What You Need to Know About University of Mpumalanga
University of Mpumalanga sits in Mbombela, close to the Kruger area, and it's one of the newer public universities in the country. It's carved out a name for itself in agriculture, ICT and health sciences, with programs like Bachelor of Nursing, Dietetics and Nutrition, and Bachelor of ICT. If you're looking at a university that isn't oversubscribed with sky high cutoffs, UMP is worth a serious look.
The university runs most of its programs through the Faculty of Economics, Development and Business Sciences, and the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, plus a growing Faculty of Education. Entry points range widely, from 19 APS for a Higher Certificate up to 33 APS for Bachelor of Laws. That spread makes it a realistic option whether your matric results are solid or still a work in progress.
What APS Do You Need?
UMP calculates your APS using all 7 of your subjects, but Life Orientation only counts at half its level. So a level 5 in LO gives you 2.5 points instead of 5, and your maximum possible APS is 45.5.
Higher Certificates like the Higher Certificate in Event Management ask for just 19 APS, and the Higher Certificate in ICT in User Support wants 20 APS with Maths or 22 APS with Maths Lit. Diplomas sit in the middle, the Diploma in Hospitality Management needs 24 APS with Maths or 25 APS with Maths Lit, and the Diploma in Nature Conservation needs 30 APS. Bachelor degrees ask for more, Bachelor of Arts wants 28 APS, Bachelor of Commerce wants 30 APS, and Bachelor of Laws is the toughest at 33 APS.
If you're eyeing a BSc program like Forestry or Agriculture, watch out, they usually want Mathematics and Physical Science at Level 4, not just a high overall APS. Maths Lit can lock you out of those science degrees even if your APS looks fine on paper.
Fees and Funding
Money is probably the biggest stress in this whole process, and you don't want to guess blindly with UMP fees. Estimated annual fees at UMP run from around R31,100 to R63,900 depending on your program, so check the official UMP fees page for your exact course.
NSFAS covers tuition, learning materials, transport and living costs for you if your household earns under R350,000 a year, and you don't pay any of it back. If your household earns between R350,001 and R600,000, you might qualify for the NSFAS student loan instead, which covers similar costs but works differently.
Life on Campus
UMP has on campus residences including Hatfield and Hillcrest, close to the Mbombela campus. If you don't get a spot, there are accredited off campus options too, like Matsafeni Student Accommodation about 10km from campus, with 2 bed sharing units from R3,700 a month including WiFi and laundry facilities.
Not sure if your marks are enough to get into your program of choice? Use our free APS calculator to check where you stand before you apply.
