Yearbooks

2022

• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2023
• 2024
• 2025

The programme extends over four academic years, during which period a student receives clinical training as a student occupational therapist at an institution approved by the University.

Students must complete at least 1 000 hours’ clinical practical work over the four years of study in order to register as an occupational therapist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

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:
  • Brochure: Newcomer’s Guide 2021, available at click here.
  • Website: click here.
• 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 following persons will be considered for admission: a candidate who is in possession of a certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate (NSC) with university endorsement; a candidate who is a graduate from another tertiary institution or has been granted the status of a graduate of such an institution; a candidate who is a graduate of another Faculty at the University of Pretoria; and a candidate who is currently studying at a university.
• Admission to Health Sciences programmes is subject to a selection process.
• Grade 11 final examination results will be used for the conditional selection of prospective students.
• For selection purposes, the sum of the results in six subjects, including English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, is calculated.
• Life Orientation is excluded in the calculation of the Admission Point Score (APS).
• All modules will be presented in English, as English is the language of tuition, communication and correspondence.
• Places are reserved in specific categories to ensure an equitable representation of demographically defined designated groups. Selection thus takes place in different categories.
• For purposes of selection in the Faculty of Health Sciences, the “Designated Group” category includes South African Black African or South African Coloured African candidates. The “Open” category refers to all applicants including applicants from the Designated Group who compete first in the Open category and then in the Designated Group category if unsuccessful in the Open category.
• Target numbers are specified for all categories as applicable to each programme. Where insufficient applications are received from qualifying applicants in a certain category, the selection committee may decide not to fill all places or to fill the places from qualifying applicants in another category.
• A limited number of places are made available to citizens from countries other than South Africa (applicants who are not South African citizens), with those from SADC countries being given preference. Permanent residents of RSA are not categorised as foreign students. Applications from citizens from countries other than South Africa  (applicants who are not South African citizens) may also be considered if they are
  • citizens or permanent residents of countries which have relevant government to government agreements with South Africa
  • asylum seekers or refugees
• Citizens from countries other than South Africa (applicants who are not South African citizens) who do not comply with the conditions above may be considered if space is available.
• If an applicant has multiple citizenships, which includes South African citizenship, he/she will be considered as a South African applicant.
• The final number of places allocated to new applicants will be determined on an annual basis taking into account the teaching facilities and resources available and, where necessary, the number of places allocated to students repeating modules in the first year of study of each degree programme.
• Only applicants who comply with the requirements set out in this document will be considered for selection. However, the achievement of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as only a limited number of students can be accommodated.
• Selection is based on merit. The faculty does not determine specific selection cut-off values for the different categories. Such values are generated by the competing students within a particular category in relation to the number of places available.
• A Merit Point Score (MPS) is used for ranking applicants for selection purposes in all programmes. In certain programmes other criteria such as rural residence may be used as part of the selection process.
• Only first-choice applicants will be considered, except where otherwise specified, in which case second-choice candidates may be considered if there are places available.
• The top candidates will be selected provisionally up to or surpassing the allocated number, based on experience of the expected number of acceptances. A waiting list is created from the group of candidates with the next highest scores. The length of the waiting list is determined by experience of the number of places likely to become available and to prevent creating unrealistic expectations.
• All offers are provisional until the final exam results have been received. For applicants in the School leaver categories a provisional place will be confirmed as long as the NSC or equivalent scores do not fall by more than two points from the Grade 11 APS score.
• After the final NSC or equivalent qualification results are received, provisional offers will be confirmed if the applicant still meets the required criteria. The MPS of those on the waiting list will be recalculated using the NSC or equivalent qualification results and if places become available they will be made offers.
• Places becoming available in any category after selection due to cancellation or forfeiture will be filled from the waiting list for the specific category.
• This waiting list will remain active until the end of the second week after the start of lectures.
• All successful candidates are admitted to the first year of study only. Registered students in the University Experienced categories may apply for credit for equivalent modules which they have completed.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered and any false information provided by an applicant in his/her application may result in immediate cancellation of the application, admission or registration.
• Candidates should note that their conditional admission will be revoked if their APS drops by more than two points in their final school examination results.
• PLEASE NOTE that compliance with the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to any programme in this Faculty.
• Selection queries may be directed to click here.
• A student who is made an offer but does not accept it cannot defer the offer and must reapply to be considered in the following year.

University of Pretoria website click here

Also consult General Academic Regulations G1-G15.

Note: Each student in Occupational Therapy must apply immediately after admission to the first year of study, to the Registrar of the Health Professions Council of South Africa for registration as a student in Occupational Therapy.

1. Students who must repeat specific modules in the final year of study, must also acquire a certificate of work integrated learning attendance (fieldwork) and progress in Occupational Therapy 401, 402 and OCX 400 in the year of repetition, even if the section in the module(s) in question have already been passed in the unsuccessful year.
2. In the final year of study, examinations are compulsory in respect of all the modules presented by the Department of Occupational Therapy, as it is not possible to be promoted in any of these modules.

