Program Overview

Programme: BAdmin (Public Management and International Relations)

Programme Information

This programme is directed towards the study of Public Administration that will equip the candidate for a career in the broad public sector. Candidates will gain in-depth knowledge of certain administrative and management practices in the South African and international public sectors. Emphasis is placed on the three spheres of government with reference to aspects such as resources management, international administration and management, policy, accountability and ethics, the role of the state, intergovernmental relations and administrative justice.

Admission Requirements

• Minimum requirements:
  • Achievement level: NSC/IEB
  • English Home Language or English First Additional Language: 5
  • Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy: 3 (Mathematics) or 4 (Mathematical Literacy)
  • APS: 28
• Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.
• 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.
• Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to the Brochure: Undergraduate Programme Information 2023: Qualifications other than the NSC and IEB.
• International students: Click here for more information.
• 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.

Programme Structure

• Minimum duration of study: 3 years
• Total credits: 401
• NQF level: 07

Curriculum

Year 1

• Fundamental modules:
  • AIM 111: Academic information management 111
  • AIM 121: Academic information management 121
  • ALL 124: Academic literacy for Economic and Management Sciences 124
  • UPO 107: Academic orientation 107
• Core modules:
  • BDO 121: Industrial and organisational psychology 121
  • EKN 110: Economics 110
  • EKN 120: Economics 120
  • PAD 112: Public administration 112
  • PAD 122: Public administration 122
  • PTO 101: Politics 101
  • PUF 110: Public resource management 110
• Elective modules:
  • DTS 104: German for beginners 104
  • ENG 110: English 110
  • ENG 118: English for specific purposes 118
  • ENG 120: English 120
  • FRN 104: French for beginners 104
  • INF 112: Informatics 112
  • STK 110: Statistics 110
  • STK 113: Statistics 113
  • STK 120: Statistics 120
  • STK 123: Statistics 123

Year 2

• Core modules:
  • IPL 210: International relations 210
  • IPL 220: International relations 220
  • KOB 281: Communication management 281
  • PAD 212: Public administration 212
  • PAD 222: Public administration 222
  • STL 210: Political science 210
  • STL 220: Political science 220
• Elective modules:
  • BDO 214: Industrial and organisational psychology 214
  • BDO 224: Industrial and organisational psychology 224
  • EKN 214: Economics 214
  • EKN 234: Economics 234
  • OPB 210: Public management 210
  • PBL 210: Public Law 210
  • PBL 220: Public Law 220

Year 3

• Core modules:
  • IPL 310: International relations 310
  • IPL 320: International relations 320
  • PAD 312: Public administration 312
  • PAD 322: Public administration 322
  • STL 310: Political science 310
  • STL 320: Political science 320
• Elective modules:
  • BDO 319: Industrial and organisational psychology 319
  • BDO 329: Industrial and organisational psychology 329
  • EKN 310: Economics 310
  • EKN 320: Economics 320

Promotion to Next Study Year

• A student must pass at least 60% of the official credits listed for a year level of study for a three-year programme.
• If a student has passed less than the required minimum of 60% of official credits, he/she will not be readmitted to the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Such a student may apply in writing to the EMS Appeals Committee to be readmitted conditionally – with the proviso that the Appeals Committee may set further conditions with regard to the student's academic progress.
• The EMS Appeals Committee may deny a student's application for readmission. A student whose studies have been suspended because of his/her poor academic performance has the right to appeal against the decision of the EMS Appeals Committee.
• If a student has been readmitted conditionally, his/her academic progress will be monitored after the first semester examinations to determine whether he/she has complied with the requirements set by the Admissions Committee. If not, his/her studies will be suspended.
• A student must be able to complete the programme for which he or she is re-registering, within the prescribed minimum period (years = N) plus one year (N+1).
• A student may be refused admission to the examination, or promotion to a subsequent year of study or promotion in a module (if applicable) if he/she fails to fulfil the attendance requirements. Class attendance in all modules and for the full duration of all programmes is compulsory for all students.

Pass with Distinction

• A degree may be awarded with distinction provided the candidate meets the following criteria:
  1. Completes the degree within three years;
  2. Obtains a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 75%;
  3. Repeated passed modules will not be considered. The initial pass mark of module will be used when calculating the GPA.
• A degree will only be awarded with distinction to transferees from other degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, other faculties and from other universities who still complete their bachelor degrees within three years (including the years registered for the other degree and credits transferred and recognised).
• The GPA will be not be rounded up to a whole number.
• Exceptional cases will be considered by the Dean.