Careers › Engineering

How to become a Electrical / Electronic Engineer

Works on power systems, electronics, control systems and telecommunications.

This needs more than the degree

An engineering degree alone doesn’t make you a Professional Engineer. You register with ECSA as a Candidate Engineer after graduating, then need several years of supervised experience and a professional review before you can register as a Pr Eng and sign off your own work.

What does a Electrical / Electronic Engineer actually do?

More about this career

Covers everything from power stations and the national grid to microchips and control systems – what you specialise in (heavy current/power vs electronics/telecoms) usually happens in your third or fourth year. Most work moves between design, testing and site commissioning, and many go on to register with ECSA as Professional Engineers.

Where this degree can take you

  • Electronics Engineer
  • Telecommunications Engineer
  • Control Systems Engineer
  • Renewable Energy Engineer

This is our general description of the role and related jobs, not from an official source – it’s here to give you a fuller picture, not as a careers-counselling guarantee.

Not from an official source

Subjects that usually help

  • Mathematics
  • Physical Sciences

This is our general guidance about which school subjects suit this career. It is not an admission requirement and not from an official source – the real requirements are on the degrees below.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

What the degrees we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 15 of 15 degrees
  • Physical Sciences – asked for by 15 of 15 degrees
  • Technical Mathematics – asked for by 3 of 15 degrees
  • Technical Sciences – asked for by 2 of 15 degrees
  • Electrical Technology – asked for by 1 of 15 degrees

Counted from the requirements below (an “or” alternative counts for each subject named). Each degree links to the page it came from.

Degrees that lead here

15 degrees at 13 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Partly verifiedNot fully verified

Diploma in Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering

Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Bellville Campus

CPUT APS 30

  • English: 50%
  • Mathematics: 50% OR Technical Mathematics: 60%
  • Physical Sciences: 50% OR Technical Sciences: 60% OR Electrical Technology: 50%

ECSA-accredited. CPUT states this programme’s APS target as calculated "using Method 2", but we could not find CPUT’s own official explanation of what that method actually is - only an unread image on its site and unconfirmed third-party claims. Treat the APS number as real but the underlying arithmetic as unexplained for now.

Source: View the official page (prospectus.cput.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Central University of Technology

Partly verified

Diploma in Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering

Engineering, Built Environment & IT · 2 years

CUT APS 27

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)

Mathematical Literacy is not accepted. This programme’s figures came through an AI-summarized fetch of the official CUT page rather than a raw read of the page itself - re-verify against cut.ac.za before fully relying on it. No 2027 closing date is stated on CUT’s own pages.

Source: View the official page (cut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Durban University of Technology

Partly verifiedNo cut-off published

BEngTech Electronic Engineering

Engineering & the Built Environment · 3 years

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Combined Maths + Physical Science – DUT also requires your Mathematics and Physical Science percentages to add up to at least 100%.

DUT did not state a single APS number for this programme. Closes 30 September 2026. From DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus. Applications go through the CAO (cao.ac.za), not directly to DUT; general closing date 30 September 2026 (fee R250 SA / R300 international).

Source: View the official page (dut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Mangosuthu University of Technology

Partly verifiedFrom an older documentNo cut-off published

Diploma in Electrical Engineering

Engineering · 3 years

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)

Includes 4 semesters of formal study plus 2 semesters of in-service training. No single APS number stated in the section we read. Source PDF labelled "2026", not yet confirmed for 2027. No official closing date found.

Source: View the official page (mut.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Nelson Mandela University

Partly verifiedFrom an older document

BEngTech Electrical Engineering

Engineering, the Built Environment & Technology · 3 years

NMU Applicant Score (AS) 370 out of 600 (+7 bonus in some cases)

  • Mathematics: 60% OR Technical Mathematics: 60%
  • Physical Sciences: 50% OR Technical Sciences: 50%

From NMU’s own faculty "UG Guide" PDFs, most of which are dated/closing in 2024 - apparently covering the 2025 intake, not independently confirmed as current for 2027 (NMU appears to roll these forward with the same structure each year, but treat the figures as "last confirmed" rather than "2027-verified"). No 2027 closing date is stated.

Source: View the official page (eleceng.mandela.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Stellenbosch University

Selection programme

BEng Electrical & Electronic Engineering (incl. Data Engineering)

Engineering · 4 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 70 %

  • Mathematics: 70%
  • Physical Sciences: 60%
  • English: 50% if it is your Home Language, 60% if it is your First Additional Language

Every Stellenbosch programme is a selection programme. The figures shown are the published minimum requirements - the actual selection threshold is usually higher. The Engineering selection score is Maths% + Physical Sciences% + (6 x your average), out of 800. SU says 600 or more gave a good chance for some programmes and 620 or more for others - that is a historical guide, not a fixed cut-off. An extended (ECP) 5-year route exists. Afrikaans language combinations are also accepted. NBTs are not required for 2027 entry at SU, except for Law programmes, the School for Tomorrow, AHSD and online-school applicants.

