Yearbooks

Programme: BMus extended programme

Kindly take note of the disclaimer regarding qualifications and degree names.
Code Faculty Department
01132004 Faculty of Humanities Department: School of the Arts
Credits Duration NQF level
Minimum duration of study: 5 years Total credits: 536 NQF level:  08

Programme information

This BMus degree is a five-year programme (extended curriculum programme) and consists of the existing number of regular courses for the standard four-year degree in addition to four foundational courses in the first year of study. The first year of the programme offers foundational support in Academic and Quantitative Literacy and Academic Information Management and competence in music performance and music (theory and aural) literacies which are critical and unique skills required in music studies.

Admission requirements

Important information for all prospective students for 2022

  • The admission requirements apply to students who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications.
  • Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to:
    • Brochure: Undergraduate Programme Information 2022: Qualifications other than the NSC and IEB, available at click here.
  • Citizens from countries other than South Africa (applicants who are not South African citizens) should also refer to:
  • School of Tomorrow (SOT), Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) and General Education Development Test (GED): The University of Pretoria no longer accepts qualifications awarded by these institutions.
  • National Certificate (Vocational) (NCV) Level 4: The University of Pretoria may consider NCV candidates, provided they meet the exemption for bachelor’s status criteria and the programme requirements.

Transferring students

A transferring student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme at the University of Pretoria (UP) –

  • is a registered student at another tertiary institution, or was previously registered at another tertiary institution and did not complete the programme enrolled for at that institution, and is not currently enrolled at a tertiary institution, or has completed studies at another tertiary institution, but is not currently enrolled at a tertiary institution, or has started with tertiary studies at UP, then moved to another tertiary institution and wants to be readmitted at UP.

A transferring student will be considered for admission based on

  • an NSC or equivalent qualification with exemption to bachelor’s or diploma studies (whichever is applicable); and meeting the minimum faculty-specific subject requirements at NSC or tertiary level; or having completed a higher certificate at a tertiary institution with faculty-specific subjects/modules passed (equal to or more than 50%), as well as complying with faculty rules on admission;
  • previous academic performance (must have passed all modules registered for up to the closing date of application ) or as per faculty regulation/promotion requirements;
  • a certificate of good conduct.

Note: Students who have been dismissed at the previous institution due to poor academic performance, will not be considered for admission to UP.

Returning students

A returning student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme –

  • is a registered student at UP, and wants to transfer to another degree at UP, or was previously registered at UP and did not complete the programme enrolled for, and did not enrol at another tertiary institution in the meantime (including students who applied for leave of absence), or has completed studies at UP, but is not currently enrolled or was not enrolled at another tertiary institution after graduation.

A returning student will be considered for admission based on

  • an NSC or equivalent qualification with exemption to bachelor’s or diploma studies (whichever is applicable); and meeting the minimum faculty-specific subject requirements at NSC or tertiary level; or previous academic performance (should have a cumulative weighted average of at least 50% for the programme enrolled for);
  • having applied for and was granted leave of absence.

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.  The Admissions Committee may consider such students if they were not dismissed more than twice. Only ONE transfer between UP faculties will be allowed, and a maximum of two (2) transfers within a faculty.

Important faculty-specific information on undergraduate programmes for 2022

  • 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. 
  • Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS. 
  • Faculty Yearbooks: click here
  • All modules (excluding foreign language modules) will only be presented in English, as English is the language of tuition, communication and correspondence. 

1. You will be considered for conditional admission if space allows, and if you:

  • are a Grade 11 applicant (with an APS of 26 or more excluding Life Orientation), please submit your final Grade 11 examination results, and have a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with university endorsement or an equivalent qualification; OR
  • are transferring from other recognised institutions to the University of Pretoria; OR
  • are a graduate or have graduate status from another recognised tertiary institution; OR
  • are a graduate of another Faculty at the University of Pretoria; AND 
  • comply with the minimum subject requirements and achievement levels, as well as the APS requirements of specific programmes.

