will be considered for admission: Candidates who are in possession of a certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate with university or diploma endorsement; candidates who are graduates from another tertiary institution or have been granted the status of a graduate of such an institution; and candidates who are graduates of another faculty at the University of Pretoria.
• Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.
• As soon as candidates are admitted to the programme, they will be informed that they must register at the University in January of the following year. It is in the interest of prospective students, in particular those who need financial support and/or placement in a residence, to apply as soon as possible.
• English will be the only language of teaching and learning (in lectures, tutorials and assessments) for all academic modules.

Transferring students (Candidates who were previously registered at UP or at another university or tertiary institution)

The Admissions Committee of the Faculty considers applications of candidates who have already completed the final Grade 12 examination and/or were previously registered at UP or at another university, on grounds of their Grade 12 results as well as academic merit. Applications from prospective students who have been excluded from the University of Pretoria or any other Higher Education Institution on the basis of misconduct will not be considered for admission to the University of Pretoria.

Qualifications from countries other than South Africa

• Citizens from countries other than South Africa and South African citizens with foreign qualifications must comply with all the other admission requirements and the prerequisites for subjects/modules.
• In addition to meeting the admission requirements, admission is based on the performance in the TOEFL, IELTS or SAT, if required
• Candidates must have completed the National Senior Certificate with admission to degree studies or a certificate of conditional exemption on the basis of a candidate’s foreign qualifications, the so-called “Immigrant” or “Foreign Conditional Exemption”. The only condition for the “Foreign Conditional 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

University of Pretoria website:         click here

Applications may be closed earlier if the institutional targets are met. 

• Applicants who indicate the Higher Certificate in Sports Science Education as their first- or second-choice will be considered.
• All applicants will be considered by the Student Administration of the Faculty based on the academic admission requirements.
• Applicants who meet the academic requirements will then be further considered for the different sports codes in deliberation with TuksSport, according to their sports achievements.
• Students who have been nominated by an official sports club of the University will enjoy preference for selection.
• Applicants who only obtained an Admission to Diploma study’s endorsement at the end of Gr 12, may be considered for admission to the BEd Senior Phase- and FET Teaching degree (09133031), with specialisation in the elective combination of Human Movement Studies and Sport Management, if they complete the Higher Certificate in Sports Science Education successfully with a minimum cumulative weighted average of 60% (excluding JRC 150 (Sports Practical 150)). These applications will have to be approved Senate’s discretionary via the Faculty Board.

The Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria continues to develop into one of the largest and most diverse units in South Africa for the initial and advanced training of education professionals from across the world. A distinguishing characteristic of the Faculty is that it not only trains pre-service teachers but also educational psychologists, principals, researchers, programme evaluators, curriculum designers, computer education and training experts, assessment specialists, education policy analysts, community development workers and education law advisors working in national and international agencies and organisations.