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Dear  Leslie

Thank you for your question regarding admission requirements for Architecture at the University of Pretoria. I notice you have only listed 6 subjects and there should be 7. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to step through the admission requirements process with you:

Step 1:
The university admission requirements document sates: “The statutory minimum requirement for degree studies is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) certified by Umalusi, with an achievement rating of 4 (50-59%) in four recognised NSC 20-credit subjects from the designated subject list: Accounting, Agricultural Science,Business Studies (previously Business Economics),Consumer Studies (previously Home Economics), Dramatic Arts, Economics, Engineering Graphics and Design (previously Technical Drawing), Geography, History, Information Technology, Languages, Life Sciences (previously Biology), Mathematical Literacy, Mathematics, Music, Physical Science (previously Natural Sciences), Religion Studies.”

If the subject Graphic & Design you mention in your email is Engineering Graphics and Design then she meets this first step by having English, Afrikaans, Mathematics and Engineering Graphics & Design. Move onto step 2.

If she doesn’t meet the step 1 requirements then she needs to consider applying for a National Diploma followed by a BTech degree from a University of Technology.

Step 2
BSC (Architecture) admission requirements include the following minimum subject results:
English (5), Afrikaans (5), Mathematics (4), Physical Science (4), Life Orientation (4)

If your daughter has Physical Sciences as a subject and has acquired the minimum levels in grade 11 please proceed to Step 3. If there is anything missing at this stage, she may still be eligible to write an entrance test – however, you will need to contact the faculty adviser for this information. She may also consider the University of Technology ND Architectural Technology mentioned in step 1.

Step 3: Attain at least an APS of 27.

To help you do this I quote from the guidelines: “The calculation of an Admission Point Score (APS) is based on a candidate’s achievement in any six 20-credit recognised subjects (not only designated subjects), by using the National Senior Certificate Seven Point Rating Scale of Achievement. “

Here a distinction needs to be made between 20 credit designated subjects which were listed in step 1 and 20 credit recognised subjects.  CAT is a 20-credit recognised subject. This means you may use CAT in the calculation. The only one you need to leave out is Life Orientation as it is a 10-credit subject.

I hope this is good news for you. Best wishes for the application process.

Lynn