Careers › Engineering

How to become a Mechanical / Mechatronic Engineer

Designs machines, engines, robotics and manufacturing systems.

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 Mechanical / Mechatronic Engineer actually do?

More about this career

Mechanical engineers design and test anything that moves or transfers energy – engines, HVAC systems, robotics, production machinery – splitting time between CAD design, simulation and the factory or site floor. It’s one of the broadest engineering degrees, so graduates end up in manufacturing, mining, automotive, energy and consulting.

Where this degree can take you

  • Mechatronics Engineer
  • Manufacturing Engineer
  • Automotive Engineer
  • Robotics 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
  • Engineering Graphics & Design (helpful)

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 4 of 15 degrees
  • Technical Sciences – asked for by 3 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 12 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Partly verifiedNot fully verified

Diploma in Mechanical Engineering

Engineering, Bellville Campus

CPUT APS 30

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

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 verifiedNot fully verified

Diploma in Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering

Engineering, Built Environment & IT · 2 years

CUT APS 27

  • English: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)

The English level (3) came through noticeably lower than Mathematics/Physical Sciences (4) in the source we read - double-check this isn’t an extraction error before relying on it. 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 Mechanical 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

Nelson Mandela University

Partly verifiedFrom an older document

BEngTech Mechanical 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)

Partly verifiedFrom an older document

BEngTech Marine 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%

There is no dedicated marine-engineering career on Studypath yet, so this is filed under the closest existing category. 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)

Partly verifiedFrom an older document

BEng Mechatronics

Engineering, the Built Environment & Technology · 4 years

NMU Applicant Score (AS) 410 out of 600 (+7 bonus in some cases)

  • Mathematics: 60%
  • Physical Sciences: 65%

Mathematical Literacy is not accepted; no Technical Mathematics route is shown for this one (unlike the BEngTech diplomas above). 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 Mechanical 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

Selection programme

BEng Mechatronic 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

BEngTech Mechanical Engineering

Engineering & the Built Environment · 3 years

TUT APS 28 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Engineering Graphics & Design, Mechanical 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) Mechanical / Mechanical & Mechatronic

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 Mechanical 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 Mechanical 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 Mechanical 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

BSc (Eng) Mechanical 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. These figures are confirmed on the 2027 Mechanical Engineering course-finder page.

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

Vaal University of Technology

Partly verified

Diploma in Mechanical 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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