If you are an applicant from a country other than South Africa, please apply for conditional admission based on your final results equivalent to Grade 11. Final admission is based on the qualification equivalent to the NSC.

2. You will be considered for final admission to degree studies if space allows, and if you:

  • have a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or equivalent qualification with admission to bachelor’s degree studies, and comply with the minimum subject requirements as well as the APS requirements of your chosen programme; OR
  • are a student transferring from another recognised tertiary institution and comply with the programme requirements; OR
  • have graduate status from another recognised tertiary institution or are a graduate of another Faculty at the University of Pretoria.

If you are a citizen from a country other than South Africa or are a student with other qualifications equivalent to the NSC (including school qualifications from other countries, eg Spain, New Zealand, etc), you must obtain a Complete Exemption Certificate or a Foreign Conditional Exemption Certificate based on your international (‘foreign’) qualifications. Certificates can only be obtained from Universities South Africa (USAf) at click here. In addition, these candidates must meet the relevant programme admission requirements.

University of Pretoria website: click here

Minimum requirements

Achievement level

English Home Language or English First Additional Language

APS

(Grade 11)

APS

(NSC/IEB completed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

26

26

Music:

4 (50-59%)

or

Grade V Practical and

Grade III Theory (UNISA/Royal Schools/Trinity)

or

a comparable standard

and

practical audition and theoretical test passed with 50%

 

* To retain admission, candidates must obtain an APS of at least 26 in the NSC.

 

Other programme-specific information

Alternative option for completion
Students who have passed all the modules in the first year of the five-year BMus programme may apply for transfer to the second year of study in the BEd programme, provided the requirements for this programme, as stipulated in the yearbook, are met.
Please note the following:

  • MME 400 can only be taken if the first instrument is piano, violin, jazz or classical voice.
  • MEI 403 is performing art, with a public concert of 1 hour in the second semester.
  • The choice of instrument is based on the availability of an appropriate teacher. The University does not accept responsibility for providing a lecturer of these instruments where teaching costs exceed the normal.
  • In order to be admitted to MTI 100 (Second instrument) in any instrument other than percussion, organ, harpsichord or singing, a student should have reached at least UNISA Grade V or a comparable standard in that instrument; in the case of organ, harpsichord, percussion and singing, admission is at the discretion of the head of the department.

Foundation in Practical music
Students choose a first and a second instrument from the following: Voice, piano, keyboard, organ, harpsichord, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, harp, guitar, recorder, saxophone and ensemble. Jazz and/or classical streams are allowed, according to availability.


Attendance modules

  1. In addition to the modules mentioned in the learning programme, students are obliged to attend the weekly recital classes and seminars.
  2. It is compulsory for all music students to be a member of a departmental ensemble, choir and/or the UP Symphony Orchestra and UP Symphonic Wind Orchestra.
  3. Unsatisfactory attendance at the performance classes, seminars and compulsory ensembles and choirs as stipulated under (i) and (ii), may, at the discretion of the head of the department, lead to a lowering of the student’s practical or any one academic module's year mark.

Promotion to next study year

Students selected for the BMus five-year degree must pass all the modules at the end of the first year of study. The registration of students who do not comply with this requirement, will be suspended and no readmission will be considered, in which case a foundation certificate of attendance might be a possibility. Students will only be promoted to the second year of study, or be eligible for admission to the second year of the BEd programme, after successful completion of all the first-year modules.

