The University of Pretoria (UP) offers honours degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master's degrees and doctorates across its faculties. You apply online, as for undergraduate study, but faculties and departments set many of the postgraduate closing dates. Here is how it works, based on UP's official pages.
Closing dates
UP asks applicants to check their faculty for specific closing dates. For 2027, many departments listed 31 August 2026 for international applicants and 30 September 2026 for South African applicants for honours and master's programmes, with no late applications in some departments. UP's FAQ also says that applicants who want to study by research may apply at any time of the year, subject to faculty rules and the availability of supervisors.
How to apply
- Choose your programme and check your faculty's closing date.
- For a research degree, find a supervisor in your department.
- Apply online and upload your ID or passport and your academic records.
- Indicate whether you want a postgraduate residence.
- Pay the R300 application fee, using the online application number UP emails you as the reference.
UP waives the application fee for applicants whose household income is R150,000 or less a year.
How fees work
UP charges postgraduate tuition either for the programme as a whole or per module for coursework programmes. Where the fee is for the whole programme, the full fee is charged in the first year, and a re-registration levy is payable for each extra year. In 2026, the initial payment for postgraduate registration was R13,500. Postgraduate students from outside the SADC had to pay 50% of the total 2026 fee before registering.
Registration
For 2026, online registration for master's and doctoral students began on 16 December 2025, and assisted registration was available at the Student Service Centre from 5 January 2026. Postgraduate applicants can apply for a residence with their study application by answering yes to the residence question.
UP postgraduate bursaries
UP postgraduate bursaries are for honours, master's and doctoral students only, not for postgraduate diplomas and certificates. Awards are based mainly on academic performance, such as an average of at least 60% in the majors of your previous degree. UP describes the process as a nomination at faculty level, not an application.
Other funding
- DSTI-NRF Honours Scholarship: UP listed 26 November 2026 as its closing date for 2027
- NRF master's and doctoral scholarships: UP extended the 2027 deadline for first-time master's applicants to 15 July 2026
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: applications for eligible candidates closed on 30 September 2026
Related pages
See UP fees, UP bursaries and how to apply to UP.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do UP postgraduate applications close?
It depends on the faculty. Many 2027 honours and master's programmes closed on 30 September 2026 for South Africans.
Can I apply for a research degree at UP at any time?
Yes, subject to faculty rules and the availability of supervisors.
Do UP postgraduate bursaries need an application?
No. UP describes them as a faculty nomination process.