Professor Dereck Sparks: Cornia Pretorius lives in a world of make-believe, "How to study at varsity now that you're mature" (November 28).

She states that a mature student can enter engineering at a university if the applicant has at least 40% or an E in Senior Certificate in four higher and standard grade subjects (one of the subjects must be at higher grade).

It seems that Pretorius does not know the difference between:

a) Studying welding in an FET college;

b) Studying a three-year technician-type "so-called degree" at one of Kader Asmal's renamed institutes of technology (these were technikons); and

c)Proper universities with four-year undergraduate degrees in engineering.

Pretorius has missed the main problem: a person will not be considered for entry into a four-year degree in engineering if that person is weak in maths and science.

A symbol of E at matric level is too low even for a mature applicant. -

• I am not disputing the tough entry requirements into faculties of engineering. However, the Higher Education Act provides for exceptions. - Cornia Pretorius