Minimum credits: 56

Fundamental modules

Core modules

Minimum credits: 122

Fundamental modules

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection

    All major-, minor-, chromatic scales, modes, intervals, 3 and 4 part chords in all inversions, primary and secondary chord progressions, basic modulations, rhythmic and melodic sight-singing/dictation, based on the movable doh system, in Western and African music.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    This module is intended to equip students with a) language and research skills, academic writing, assignment writing, plagiarism, referencing, and an introduction to Musicology, and b) providing music students with knowledge and skills for optimal development as performing artists. Specific strategies for health promotion as well as the prevention of injury will be focused on. A variety of health-related topics will include: the role of nutrition and rest, dealing with stress, music performance anxiety, musculoskeletal health and hearing health.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. 
    Technical work, solo recital including ensemble playing, and sight-reading.
    In all instruments: Technical work, sight reading, performance skills, recital pieces of contrasting styles, and chamber/ensemble works comprising 25% of repertoire selection. Compulsory is the performance of a South African (solo or ensemble) composition of an acceptable standard.
    In jazz: Students enrolled for MEI 100 (jazz), must take MME 100 (jazz) & MTI 100 (jazz ensemble).

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    *Requires knowledge of music notation.
    Baroque, Classical and Introduction to Jazz: A historical musicological approach to the development and contexts of Western art music during the Baroque and Classical era, and an introduction to the history of jazz, through in-depth critical listening and reading of representative major composers, musical genres, styles and forms.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection

    Classical and jazz: Melody, harmonic concepts, diatonic triads, cadences, diatonic quartads, secondary dominants, contrapuntal techniques in a two-part texture, phrase structures, one-part, binary, ternary forms; inventions and variation forms.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Piano: The methodology of basic elements of piano tuition as well as relevant repertoire up to grade 3 level of all recognised examination boards. Evaluation of beginner and technical books for beginner tuition.
    Jazz: Technical skills and methods relevant to jazz improvisation, common forms and chord sequences, elements of style and repertoire. (Compulsory with MEI 100 (jazz))
    Classical voice: International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for Italian; Italian diction for singers; practice methods; physiology and anatomy of the vocal mechanism; vocal hygiene; methodological concepts such as dynamic body alignment and breathing for singing; Baroque repertoire studies.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    This module introduces music students to develop their own in-depth understanding of both music and learning. Students will also explore levels of formal, nonformal, and enculturative music learning to understand musical identity in different world cultures and global music environments.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    In all instruments: Technical work, sight reading, recital pieces of contrasting styles.
    In Jazz: Repertoire, stylistic considerations, instrumental technique and performance demands for successful participation in a jazz ensemble. 

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Minimum credits: 120

Elective module (Optional – not part of the prescribed credits)

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection

    All major-, minor-, chromatic-, whole tone-, pentatonic scales, modes, intervals, 3 and 4 part chords in all inversions, recognition of chromatic chord progressions and improvisation, modulations, rhythmic and melodic sight-singing/dictation based on the movable doh system, in Western and African music.

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. 
    Technical work, solo recital including ensemble playing, and sight-reading.
    In all instruments: Technical work, sight reading, performance skills, recital pieces of contrasting styles, and chamber/ensemble works comprising 25% of repertoire selection. Compulsory is the performance of a South African (solo or ensemble) composition of an acceptable standard.
    In jazz: Students enrolled for MEI 200 (jazz), must take MME 200 (jazz)
     

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    *Requires knowledge of music notation.
    The Romantic era, Twentieth century Art music, Jazz: A historical musicological approach to the development and contexts of Western art music that spans the Romantic era, twentieth century, and jazz, through in-depth critical listening and reading of representative major composers, musical genres, styles and forms.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Modulation with any key relationship, general chromatic chords, complex chord structures, contrapuntal techniques in a three-part texture, rondo form, sonata form, canon, fugue.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection

    Piano: The methodology of basic elements of piano tuition as well as relevant repertoire up to grade 3 level of all recognised examination boards. Evaluation of beginner and technical books for beginner tuition.
    Jazz: Technical skills and methods relevant to jazz improvisation, common forms and chord sequences, elements of style and repertoire. (Compulsory with MEI 100 (jazz)
    Classical voice: International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for German; German diction for singers; phases of phonation; reducing tension in the vocal mechanism; voice classification and opera styles; singing recitativo; classical vs contemporary singing; Classical repertoire studies.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    This module will direct students to develop their understanding of the embodied nature of music learning and knowing, enabling them to create inspiring music experiences in a teaching and learning environment.
     

