University Of Pretoria Faculty Of Engineering

The Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at the University of Pretoria is a leading and dynamic faculty that is one of the foremost providers of high-level intellectual capital and research in the country. The Faculty is renowned for its unique approach to innovation, its international status and links with industry.

The Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering is one of 14 departments in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, and is the largest Department of Mechanical Engineering in South Africa. Its graduate and postgraduate students are trained to become top-quality engineers, owing to the Department’s internationally accepted programmes.

Its excellent world-class academic staff, most capable support staff members and facilities that include sophisticated experimental and computer laboratories have enabled the Department to establish various internationally renowned centres of excellence. Facilities include the following:

• A unique laboratory for structural mechanics, which is one of a very small number worldwide
• A superbly equipped vibration and controls laboratory
• Various wind tunnels and engine test facilities
• An excellent heat transfer laboratory
• Excellent workshops.

Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering

The Department is currently the only fully integrated metallurgical engineering department at tertiary level in South Africa. It exposes future professional metallurgical engineers to the full scope of the minerals/ metals discipline, ranging from minerals processing, through pyro- and hydroextractive metallurgy, to physical metallurgy, and welding and corrosion metallurgy. It prepares graduates for industry collaboration between all the sectors of the minerals- and metals-related disciplines. 

Degree programmes:

• BEng (Metallurgical Engineering)
• BEngHons with specialisation in metallurgical or welding engineering
• BScHons Applied Science with specialisation in metallurgy or welding technology
• MEng Metallurgical Engineering
• MSc Applied Science Metallurgy
• PhD Metallurgical Engineering
• PhD Metallurgy

Civil Engineering

The Department of Civil Engineering has established a reputation for both the training of engineers and the advancement of the state of knowledge via research, thus contributing to the development and maintenance of civil infrastructure within and outside South Africa. Graduates of the Department are sought after globally and many are working well beyond our borders.

The UP Civil Engineering Department has produced about 40% of all civil engineers in South Africa over the past 50 years. Many of these engineers have made major contributions to the development and wealth creation in South Africa over these years. We are proud of this history and are building on these achievements of the past with a new vision and strategic direction for the future.
 
The BEng degree course is structured to fully meet and even exceed the requirements of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) which is the stepping stone for registration as a professional engineer. Consequently, a BEng (Civil) degree from the University of Pretoria is a recognised qualification for working as an engineer well beyond the borders of South Africa.

The departmental staff are research active in all disciplines of civil engineering and hence, the Department offers postgraduate courses in the fields of Geotechnical Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Railway Engineering and Civil Engineering Materials.  Currently, the Department has 200 students enrolled in BEng(Hons), MEng and PhD courses, many of whom are nationals from neighbouring Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and further afield.