The University of Pretoria (UP) is one of Africa’s top universities and the largest contact university in South Africa. We produce socially impactful research to find solutions for the world’s most pressing issues. Our teaching and learning extends to the classroom, online and communities.
We have support in place for our students to graduate on time as well-rounded, responsible citizens, fully prepared for the world beyond university.
Our degrees are locally accredited and internationally recognised. We have agreements in place with the relevant legal accreditation bodies around the world to ensure the recognition of our programmes.
VISION
To be a leading research-intensive university in Africa, recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, as also for developing people, creating knowledge and making a difference locally and globally.
MISSION
In pursuing recognition and excellence in its core functions of research, teaching and learning, and integrating engagement with society and communities into these, the University of Pretoria will use quality, relevance, diversity and sustainability as its navigational markers.
Promoting research with real-world impact
UP’s research is geared towards making a lasting impact and on changing the lives of people. Our theme-based approach leverages knowledge fields and research platforms for the greatest impact. Transdisciplinary research projects with the potential to make a real-life difference are strongly encouraged.
Fostering excellence in teaching and learning
Our educational approach has a strong focus on being inclusive and providing equitable access to education. Our committed academics have multiple approaches to teaching to ensure that students with a variety of learning strengths succeed.
Our teaching and learning approach is based on inquiry-based learning, hybrid learning and community-based learning. This means that students can ask questions and do research in their field to learn and discover answers on their own; be taught in a classroom or other formal contact environment, but also find additional activities, notes, resources and videos to supplement their classes online; or apply their knowledge in a practical way to help communities.
ENABLING STUDENT SUCCESS FOR AN EQUITABLE FUTURE
UP is dedicated to fostering an environment where students can thrive and achieve success. We are fully committed to providing support and opportunities to our students in order to prepare them for the place of work.
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
The FHS has a long and proud tradition of excellence in the education of healthcare professionals. The FHS is driven by cutting-edge research in the creation of teaching and learning in line with the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), in order to graduate a new and future-ready generation of healthcare professionals. Students who join the FHS receive a rich and varied hands-on clinical experience and training in hospital, clinic and community settings, thus becoming a productive part of society and communities alike, with long-term positive impacts.
ACADEMIC OFFERING
10
undergraduate degree programmes
245
postgraduate degree programmes
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
SCHOOL OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF HEALTH SYSTEMS & PUBLIC HEALTH (POSTGRADUATE)
specialised academic departments
TOP 314
in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine
2024 QS Rankings
TOP 301–350
in the world for Biological Sciences
2024 QS Rankings
TOP 351–400
in the world for Medicine
2024 QS Rankings
TOP 101–200
in the world for Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3)
2024 Times Higher Education Rankings
The Faculty of Health Sciences is recognised nationally and internationally as an outstanding institution for its education of health professionals, its research and its practical hands-on training of students. It is only by directing our academic efforts towards being problemoriented that we can accelerate progress in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addressing SDG3: Health and Wellbeing, we support communities through the exceptional talent and dedication of our staff and students involved in projects that uplift health and wellbeing. This provides valuable life skills and training for our students while providing communities with access to an array of healthcare workers.
STUDENT LIFE
8 600+ 95% Faculty of Health Sciences students Undergraduate pass rate
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
68% 52
Academic staff members with a doctorate
NRF-rated researchers
INSTITUTES, CENTRES AND UNITS
RESEARCH INSTITUTES
6
Research chairs
• Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), host to the SAMRC Stem Cell Research Unit (SCRU MRC)
• Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC), also recognised as an SAMRC Malaria Research Collaborating Centre
• Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI)
• Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), host to the SAMRC/UP Precision Prevention and Novel Drug Targets for HIV-Associated Cancer Research Unit
• Nuclear Medicine Research Institute (NuMeRI)
RESEARCH CENTRES
• Centre for Ethics and Philosophy of Health Sciences (CEPHS)
• Centre for Neuroendocrinology (CNE)
• Forensic Anthropology Research Centre (FARC)
• Centre for Viral Zoonoses (UP CVN)
• UP Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care (MFNCHC RC), host to the SAMRC Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit
• Diabetes Research Centre (DiabetesCentre@UP)
• Tuberculosis Research Centre (TRC)
• The Africa Centre For Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research
• Brain Tumor and Translational Neurosciences Centre
• Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Arbo and Respiratory Viruses (CEARV)
RESEARCH UNITS
• Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit
• Community-orientated Primary Care (UP COPC) Research Unit
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Life-Changers Fund: Since its establishment in 2020, the Life Changers Fund has enabled students to reach their full potential by ensuring that students do not go hungry and creating the opportunity for bursaries for those who struggle with tuition fees.
Community Oriented Substance Use Programme (COSUP): This undertaking provides a community-based, low threshold response to the use of drugs, which seeks to reduce harm, and adds to and is integrated with the primary health, HIV and social services of the City of Tshwane.
Informal Settlement Health Research: The project consists of a core ‘roaming’ multi-disciplinary health team offering services with on-site support for community health workers from four informal settlements in/around Pretoria, including Zama Zama, Melusi, Woodlane Village and Cemetery View covering three core areas of care: health across the spectrum, nutrition and education.
The Department of Community Dentistry has initiated numerous community outreach projects with sponsors such as Colgate Palmolive and GlaxoSmithKline. These projects focus on preventing common oral diseases and promoting oral health education.
STUDENT PROGRAMMES
Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Medical Student Training Programme: The FHS is one of the institutions that host this programme, which aims to improve human resource workforce capacity and strengthen the healthcare system in South Africa and contribute towards achieving the SDG on health.
Buddy Mentor System: Third-year students apply to be mentors for four to six first-year students in a structured programme of one year.
Tuks Undergraduate Research Forum (TURF): TURF is a platform for UP students to simplify the world of research and facilitate undergraduate research initiatives. TURF prepares its students for the ever-changing modern world of healthcare by providing early exposure to research through mentorship.
(2022–2024)
• The Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) Facility, a leading infrastructure to address the burden of cancer and TB drug development and clinical research, launched at Steve Biko Academic Hospital – transforming public health with innovative solutions for major diseases.
• Inaugural School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH) Research Day, themed “Strengthening Health Systems through Research”, showcased the school’s dedication to addressing health challenges in Africa through innovative research and community engagement.
• Release of the first Faculty Research Hub Report (June 2024).
• The UP Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC) was awarded a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant to develop and deliver a leadership and management training course to support the malaria elimination agenda.
• The Department of Neurology at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital won the World Stroke Organization (WSO) Angels' prestigious Diamond Award at the 2022 International European Stroke Congress for excellence in stroke care.
• The Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI) was one of 11 specialist institutes in the world selected by the International Olympic committee to research, develop and implement effective preventative and treatment methods for sport-related injuries and illnesses.
• The Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) Research Unit launched ‘Imvelo Urban Farms’, a transdisciplinary initiative that aims to serve as safe havens and a source of food security for vulnerable communities
• Diabetes Research Centre and health tech company Aviro Health launched the Aviro Pocket Clinic app for diabetes management.
• The Faculty's innovative new MBChB curriculum adopts a hybrid teaching model focusing on transdisciplinary initiatives, research training, and new technology interventions.