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    In all instruments: Technical work, sight reading, and recital pieces of contrasting styles.
    In Jazz: Repertoire, stylistic considerations, instrumental technique and performance demands for successful participation in a jazz ensemble.

    View more

Elective modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Composition and orchestration
    Digital notation and introduction to orchestration techniques.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection.

    This module is the start of a series of modules that form part of an elective programme aiming to prepare, equip and train the student with music-technology related skills and specialisations. It is designed to provide a thorough introductory audio-related engineering and programming skillset for the candidate. The student enrolled in the elective programme does so with the intention to be trained as an expert in the music-technology field and related disciplines.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Specialisation in either Western, African or jazz ensemble music – the history, general repertoire knowledge, collaborative performance skills, recital pieces of contrasting styles.
    In Jazz: Jazz styles, analysis and improvisation concepts through practice and performance of relevant jazz repertoire.
     

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Minimum credits: 120

Select three elective modules.

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. 
    Technical work, solo recital including ensemble playing, and sight-reading.
    In all instruments: Technical work, sight reading, performance skills, recital pieces of contrasting styles, and chamber music/ensemble works comprising 25% of examination repertoire selections. Compulsory is the performance of a South African (solo or ensemble) composition of an acceptable standard.
    In jazz: Prerequisite is MEI 200 (jazz).

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    *Requires knowledge of music notation.
    The twentieth-century. A historical musicological approach to the development and contexts of music in the 20th century, including Western Art music, Indigenous Art music, Pop and Jazz, through in-depth critical listening and reading of representative major composers, musical genres, styles and forms.

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  • Module content:

    This module provides guidelines and opportunities so that students can become successful music educators, leading them to choose appropriate content, teaching strategies and skills in order to teach in a variety of milieus, communities and contexts. Opportunities are provided for you to grow your potential as musician and as music educator.

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Elective modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection

    Introduction to acoustic and electroacoustic compositional practices, advanced notation, film scoring and vocal writing.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Specialisation in either Western, African or jazz ensemble music – the history, general repertoire knowledge, collaborative performance skills, recital pieces of contrasting styles.
    In Jazz: Jazz styles, analysis and improvisation concepts through practice and performance of relevant jazz repertoire. Prerequisite is MME 200 (jazz) and MEI 200 (jazz).

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection.

    This module is the second in a series of modules that form part of an elective programme aiming to prepare, equip and train the student with music-technology related skills and specialisations. It is designed to provide a thorough, post-introductory audio-related engineering and programming skillset for the candidate. The student enrolled in the elective programme does so with the intention to be trained as an expert in the music-technology field and related disciplines.

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. 
    Classical theory: Procedures of Romanticism
    Jazz theory: Analysis and theory of contemporary jazz

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection

    An overview of music entrepreneurship by exploring concepts such as entrepreneurship, macro-and micro economic environments, how to create a business venture, project management, marketing, writing a business plan, basic accounting and financial management. It aims to prepare students for a portfolio career approach by managing the many facets of being a musician.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Piano: Advanced elements of tuition. The schools of technique, rubato and agogics, practice methods, memory function, study of the repertoire of all style periods up to Teachers’ Licentiate level of all recognised examination boards.
    Classical voice: International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for French; French diction for singers; general musicianship; stage presence; professional collaboration; introductory concepts of singing pedagogy; Romantic repertoire studies.

    View more

  • Module content:

    This module provides guidelines and opportunities so that students can become successful music educators, leading them to choose appropriate content, teaching strategies and skills in order to teach in a variety of milieus, communities and contexts. Opportunities are provided for you to grow your potential as musician and as music educator.

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection


    An introduction into the field of Music Psychology with an emphasis on the science of Musical Learning. The module will focus on musical development; the neurophysiology and plasticity of the musical brain; motivation for learning; and, the role of practice. The contents of this module will provide insight into students' own and musical experiences and provide a context for improving various aspects their musicianship.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection

    In all instruments: Technical work, sight reading and recital pieces of contrasting styles.