Source: View the official page (files.su.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Tshwane University of Technology

Partly verified

Diploma in Electrical Engineering

Engineering & the Built Environment · 3 years

TUT APS 26 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Electrical Technology – Recommended, not compulsory.

Closes 30 September 2026. From TUT’s 2027 First-Year Course Information and General Information PDFs. Applications opened 1 April 2026 (fee R240).

Source: View the official page (tut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Cape Town

BSc (Eng) Electrical / Electrical & Computer / Mechatronics

Engineering & the Built Environment · 4 years

UCT Faculty Points Score 500 out of 600 (band a)

  • Mathematics: 80%
  • Physical Sciences: 75%

Band A (guaranteed offer) is an FPS of 500. Band B (likely offer) is a WPS of 480 - the WPS adds a 0-10% disadvantage factor that we cannot work out from your marks, so we only check you against Band A. Band C (420) applies to redress categories only. Mathematical Literacy and Technical Mathematics do not count as Mathematics, and Technical Sciences does not count as Physical Sciences.

Source: View the official page (uct.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Johannesburg

Partly verified

BEng Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Engineering & the Built Environment · 4 years

UJ APS 32 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)

Captured from the UJ BEng Civil Engineering page; UJ lists the same requirements on the matching Electrical & Electronic and Mechanical Engineering pages. This figure was read from the search-engine index of the official UJ programme page rather than from the full page, and UJ’s 2027 prospectus PDF could not be fetched. Confirm it on the UJ page before you rely on it.

Source: View the official page (uj.ac.za) (opens the official page)

University of KwaZulu-Natal

From an older document

BSc Eng Electrical Engineering

Agriculture, Engineering & Science · 4 years

UKZN APS 33 points out of 48

  • Mathematics: 65%
  • Physical Sciences: 65%
  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Orientation: level 4 (50% or more)

The published APS range is 48-33. This comes from the Study@UKZN 2026 brochure, the most recent official source we could find. UKZN had not published a 2027 table when we checked, so treat these as 2026 figures pending a 2027 update. Applications go through the CAO.

Source: View the official page (studyatukzn.ukzn.ac.za) (opens the official page)

From an older document

BSc Eng Electronic Engineering

Agriculture, Engineering & Science · 4 years

UKZN APS 33 points out of 48

  • Mathematics: 65%
  • Physical Sciences: 65%
  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Orientation: level 4 (50% or more)

The published APS range is 48-33. This comes from the Study@UKZN 2026 brochure, the most recent official source we could find. UKZN had not published a 2027 table when we checked, so treat these as 2026 figures pending a 2027 update. Applications go through the CAO.

Source: View the official page (studyatukzn.ukzn.ac.za) (opens the official page)

University of Pretoria

BEng Electrical Engineering

Engineering, Built Environment & IT · 4 years

UP APS 35 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 6 (70% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 6 (70% or more)

Most UP closing dates are 30 June; Veterinary Science closes 31 May. Grade 12 applicants apply with their final Grade 11 results. A 5-year extended BEng route (previously ENGAGE) exists at APS 33 with English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at 65%.

Source: View the official page (drupalwebprod-files.up.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

BEng Electronic Engineering

Engineering, Built Environment & IT · 4 years

UP APS 35 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 6 (70% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 6 (70% or more)

Most UP closing dates are 30 June; Veterinary Science closes 31 May. Grade 12 applicants apply with their final Grade 11 results. A 5-year extended BEng route (previously ENGAGE) exists at APS 33 with English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at 65%.

Source: View the official page (drupalwebprod-files.up.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of the Witwatersrand

From an older document

BSc (Eng) Electrical Engineering

Engineering & the Built Environment · 4 years

Wits APS 42 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)

Wits notes that level 5 across the board means you are likely to be wait-listed; level 6 is advised. This figure comes from the Wits schools-liaison Grade 12 guide, which is headed for 2026 entry. We have not yet found a 2027 course-finder page confirming it, so treat it as the most recent official figure rather than a confirmed 2027 one.

Source: View the official page (wits.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Vaal University of Technology

Partly verified

Diploma in Electrical Engineering

Engineering & Technology

VUT APS 24 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)

From VUT’s 2027 Undergraduate Minimum Admission Requirements PDF. Academic applications close 30 September 2026 (residences 31 October 2026); fee R110.

Source: View the official page (vut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

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