Subminimum
In modules with a written as well as a practical and/or clinical examination, a subminimum of 40% is required in the written as well as the practical and/or clinical sections of the examination.

Examination after one semester
A final-year student who has failed one module but who has passed all other modules, may be admitted to a special examination in the module in question at the end of the first semester of the subsequent year, after satisfactory attendance at lectures and clinical work during the first semester.

• In accordance with the stipulations of the General Academic Regulations a year, semester or quarter mark of at least 40% is required for admission to the examination in all undergraduate modules in the University where year, semester and quarter marks apply.
• The final mark for a specific module in Nursing Science, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Occupational Therapy and Human Nutrition (at least 50% is required to pass) is calculated from the examination mark as well as the mark compiled from the evaluation of a student during continuous, objective and controlled assessment opportunities during the course of the quarter/semester/year. At least one formal assessment per module is set as the minimum norm, and students will be exposed on a continuous and regular basis to self-directed assignments in order to promote reflective learning.
• In the case of modules with practical components, students are required to also comply with the applicable attendance requirements with regard to acquiring practical skills before a pass mark can be obtained for the module.
• There are two main examination periods per annum. In respect of first-semester modules, the standard examination is in May/June and the supplementary examination is in July. In respect of second-semester modules, the standard examination is in October/ November and the supplementary examination is in November/December of the same year. Where students need to work additional clinical hours to be allowed to do a supplementary examination, the relevant head of department will determine the date of the supplementary examination.
• Only two examination opportunities per module are allowed. If a student fails the supplementary examination, the module must be repeated.
• A supplementary examination in a module is granted to students in the following cases:
• If a student obtains a final mark of between 40%-49% in the relevant module at the standard examination and thus fails.
• If a student obtains a final mark of at least 50% but the required subminimum in the examination, as required for a specific module, has not been obtained.
• Students intending to sit the supplementary examination due to the reasons mentioned above, must register for the supplementary examination 24 hours after the results have been made public.
• If a student fails a module at the standard examination, the examination mark obtained in the relevant module at the supplementary examination will be calculated as the final mark. The marks obtained with continuous evaluation during the course of the quarter/semester/year will not be taken into calculation. If the student passes the module at the supplementary examination opportunity, a maximum of 50% is awarded as a pass mark to the module in question.
• A student who is prevented from writing the standard examination due to illness or other qualifying circumstances, may be granted permission by the dean to write a special examination in the particular module(s).
• If a student is granted permission from the Dean to write a special examination, the continuous evaluation mark, together with the examination mark obtained in the module in question at the supplementary examination opportunity, will be calculated as the final mark obtained in the module.
• In instances where students are unable to write the examination and supplementary examination as a consequence of a serious medical condition or an accident, such a student must apply for a special dispensation, with the support of the dean, to the Registrar, who will make a final decision.
• The School of Healthcare Sciences applies the General Academic Regulations, according to which a student requiring a limited number of modules (no more than the equivalent of four semester modules) to complete his or her degree, may in terms of faculty regulations, be admitted to a Chancellor's examination in the modules in question.

Exemption from the examination in (ANP) Anatomical Pathology 210
Exemption from the examination may be granted if a student who obtained a module mark of at least 65%, exercises the option to accept it as the final mark.

Passing modules in Anatomy and Physiology

1. A module mark is calculated from the continuous evaluation opportunities during the course of the presentation of the relevant module. These evaluations will include one or more of the following:

1. Evaluations in connection with theoretical knowledge.
2. Evaluations in connection with practical knowledge and skills.
3. Compulsory attendance at and active participation in prescribed activities.
4. A final comprehensive module test.

2. Students may exercise the option that the module mark at the end of the semester be ratified as the final module mark for the relevant module (i.e. they are exempted from the module examination for this module), if they comply with the following requirements:

1. The abovementioned module mark is more than 65%.
2. Proven attendance of all applicable module-specific activities, namely:

• All tests/continuous evaluations.
• All practical work and skills development sessions.

3. Attendance of the relevant module from Day 1.
4. No convictions by the School’s Preliminary Disciplinary Committee (Student Transgressions) of any form of transgression.

3. A module examination is granted to all registered students (even if the module mark is more than 65%).
4. The final module mark is calculated from the examination mark and the module mark (continuous evaluation) in the ratio 50:50.
5. A second module examination is granted to all students who have obtained a final module mark of 40% to 49%. Students who have obtained a module mark of less than 40%, fail the module and will have to repeat the year of study.
6. The relevant second examination will take place in November/December of the current year or in January of the subsequent year. A minimum of 50% is required to pass in the second examination.
7. Aegrotats or extraordinary examinations, for students who could not sit the module examination due to health or other acceptable reasons, will take place during the second examination period. Students must apply formally for these examinations, and will be admitted by the Chairperson of the School or his/her authorised person. Where applicable, the Chairperson of the School may first require the recommendation of the Faculty Health Committee before admission to an aegrotat.

All modalities of a final examination must be written jointly as a special examination, even if part of the relevant examination had already been written during the previous examination period.