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Minimum credits: 120

  • Select two elective modules to the value of 80 credits. 
  • Only one of MEI 400 or MEI 403 may be selected.

Core modules

Elective modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection.

    Portfolio of acoustic or electroacoustic compositions.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    In Chamber Music: Specialisation in either Western, African or jazz ensemble music – historic background, collaborative instrumental performance skills, recital pieces of contrasting styles.
    In Jazz: Jazz styles, analysis and advanced improvisation concepts through practice and performance of relevant jazz repertoire. Jazz performance students must take MEI 403.
    Prerequisite is MSC 300 (jazz).
    In Music Therapy: An introduction to music therapy theory and practice.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection.

    Aspects of music technology: This module is the third and final in a series of modules that form part of an elective programme aiming to prepare, equip and train the student with music-technology related skills and specialisations. It is designed to provide an advanced and thorough, audio-related engineering and programming skillset for the candidate. The student enrolled in the elective programme does so with the intention to be trained as an expert in the music-technology field and related disciplines.

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. 
    Technical work, solo recital including ensemble playing, and sight-reading.
    In all instruments: Technical work, sight-reading, performance skills, recital pieces of contrasting styles, and chamber music/ensemble works comprising 25% of examination repertoire selections. Compulsory is the performance of a South African (solo or ensemble) composition of an acceptable standard.
    In jazz: Prerequisite is MCS 300 (jazz) and MEI 300 (jazz)

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. 
    Public recital of a combination of solo (75%) and ensemble (25%) works.
    In all instruments: Performance and stage deportment skills, memorisation techniques, June – 30 minutes test recital, November – 60 minutes public recital comprising contrasting solo works of an advanced technical standard. Chamber music compositions have to constitute 25% of the programme content. Compulsory is the inclusion of a South African (solo or ensemble) composition of an appropriate standard.
    In jazz: Prerequisite is MCS 300 (jazz) and MEI 300. Jazz performance students must take MCS 401.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Philosophy of Music: An historical and systematic musicological approach to the Philosophy of Music through in-depth critical reading of representative major philosophers over time, from the Ancient Greeks to the present, as well as critical scrutiny of concurrent musical development.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. 
    Classical theory: Capita selecta: Procedures of the twentieth century.
    Jazz theory: Analysis and theory of contemporary jazz

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection 
    *Compulsory membership of UP concert choir or Tuks Camerata
    Practical and theoretical aspects of choir conducting.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection

    Piano: Advanced elements of tuition. The interpretation of style elements from the Baroque period to contemporary repertoire with focus on the Baroque and Classical tuition, study of Classical and Baroque repertoire Gr 7 and 8 level of all recognised examination boards.
    Classical voice: Advanced elements of tuition (continuance of MME 100, 200 & 300). Philosophy of teaching voice; practicing and self-regulation; teaching young voices; teaching breath management, resonance, registration, jaw and tongue position; expressive singing through use of the text; twentieth-century repertoire studies.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Philosophical grounding and didactics of music education. The module is designed for subject specialists to think critically and deeply about music teaching and learning. Your knowledge and practical teaching skills will be enhanced through opportunities of community music engagement.
     

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  • Module content:

    The aim of the module is to present a broad overview of how psychological research, models and theories have been used to explain a range of musical behaviours including the development of 
    musical ability and expertise, musical performance, emotional responses to music, and music listening behaviours.
    Requirement: An interest in psychology, and prior experience in formal music training or experience in choir singing.

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The regulations and rules for the degrees published here are subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information.

The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and registered students of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at the University of Pretoria. On registering for a programme, the student bears the responsibility of ensuring that they familiarise themselves with the General Academic Regulations applicable to their registration, as well as the relevant faculty-specific and programme-specific regulations and information as stipulated in the relevant yearbook. Ignorance concerning these regulations will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression, or basis for an exception to any of the aforementioned regulations.

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