Careers › Engineering

How to become a Industrial Engineer

Makes systems and organisations work better - production lines, logistics, processes.

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 Industrial Engineer actually do?

More about this career

Less about building a single thing and more about making a whole system – a factory line, a hospital’s patient flow, a logistics network – run faster, cheaper and with fewer errors. It’s a strong route into operations, supply chain and management consulting, since the skill is problem-solving with data, not one specific machine.

Where this degree can take you

  • Operations Manager
  • Supply Chain Analyst
  • Management Consultant
  • Quality 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 programmes we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 15 of 15 programmes
  • Physical Sciences – asked for by 12 of 15 programmes
  • Technical Mathematics – asked for by 7 of 15 programmes
  • Technical Sciences – asked for by 5 of 15 programmes
  • Mathematical Literacy – asked for by 3 of 15 programmes

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

Programmes that lead here

15 programmes at 10 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Durban University of Technology

No cut-off publishedSelection programme

BEngTech Industrial 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) OR Technical Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more) OR Technical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Two more subjects – Two further recognised NSC 20-credit subjects at level 4.
  • Combined Maths + Physical Science – Applicants are ranked on Mathematics plus Physical Science, with a minimum combined score of 100%.

New row, read directly from DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus (dut-pass-3). The page states a 3-year full-time duration. 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

Partly verifiedSelection programme

Diploma in Management Sciences: Operations Management

Management Sciences · 3 years

DUT APS 25 points

  • English: level 3 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Three more subjects – Two 20-credit subjects (not more than one language) plus one recognised subject, at level 3.

New row, read directly from DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus (dut-pass-3). DUT says a minimum of 25 points (excluding Life Orientation) will be considered. The level numbers did not extract in the PDF table for this page; they are taken to match the sibling Management Sciences diplomas - re-check against the PDF. 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

BEngTech Industrial Engineering

Engineering, the Built Environment & Technology · 3 years

NMU Applicant Score (AS) 370 out of 600

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

RAW-CONFIRMED against the user-supplied NMU Z-Card admissions summary. 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)

North-West University

BEng in Industrial Engineering

Engineering · 4 years

NWU APS 34 points out of 48

  • Mathematics: 70%
  • Physical Sciences: 70%
  • Language of tuition – Your language of tuition at 60%.

Read 2026-10-04 from the NWU 2026 Faculty of Engineering yearbook (programme list and admission requirements): Mathematics 70%, Physical Sciences 70% and the language of instruction (English or Afrikaans, Home or First Additional) at 60%. Applications close 31 July of the previous year. Programme code 7CK K01. The 34 points are the same minimum shown for NWU’s other BEng programmes. NWU adds your six best subjects (excluding Life Orientation) on an 8-point scale, for a total out of 48 - read from NWU’s own APS calculator. The requirement shown is what NWU publishes.

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

Stellenbosch University

Selection programme

BEng Industrial 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

BEngTech Industrial Engineering

Engineering & the Built Environment · 3 years

TUT APS 28 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more) OR Technical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)

Raw-confirmed 2026-10-04 against TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus: APS and subject levels match. 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

Diploma in Operations Management

Management Sciences · 3 years

TUT APS 24 points

  • English: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 5 (60% or more)

New row, read directly from TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus (tut-pass-3). Closes 30 September 2026 (TUT First-Year Course Information).

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

Diploma in Work Study

Management Sciences · 3 years

TUT APS 24 points

  • English: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 5 (60% or more)

New row, read directly from TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus (tut-pass-3). Closes 30 September 2026 (TUT First-Year Course Information).

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

University of Johannesburg

BEngTech in Industrial Engineering

Engineering & the Built Environment · 3 years

UJ APS 30 points

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 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) OR Technical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)

CONFIRMED 2026-10-02 against the user-supplied 2027 Undergraduate Prospectus PDF (INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING, B6IN2Q): APS 30, English 4 (50%+), Mathematics/Technical Mathematics 5 (60%+), Physical/Technical Science 5 (60%+), 3 years. An extended (4-year) version, B6IX2Q, is confirmed at APS 24 with the same subject levels.

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

University of Pretoria

BEng Industrial 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 South Africa

No cut-off published

Diploma in Industrial Engineering

Science, Engineering & Technology

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

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more) OR Technical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)

Read 2026-10-04 from Unisa’s own qualification page (code 90136). NSC with Diploma endorsement (or equivalent). Unisa states percentages, not an APS, on this page. Mathematical Literacy is not accepted. Confirmed current for the 2027 intake: Unisa’s own pages state its 2027 application window as 17 August - 9 October 2026.

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

University of the Witwatersrand

BSc (Eng) Industrial 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. Confirmed unchanged by a direct fetch of the 2027 course-finder page (2026-10-01 spot-check).

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

Vaal University of Technology

Diploma in Operations Management

Management Sciences · 3 years

VUT APS 23 points

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

Raw-confirmed directly against the user-supplied 2027 Undergraduate Minimum Admission Requirements PDF. 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

Diploma in Industrial Engineering

Engineering & Technology · 3 years

VUT APS 24 points

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

Read 2026-10-04 from the VUT 2027 Undergraduate Minimum Admission Requirements poster (page images). Mainstream 3-year diploma: APS 24 with at least level 4 in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and English. 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

Diploma in Industrial Engineering (Extended, 4 years)

Engineering & Technology · 4 years

VUT APS 22 points

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

Read 2026-10-04 from the VUT 2027 Undergraduate Minimum Admission Requirements poster (page images). Extended 4-year diploma: APS 22 with at least level 3 in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and English. 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

Are your marks enough?

Put your subjects in once and we’ll check them against every programme above – scored each university’s own way.

What do I qualify for?