Program Overview

BEng in Electrical Engineering 5-year Programme

Programme Information

Electrical engineering is prevalent in almost all application fields and technologies where electrical energy is consumed. Every known piece of equipment requires a source of energypowered by mains, batteries or photovoltaic (PV) cellsand needs the skill of an electrical engineer.

The transport and manufacturing industries are excellent examples of industries in which electrical engineers use their superior skills to design, develop and maintain electrical machines (motors and generators) with control systems for optimal performance. Most ships and trains are electrically powered.

Other applications of electrical engineering include power reticulation in cities, townships, shopping malls and factories. The lighting of indoor and outdoor areas forms the basis of our daily activities. It includes lighting at sports stadiums, street lighting, safety and security lighting, task and ambient lighting, and lighting for offices, entertainment and many other specialist applications.

Regardless of whether it is medicine, the military, entertainment, sports, education or any other field of technology, electrical engineers will be there to provide the energy and control required.

Electrical engineering aims to change the world by discovering ways to generate, transmit, distribute and utilise electrical energy in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. Typical subsystems that may form part of larger electrical systems are electrical machines of all sizes and shapes, power electronics, control systems, power system components, power quality and network stability, lamps and lighting, power supplies, photovoltaic (PV) cells, solar geysers, space systems, robotics and energy management systems.

Career Opportunities

Electrical engineers are active in the generation, storage, transmission, distribution and utilisation of electrical energy. There is a bright future in renewable energy. Electrical engineers design, supervise the construction, oversee the optimal operation and assure perfect and timely maintenance of all electrical installations for municipalities, residential areas, commercial buildings, factories, mines and industries. Rail transport, water pumping, electrical grids, telecommunications, energy management and smart lighting all fall within the scope of electrical engineering.

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.

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.

Admission Requirements

• 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.
• Minimum requirements
  • Achievement level
    • English Home Language or English First Additional Language: 5
    • Mathematics: 65%
    • Physical Sciences: 65%
    • APS: 33
• Additional requirements
  • 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.
• Transfer requirements
  • Students from the Bachelor of Engineering 5-year programmes must achieve a minimum of 70% in Mathematics and Science, and 60% for Languages before being eligible for transfer into the 4-year Bachelor of Engineering programme after the first year of study in these programmes.
• 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.
• 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.

Minimum Duration

The minimum duration of the programme is 5 years, full-time.

Closing Dates

• South Africa: 30/06/2025
• International: 30/06/2025