The final module mark is calculated from the marks of all the sections/ modalities of the special examination and the continuous evaluation mark. The same criteria as set for a pass mark in a module are applicable here. Students who could not sit the module examination in the examination period due to acceptable reasons, and who are consequently writing the module examination in the supplementary examination period, forfeit the opportunity to be admitted to a further examination.

Academic exclusion from further study
In accordance with the stipulations of the General Academic Regulations, a student must complete the degree programme for which he or she is registered within the prescribed minimum period of study plus one year.

Students in the first year of study who do not qualify for admission to the second year of study are automatically subjected to selection again.

• In accordance with the stipulations of the General Academic Regulations a year, semester or quarter mark of at least 40% is required for admission to the examination in all undergraduate modules in the University where year, semester and quarter marks apply.
• Paper 1 (theory and practical) and paper 2 (theory and practical) of the Occupational Therapy modules (OTX 100, 211, 212, 221, 222, 311 and 322) and Occupational Science modules (OCX 100, 200, 303, 311 and 312), must be passed individually with 50% to progress to the next year of study. A subminimum of 40% is applied in both theory and practical components (Paper 1 and 2 – Theory and practical).
• Each paper written for the supplementary examination in the Occupational Therapy modules (OTX 100, 211, 212, 221, 222, 311, 322, 401 and 402) and Occupational Science modules (OCX 100, 200 303, 311, 312 and 400) must be passed individually with 50%.
• There are two main examination periods per annum. In respect of first-semester modules, the standard examination is in May/June and the supplementary examination is in July. In respect of second-semester modules, the standard examination is in October/ November and the supplementary examination is in November/December of the same year. Where students need to work additional clinical hours to be allowed to do a supplementary examination, the relevant head of department will determine the date of the supplementary examination.
• Only two examination opportunities per module are allowed. If a student fails the supplementary examination, the module must be repeated.
• A supplementary examination in a module is granted to students in the following cases:
• If a student obtains a final mark of between 40%-49% in the relevant module at the standard examination and thus fails.
• If a student obtains a final mark of at least 50% but the required subminimum in the examination, as required for a specific module, has not been obtained.
• If a student fails one of the components of the standard examination (e.g. theory or practical examination) regardless if the student obtained a mark of at least 50% for the other component of the examination or the combined mark of the two examinations are at least 50%.
• Students intending to sit the supplementary examination due to the reasons mentioned above, must register for the supplementary examination 24 hours after the results have been made public.
• If a student fails a module at the standard examination, the examination mark obtained in the relevant module at the supplementary examination will be calculated as the final mark. The marks obtained with continuous evaluation during the course of the quarter/semester/year will not be taken into calculation. If the student passes the module at the supplementary examination opportunity, a maximum of 50% is awarded as a pass mark to the module in question.
• A student who is prevented from writing the standard examination due to illness or other qualifying circumstances, may be granted permission by the dean to write a special examination in the particular module(s).
• If a student is granted permission from the Dean to write a special examination, the continuous evaluation mark, together with the examination mark obtained in the module in question at the supplementary examination opportunity, will be calculated as the final mark obtained in the module.
• In instances where students are unable to write the examination and supplementary examination as a consequence of a serious medical condition or an accident, such a student must apply for a special dispensation, with the support of the dean, to the Registrar, who will make a final decision.
• A final-year student who has failed one module but who has passed all other modules, may be admitted to a Chancellor’s examination in the module in question at the end of the first semester of the subsequent year, after obtaining a subminimum of 40% in the theoretical as well as the clinical component during the first semester.
• A final year student who has failed more than one module, has to register for the whole year to complete the modules in question.

• A student must pass in all the prescribed core modules of a specific year of study to be promoted to a subsequent year of study. A student can only be promoted to a subsequent year of study if the student has not failed more than two fundamental modules of seven weeks each per semester or one module of 14 weeks per semester. A non-negotiable prerequisite for admission to the final year of study is pass marks in all the core and fundamental modules of the preceding years of study. Refer to the programmes for fundamental modules in each discipline.
• A pass mark refers to a final mark of at least 50%.
• Modules with practical and clinical training credits cannot be passed unless all the prescribed clinical hours and practical activities have been completed to the satisfaction of the relevant head of department.
• The Chairperson of the examination moderating meeting may, after assessing the student’s total profile, grant special approval to be promoted to the next year of study.
• Modules can only be taken in advance or repeated if it can be accommodated in the existing examination timetable.
• A student who must repeat a year of study may, with the approval of the Chairperson of the examination moderating meeting and the relevant head of department, be allowed to take fundamental modules of the subsequent year, if he/she complies with all the prerequisites for the relevant modules. No adjustment to existing timetables will be allowed.

The following fundamental modules are relevant:

ZUL 119; SEP 119; SLK 110, 120 210, FSG 161, 162, 251, 252, 261, 262; ANP 210; GNK 286, MTL 180, ELH 121, 122, ANA 151, 152, 161, 162, AIM 111, 112, IHL 120, 210, 310, 413, RHC 300

The BOT degree is conferred with distinction on a student who has obtained a joint average of at least 75% (not rounded) in the core modules in OTX 401, OTX 402 and OTC 400.